Starting out in graphic design can feel intimidating. Besides learning and practicing principles of design, it takes awhile to figure out where to go for raw ingredients. Fonts, photos, tools, inspiration, best practices… This is a list of the sites I like and/or use regularly.
Getting good at stuff
Designers share how they do things—Skillshare
A subscription you can pause at any time grants access to 24,000 classes. An example: I was hired by a school for a brand identity project that included sports mascot design. It’s not a style I’m used to doing, so I took Fraser Davidson’s class to get some tips. Check out all the furrowed brows I made:
Typography
Best source for paid fonts—My Fonts
Best source for free fonts—Font Squirrel
How to use typography better—Butterick’s Practical Typography
Examples of fonts in use + pairing recommendations—Typ.io and Type Wolf
Color
Color palette ideas—Brand Colors (official palettes of big brands) and Color Hunt
Generate tints and shades of your hex colors—Tinter-Shader
Presentation
Moodboard makers—Adobe Spark, Moodzer
PSD mockup files that will make your flat designs look real—Mr. Mockup, Zippy Pixels, Pixeden, Creative Market, and Field Office Supply
Images
The best free high-res stock photo sites—see my list here
You already know the paid ones, I’m sure: iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Stocksy, Twenty20, etc. Plus Getty Images if you have buckets of money.
Textures to add to illustrations—True Grit Texture Supply
Huge set of line and solid-style icons with adjustable strokes (for purchase)—Icons Mind
700+ line icons (free)—Linea
Design inspiration
The latest high-profile brand identity work—Brand New
Just what it says it is—Branding, Packaging and Opinion
The best in current package design—The Dieline
Beautiful websites that push the envelope—Site Inspire
Business, the least fun topic in this list
The business tool I use for quotes, invoices and electronic payments— 17 Hats (I think maybe I get credits if you sign up using that link)
Another management tool you could try—AND CO
Videos about money and clients—The Futur
More about money and clients—Ilise Benun’s stuff. I’ve learned things from her books.
Networking
A place to make friends—Creative Mornings. Other people can be very nice and very helpful.