Every graphic designer’s process is different, but one thing that every designer has likely experienced is feeling stuck on a project. Here are 5 free design references to get you out of your head and to inspire a new perspective for your project:
1. Fonts In Use
This site is extremely handy for when you want to broaden your search for a good typeface or font to use in your project. The site pulls the font names from various pieces of art, identifies the typeface, and in a few cases, will also supply which type foundry that you can download or purchase the font from. They also organize their collections by Topic, Format, or Typeface, which makes it easier to search for specific references if you already have an idea of what you want to use.
2. Letterform Archive
This one is similar to Fonts In Use in that it is essentially an archive of typefaces and fonts used in various pieces of art or media. The references are more design-oriented and are rich in historical graphic design references, which is rare to find online. Each reference also may have more than one image to see the typography in use, which is not always the case on Fonts In Use. Another useful aspect is that the references include details like when the art was created, what country it is from, and who made it, which can be helpful if you are searching for art from a certain time period or from a specific region.
3. It’s Nice That
This site is a great reference when you want to see the general landscape of new work being released in the art and design sector. They cover everything ranging from brand identity launches from the top design studios to what Banksy did last week. This site is a great way to stay up to date with what is happening in the design world, see what is trending, and to broaden your artistic lens through exposure to other design-adjacent topics like photography, art, motion design, and much more.
4. Eye on Design
Eye on Design is a great reference if you crave some light reading on the design industry and discourse on the general direction of design aesthetics. They’ve covered topics ranging from the Y2K aesthetic to pay transparency in job negotiations. Sometimes inspiration isn’t necessarily visual and can come from a new perspective on looking at things! That’s where sites like this are super helpful.
5. Instagram
This one may be obvious and/or controversial depending on who you ask, but Instagram can be an extremely helpful resource. If you have a favorite graphic designer or graphic design studio, make sure to check if they have an instagram. The social and algorithmic aspect of Instagram is what sets this apart from visiting a specific site. Not only can you directly reach out to designers who may inspire you via DM, but you can also find other tips, inspiration, and even other designers via the algorithm once you start engaging with that type of content. Tip: If you find your favorite design studio or designer on Instagram, be sure to look at the “Suggested for you” tab on their profile. From there, more related design accounts should be suggested to you.
Design inspiration can come from anywhere. But these websites should give you a simple place to start, whether you’re looking for visual inspiration or a fresh take and a new perspective about design.