Building an Engaging 404 Page: Video, Audio, and Next.js
How we transformed a standard 404 page into an engaging experience using VO3 video generation and a creative technical approach.
Why build a custom 404 page?
Short answer. because you can! But more seriously, when we set out to create a unique 404 page for Hurricane Works, we wanted something more engaging than the typical "Page Not Found" text.
Our vision: a custom video that would immediately grab attention and provide a memorable experience for users who hit a dead end.
The Creative Process
The star of our 404 page is a video created entirely with VO3 (Video Ollama 3). We wanted something that captured the feeling of being lost while still reflecting our brand’s personality.
VO3 allowed us to generate exactly what we envisioned – a creative, on-brand video thatis memorable.
Technical Implementation: The Journey
Step 1: Start Simple, Hit Reality
Our initial approach seemed straightforward: add a video element to a Next.js 404 page. But we quickly discovered that modern web development has strong opinions about audio and video autoplay.
Step 2: The Metadata Maze
Next.js 15 enforces a strict separation between server and client components. We wanted both custom metadata and interactive video controls, but the framework had other plans.
Our takeaway: keep it simple. 404 pages don’t need custom metadata anyway.
Step 3: The Audio Autoplay Reality
Then came the big question: “But I want the audio to play immediately!”
Modern browsers block audio autoplay for good reasons (imagine every site blasting sound at you). Still, we wanted to push the experience further.
Step 4: Our Hybrid Approach
We landed on a solution that balances ambition with reality:
- Video autoplays immediately – no barriers, no overlays
- Audio is attempted – tries to start unmuted
- Fallback button – a small, unobtrusive "Enable Audio" option
- Continuous loop – keeps the experience alive
What We Learned
Technical Insights
- Next.js 15: Client components can’t export metadata – embrace the constraint
- Browser Reality: Video autoplay works, audio autoplay usually doesn’t
- User Experience: Sometimes “aggressive” is exactly what users want
Design Philosophy
- Immediate Engagement: No barriers between user and content
- Graceful Degradation: Works everywhere, enhanced where possible
- User Control: Give options without forcing interactions
The VO3 Advantage
Creating custom video content used to require expensive production or complex animation tools.
VO3 changed that entirely. We could iterate quickly, generate exactly what we envisioned, and have a professional-quality 404 video ready in minutes instead of days.
Results
Our 404 page now:
- ✅ Immediately engages users with custom video content
- ✅ Attempts audio for a fuller experience
- ✅ Provides clear navigation back to the main site
- ✅ Turns a dead end into a brand moment
The Bigger Picture
This project reinforced an important lesson: the best technical solutions often come from understanding constraints rather than fighting them.
Modern web browsers, Next.js conventions, and user expectations all exist for good reasons. When you design with these realities in mind, you end up with solutions that are both technically sound and user-friendly.
Summary
The 404 video was created using VO3, showing how AI video generation can enhance web experiences in unexpected ways.
👉 Sometimes the best user experiences come from embracing constraints and finding creative solutions within them.
Want to explore how VO3 can elevate your own website experience? Give us a call - number in the footer
