Design Resources for Beginners
- Zuby
- Sep 28, 2020
- 3 min read
Have you ever been scrolling through Instagram, wondering how your favorite designers come up with their color schemes?
Or how they find high-quality images to work with? Striking fonts? Dope motion graphics?
Well, they probably have a database full of digital design resources ––as every designer should. This list may exist in a sketchbook, the notes app on their phone, or just live in their brain.
Yes, this sounds daunting. It takes a lot of time and energy to curate a list to match your specific needs.
So, here’s a starting point for ya.
Welcome to my 'Link Sheet', where I keep my favorite digital design resources. Now, this is only a starter, which means most of these sites are pretty basic. This also means that most are free for use making them an excellent place for beginners.
INSPIRATION
You have the project brief, now you need the inspo.
These sites are chock-full of great design, photography, video etc.
You name it? They probably have it but don’t forget to look around the real world because the best idea may spark right in front of you.
Behance, the Adobe social media platform, and Dribbble, a self-promotion networking site, are two great options when looking to be inspired by professional work in the industry. They are favorites in the design world for not only inspiration but also portfolio building.
Pinterest, the tried and true! It is not just for our moms. Yes, I said it. When looking for a more handmade, tactile approach to design Pinterest is where it is at.
Designspiration makes this list for one reason and one reason only. You can search by color. I will say no more you have to see it to believe it.
IMAGES
Time to ditch that Google image search; it wasn't helping you anyway.
In graphics, it's obvious when you don't have a quality photo. Pixelation occurs quickly and will leave your work looking shabby and unprofessional. That's why it's good to have a high-resolution photo resource on hand at all times.
My two go-to's for some quality imagery ☟
FONTS
Using the right font can make or break a design. Don’t let a boring font ruin your work.
Honestly, though, Helvetica is not the cure to every design.
Found a font but, not sure what it’s called or where to find it? Use FontSquirrel’s font identifier. This tool is wicked.
COLOR
This one is for those who understand color theory but still don’t understand color theory.
These three websites allow you to create your own color schemes, explore others' creations, and even randomly generate color groups.
MOCKUPS
Don’t let your portfolio be full of PDFs. Throw that work in a poster frame, on a phone screen, or a business card because your design should be seen the way it was meant to be.
VIDEO
Need some stock footage for a mock video? Here are two options that have saved me in a pinch more than a time or two.
MOTION
Everyone needs a little help here and there, especially when it comes to Premiere and After Effects.
These two sites are fantastic for enhancing your video work with plug-ins and ready-made motion graphics. Just be careful they may hit you with a hefty price tag!
TOOLS
Who doesn't love a well-crafted mood board? But have you ever wanted to easily combine it with notes, research links, sketches, client feedback etc.?
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