The Best Online Resources for Graphic Design Inspiration

Finding inspiration is key to staying creative and producing innovative graphic design work. There are numerous online resources where you can explore trends, discover new ideas, and get inspired. Here’s a list of some of the best online resources for graphic design inspiration:

1. Design Inspiration Websites

Behance:

  • Description: A platform where designers showcase their portfolios. Browse through diverse projects to get ideas and see current design trends.
  • Link: Behance

Dribbble:

  • Description: A community of designers sharing their work, feedback, and inspiration. Great for discovering new design styles and trends.
  • Link: Dribbble

Awwwards:

  • Description: Showcases award-winning websites and designs. Ideal for high-quality, cutting-edge web design inspiration.
  • Link: Awwwards

Designspiration:

  • Description: A tool for discovering and organizing design inspiration, featuring curated collections and user-generated content.
  • Link: Designspiration

2. Design Blogs and Magazines

Smashing Magazine:

  • Description: Provides articles, tutorials, and case studies on web design, graphic design, and UX. Great for in-depth learning and inspiration.
  • Link: Smashing Magazine

Creative Bloq:

  • Description: Offers news, reviews, and inspiration for graphic designers and web developers. Includes design trends and roundups.
  • Link: Creative Bloq

Design Milk:

  • Description: Features contemporary design news and inspiration, including graphic design, architecture, and art.
  • Link: Design Milk

AIGA Eye on Design:

  • Description: AIGA’s design blog showcasing visual inspiration, design stories, and interviews with designers.
  • Link: Eye on Design

3. Design Galleries

Pinterest:

  • Description: A visual discovery engine where you can create boards and pin your favorite design inspirations. Great for organizing ideas and trends.
  • Link: Pinterest

DeviantArt:

  • Description: A large online community where artists and designers share their work, including graphic design, digital art, and traditional art.
  • Link: DeviantArt

Abduzeedo:

  • Description: Features daily design inspiration, including graphics, web design, and UX. Also includes tutorials and design resources.
  • Link: Abduzeedo

The Dieline:

  • Description: Focuses on packaging design and branding, showcasing innovative and creative packaging solutions.
  • Link: The Dieline

4. Online Design Communities

Designer Hangout:

  • Description: A Slack community where designers discuss design trends, share inspiration, and seek feedback from peers.
  • Link: Designer Hangout

Reddit – r/Design:

  • Description: A subreddit dedicated to graphic design discussions, inspiration, and sharing work. Includes feedback and design critique threads.
  • Link: Reddit – r/Design

DesignTalk:

  • Description: An online forum where designers discuss various design topics, share inspiration, and get feedback.
  • Link: DesignTalk

5. Social Media Platforms

Instagram:

  • Description: Follow design hashtags and accounts to stay updated with the latest design trends and find inspiration from designers worldwide.
  • Link: Instagram

LinkedIn:

  • Description: Join design groups and follow industry leaders to get insights, inspiration, and updates on design trends and projects.
  • Link: LinkedIn

6. Online Design Tools

Canva Design Inspiration:

  • Description: Canva provides a range of design templates and examples, offering inspiration for various design projects and styles.
  • Link: Canva

Adobe Creative Cloud:

  • Description: Adobe’s platform offers design resources, tutorials, and inspiration, including Adobe Color for exploring color palettes.
  • Link: Adobe Creative Cloud

7. Design Resources and Tutorials

Skillshare:

  • Description: Offers design classes and tutorials from industry professionals. Great for learning new techniques and finding inspiration.
  • Link: Skillshare

Coursera:

  • Description: Provides online courses on graphic design, UX, and other related topics from top universities and institutions.
  • Link: Coursera

YouTube:

  • Description: Watch design tutorials, reviews, and case studies from popular design channels to gain new insights and inspiration.
  • Link: YouTube

Final Thoughts

Exploring these resources can help you stay updated with design trends, gather inspiration, and develop your own unique design style. Whether you’re looking for cutting-edge trends, timeless design principles, or practical tutorials, these online platforms offer a wealth of information and inspiration for graphic designers.