Whether you’re a professional designer, a creative enthusiast, or someone looking for inspiration for a personal project, great design websites are a goldmine. These platforms showcase trends, tips, and stellar examples of innovation in web, graphic, interior, and product design. From sleek minimalism to bold and artistic, the design world offers endless ideas to explore.
Here’s a curated list of some of the best websites that inspire creativity, highlight top-notch design, and serve as excellent resources for designers of all kinds.
1. Behance
- Why It’s Great:
Behance, owned by Adobe, is a leading platform for showcasing creative work. It features portfolios from artists, graphic designers, UX/UI designers, and more. The site covers a variety of design fields, including illustration, photography, motion graphics, and branding. - What to Look For:
Use Behance’s search tools to filter projects by field, location, or software used. Their curated galleries are updated frequently to reflect current trends.
2. Dribbble
- Why It’s Great:
Dribbble is a community for designers to share small glimpses of their work, often referred to as “shots.” It’s a fantastic source of visual inspiration for web design, branding, typography, and user interfaces. - What to Look For:
Check out trending shots or search by keyword for specific design ideas. Many professionals share prototypes, animations, and color palettes that can spark new ideas.
3. Awwwards
- Why It’s Great:
Awwwards celebrates the best in web design by recognizing outstanding projects from across the globe. Sites are judged based on design, usability, creativity, and content. - What to Look For:
Explore the “Site of the Day” and “Honorable Mentions” sections. These provide a snapshot of current trends in interactive design, including animation, color use, and responsive layouts.
4. Pinterest
- Why It’s Great:
While Pinterest may not be solely focused on design, it’s an excellent tool for gathering ideas and saving them in an organized way. From home decor to graphic design, the platform covers nearly every creative field. - What to Look For:
Search for design boards on specific topics like “modern typography” or “minimalist website layouts.” You can create boards to save ideas for your own projects.
5. Smashing Magazine
- Why It’s Great:
This resource is packed with articles, tutorials, and inspiration focused on web design and development. Smashing Magazine offers insights into UX/UI, accessibility, and design trends. - What to Look For:
Read their blog posts and case studies to understand the “why” behind good design choices. It’s particularly useful for designers looking to improve functionality as well as aesthetics.
6. Designspiration
- Why It’s Great:
Designspiration is like a visual search engine dedicated to design. It’s perfect for quickly finding and saving high-quality inspiration for branding, graphic design, and more. - What to Look For:
Explore their trending searches or filter by color to find ideas that match your project’s palette.
7. Adobe Color (formerly Kuler)
- Why It’s Great:
Good design often begins with great color choices. Adobe Color is a tool that allows designers to explore and create stunning color palettes. - What to Look For:
Browse trending palettes or upload an image to extract colors. It’s perfect for branding and digital design projects.
8. Canva Design Inspiration
- Why It’s Great:
Canva is known for its user-friendly design tools, but their blog and design inspiration section are equally impressive. They feature templates and ideas for presentations, social media graphics, and marketing materials. - What to Look For:
Check out their templates for a quick start or browse their design tutorials to learn new skills.
9. Muzli by InVision
- Why It’s Great:
Muzli is a browser extension that curates fresh design inspiration from around the web. It’s a go-to tool for discovering the latest in UX/UI, branding, and web design. - What to Look For:
Set Muzli as your homepage to get daily updates from leading design blogs, portfolios, and creative projects.
10. Dezeen
- Why It’s Great:
Focused on architecture and interior design, Dezeen showcases some of the most innovative and stylish spaces worldwide. It also covers product design and furniture trends. - What to Look For:
Explore their design awards section to see cutting-edge projects or browse their “top 10” articles for curated inspiration.
11. Creative Boom
- Why It’s Great:
Creative Boom is a vibrant community that features articles, interviews, and galleries related to art, design, and photography. It’s especially valuable for freelance designers. - What to Look For:
Browse their features on emerging artists and studios for a fresh perspective on creative work.
12. Core77
- Why It’s Great:
Core77 is a hub for industrial designers, but its content is relevant for anyone interested in innovative product and furniture design. - What to Look For:
Check out their case studies and competition sections for insights into the design process.
13. Fonts In Use
- Why It’s Great:
Typography plays a significant role in design, and Fonts In Use is dedicated to showcasing how fonts are used in real-world projects. - What to Look For:
Browse by typeface, industry, or medium to discover new ways to approach typography in your designs.
14. Canva Colors and Palette Generator
- Why It’s Great:
Similar to Adobe Color, Canva’s color tools are easy to use and beginner-friendly. Their palette generator lets you experiment with color schemes effortlessly. - What to Look For:
Use their pre-built palettes for branding projects or create custom schemes to suit your needs.
Final Thoughts
Good design is everywhere, and these websites are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to finding inspiration and resources. Whether you’re redesigning a website, brainstorming a new logo, or decorating your home, these platforms can help you unlock your creativity and take your projects to the next level.
What’s your favorite go-to website for design inspiration? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
