10 Design Inspiration Sites: Where Graphic Designers Go To Get Inspired
Did you know, the attention span of the average person is 8 seconds?
This means you have exactly 8 seconds to show them what you’ve got before they continue swiping 😱🙉
And the best way to hook potential customers is none other than through design.
It may seem like an easy fix but to graphic designers, coming up with fresh ideas everyday can be a challenge.
Sometimes design inspirations just come to you. But what about other occasions? They can take hours or even days to develop ⏳
If you’re not a graphic designer, but need to provide a design reference for them, this article is perfect for you too!
✨ 10 Design Inspiration Sites ✨
1. Freepik
An all-time favourite for designers, Freepik is a well-known design inspiration platform.
Looking for free vectors, social media designs and many more cannot get any easier.
Their latest site layout even lets you find what you need in an instant!
Image credit: Freepik
2. Dribbble 🏀
Looking for exclusive design inspirations? Dribbble is just the site you’re looking for!
Based on an invite-only membership, Dribbble designers share their intriguing artworks freely here!
You can find many designs on this site especially when you need references for your graphic designers or agencies.
Image credit: Dribbble
3. Behance
Another online design community you need to join is Behance!
Nowadays, people from the creative world would post their artworks on the site to show their progress or portfolio.
Sneaking a peek at other graphic designers’ works around the globe is as easy as A, B, C here 😆
It could lead you to the design inspiration you’re looking for!
Image credit: Behance
4. Pinterest
We’re not moving on from Pinterest anytime soon!
Pinterest is like a long-time love that you sometimes forget but go back to every time you’re feeling down. Well, maybe that’s just me 🌝
With the variety and fun content, you can count on Pinterest to get you out of your design slump and push you beyond your boundaries!
A little fun now and then ain’t that bad 💃🏻
Image credit: Pinterest
5. Instagram
You’re probably confused right now. How can Instagram provide you design inspirations?
If you really take a look at the bigger picture, inspiration can be found literally everywhere and anywhere!
Since you’re likely on Instagram a lot, why not scout for inspiration there too?
Stalking your competition nowadays is not as creepy as it was anymore 👀
So, taking a look at what they’re doing is not actually cheating, consider it ✨awakening your creativity✨
Image credit: Brand 360 MY
6. Handsome Frank
This one’s for the aspiring illustrators!
Handsome Frank features a wide range of illustrators who bring their designs to life.
You’ll find different styles of illustrations and eye-catching gifs that could get your creative juices flowing.
Image credit: Handsome Frank
7. Really Good Emails
Nope, you didn’t read that wrong!
Really Good Emails is a wonderful site if you’re looking for newsletter design inspirations.
Out with the old boring newsletter templates, and in with the new and eye-catching ones 📩
If you’re too busy to design newsletters, reach out to brand agencies! They’ll get the job done just the way you like it 🙌🏽
Image credit: Really Good Emails
8. One Page Love
Designing a new website layout can be stressful when you’ve done A LOT in the past. Now your boss is asking for something “a little more creative”??
But you can’t seem to move out of your comfort zone…
Take a look at One Page Love!
You’ll get to see different types of web design inspirations along with their typography, colour palette and many more.
Check out the ‘Inspo’ category, you might find more than what you need there 😗
Image credit: One Page Love
9. Typewolf
Typography is a huge part of designs aside from the visuals.
In a way, font styles can also be considered as designs because some people actually design fonts for a living 😲
Thanks to them, typography plays a vital role to further emphasise the purpose of a design 👏🏼
For instance, when you see a Lover brand, they would usually use Script typefaces that suggest a romantic and loving personality.
In Typewolf, you’ll be able to lookout for typefaces that are trending in posters, album covers, logos and others.
Image credit: Typewolf
10. Time to get away
This time, I mean it in a literal sense. If you’ve reached number 10 and you still can’t get inspired to design, it’s your body telling you to take a break 😪😮💨
Get away from your laptop screens for some time. Staring at it any longer won’t get you the designs you want.
So, take a break, have a KitKat 🍫
Come back after you destress and I’m sure you’ll figure it out!
Key Takeaway 🔑
As part of the creative industry, you should also keep in mind to review your works all the time.
You and I both know how trends keep evolving especially when we don’t realise.
That’s why getting design inspirations and being a source of inspiration is important for our community.
So, make sure to check what’s ‘in’ and what’s ‘out’ aside from what works and you’ll be just fine! 🫵🏼💪🏼
