the commonplace notebook for eliana

Design Holy Grail

9 min read

Credits

Design Holy Grail

Design Holy Grail

ASSETS

Stock Photos

FREE FOR COMMERCIAL USE

Unsplash https://unsplash.com/

Pexels https://www.pexels.com/

Pixabay https://pixabay.com/

Stockvault https://www.stockvault.net/

Rawpixel https://www.rawpixel.com

Openversehttps://openverse.org/

Rawpixel Public Domain https://www.rawpixel.com/public-domain

Vecteezy https://www.vecteezy.com/

Textures & Overlays

Texture Labs my favoritehttps://texturelabs.org/

Texture Ninja - https://texture.ninja/

Texture Lib - http://texturelib.com/

Lost and Taken https://lostandtaken.com/

Texture Fabrik www.texturefabrik.com

Free-paper-texture https://free-paper-texture.com/

Free assorted textures https://resourceboy.com/textures/

Misc Photos, Artwork, & Illustrations

DOUBLE CHECK FOR USAGE RIGHTS

The Met Collection artwork & paintingshttps://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection

Internet Archivehttps://archive.org/

Smithsonian Institutionhttps://siarchives.si.edu/collections

NASA -https://images.nasa.gov/

New York Public Library https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/

Gettyhttps://www.getty.edu/

Harvard Digital Collectionshttps://library.harvard.edu/digital-collections

Library of Congresshttps://www.loc.gov/https://library.harvard.edu/digital-collections

Wiki Images https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Images#

British Library https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/albums

Public Work by Cosmos https://public.work/

Google Advanced Image Search https://www.google.com/advanced_image_search

CSA Images https://www.csaimages.com/index.asp

Mockups

FREE

Mr Mockup goatedhttps://mrmockup.com/free-mockups/

Anthony Boyd rlly good oneshttps://www.anthonyboyd.graphics/mockups/

LS GFX - https://www.ls.graphics/free-mockup

Mockups Design - https://mockups-design.coMockups/

Graphberry - https://www.graphberry.com/

MockupFree - https://mockupfree.co/

Mockup World https://www.mockupworld.co/

Resource Boyhttps://resourceboy.com/mockups/

Yellow Images https://yellowimages.com/mockups/category/free-mockups

Mocku https://www.hellomocku.com/freebies/

Unblast https://unblast.com/mockups/

Fruited Mockups https://fruited-design.com/free_mockup

Mr Mockup street / signage mockupshttps://mrmockup.com/

Circular https://www.madebycircular.com.au/

Fockups  purposely focked up mockups $$$https://fockups.com/

Showcase https://showcasebh.com/Fockups

LS Graphics UI/UX mockupshttps://www.ls.graphics/

Creatoomhttps://creatoom.com/

Hazard Mockups https://www.hazardmockups.com/mockups

The Mockups https://the-mockups.com/

Micro Volume https://microvolume.gumroad.com/

Wannathisone https://wannathis.one/mockups

Mockup Maison contemporary https://mockup.maison/collections/all-mockups

Bendito https://benditomockup.com/shop

Hazard https://www.hazardmockups.com/mockups

Free Fonts

STANDARD SITES

Google Fonts  https://fonts.google.com/

Urban Fonts  https://www.urbanfonts.com/

Font Squirrel  https://www.fontsquirrel.com/

DaFont https://www.dafont.com/

CURATED SITES

Dirtyline Studio https://dirtylinestudio.com/freebies/

Uncut https://uncut.wtf/

Font Fabric https://www.fontfabric.com/free-fonts/

FontShare https://www.fontshare.com/

Velvetyne fonts www.velvetyne.fr

Collletttivo fonts https://www.collletttivo.it/

Open foundry open-foundry.com/fonts

The League of Moveable Type www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com

Xcicero http://xcicero.esad-gv.net/

Free Faces https://www.freefaces.gallery/

DEDICATED SITES

Myfonts https://www.myfonts.com/

Adobe Fonts (w/ CC subscription)https://fonts.adobe.com/

Font Brief curated font selectionhttps://www.fontbrief.com/fontbrief

The Designers Foundry https://www.thedesignersfoundry.com/

V Type find / test / buy variable fonts https://v-fonts.com/

FOUNDRIES

Type Onehttps://t1-foundry.com/

Displaay Type https://displaay.net/typefaces/retail/

Type Department https://type-department.com/

Grilli Type https://www.grillitype.com/

Studio Feixen https://fonts.studiofeixen.ch/

Madebyste vogue likehttps://madebyste.com/

KlimType Foundry https://klim.co.nz/retail-fonts/

Lineto Foundry known for ‘Prisma’https://lineto.com/typefaces

Faire Type https://www.fairetype.com

Asset Sites

Creative Market https://creativemarket.com/

Blkmarket photoshop stuffhttps://blkmarket.com/

Brusheezy https://www.brusheezy.com/

Craftwork https://craftwork.design/

Graphic Burger  https://graphicburger.com/

Pinspiry  https://pinspiry.com/

Indieground https://indieground.net/

Resource Boy https://resourceboy.com

Free Text Effects https://resourceboy.com/text-effects/

Wave Index https://www.waveindex.com/

Design Syndrome https://designsyndrome.gumroad.com/

Extra Links from various independent designershere

ILLUSTRATIONS

Humaaans human illustrationshttps://www.humaaans.com/

Open Doodles human illustrationshttps://www.opendoodles.com/

Whirrlscollection of illustrations / doodleshttps://www.whirrls.com/

Free Icons

Noun Projectfree icons & stock photoshttps://thenounproject.com/

Google Iconshttps://fonts.google.com/icons

Simple Icons HD Logo IconsApple, Spotify, etchttps://simpleicons.org/

3D Icons https://3dicons.co/

UI Hut Free UI Iconshttps://uihut.com/icons

TOOLS

Typography

Typescale test sizing quicklywww.typescale.com

Typogram Studio https://typogram.co/studio/

Fontjoy font pairing toolwww.fontjoy.com

Font Base my favorite font managerhttps://fontba.se/

FontStruct bitmap font makerhttps://fontstruct.com/

Glyphs create fonts (mac) https://glyphsapp.com/

FontForge create fonts (windows)https://fontforge.org/en-US/

Hyperglot language compatibility checker https://hyperglot.rosettatype.com/

TypeRip “borrow” adobe fonts - **use at own risk**https://badnoise.net/TypeRip/

ChatGPT can actually fix Font metadata issues: https://chatgpt.com/

Color & Accessibility

Color Palette Contrast Builder https://toolness.github.io/accessible-color-matrix/

Color Contrast Checker https://webaim.org/resources/contrast

Coolors palette generatorhttps://coolors.co/

Color mind pallette generatorhttp://colormind.io/

UI Gradients: https://uigradients.com/

Hue Tools thousands of color nameshttps://hue.tools/

W3C Standards https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/

Image Enhancer / Dehancer

NTSCqt vhs effect emulatorhttps://github.com/JargeZ/ntscqt/releases

Cupscaleai image upscalerGoogle Drive Download

Collaboration

Standards host online brand guidelines https://standards.site/

Milan Note Collaborative notes & Ideashttps://milanote.com/

Mark Up IO collaborate with web developershttps://www.markup.io/

Invision UI/UX spacehttps://www.invisionapp.com/

Wave send invoices (apple pay, credit card) https://www.waveapps.com/

Global Brand Database checks trademarkshttps://branddb.wipo.int/en/similarlogo

Trademarkia check your logo for trademarkhttps://www.trademarkia.com/

Signaturely freelance contract templatehttps://signaturely.com/

AIGA Contract Templatewww.aiga.org

Misc

Good Brief generate project briefshttps://goodbrief.io

Gestalt Principles https://www.gestaltprinciples.com/

Nu School charging $$ calculatorhttps://thenuschool.com/how-much/#/start

The Futurmeeting questions, templates, etchttps://www.thefutur.com/free-resources

Go Full Page get full JPG of website google extension here

Checklist list of best practiceshttps://www.checklist.design/

Frame0 make UI wireframes look nicehttps://frame0.app/

MailTo Link Maker https://mailtolink.me/

Games

Method Of Action hella gameshttps://method.ac/

Type Method Kerning Type Gamehttps://type.method.ac/

Shape Method Shape Type Gamehttps://shape.method.ac/

Space Type https://spacetypegenerator.com/

DESIGN INSPO

Design Inspo Sites

GENERAL / MULTI - DISCIPLINE

Abduzeedo branding inspo & morehttps://abduzeedo.com/

Design Week design & art articles   https://www.designweek.co.uk/

Graphic Mama https://graphicmama.com/blog/

Fuse Kiwi all mediumshttps://www.fuse.kiwi/

Muzli daily inspo chrome extensionhttps://muz.li/

Savee It pinterest alternative https://savee.it/

Cosmos pinterest alternativehttps://www.cosmos.so/

Film AI find specific movie stills, color palettes https://beta.flim.ai/

Portfolio Project curated portfolioshttps://portfolioproject.io/

Bestfolios portfolios & morehttps://www.bestfolios.com/home

Prettyfolio curated portfolioshttps://www.prettyfolio.com

BRANDING & TYPOGRAPHY

Fonts in use https://fontsinuse.com/

Brand New branding newshttps://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/

Rebrand Gallery visual identity inspirationhttps://www.rebrand.gallery/

Index curated online galleryhttps://theindex.website/

Daily Branding https://www.dailybranding.co/

Branding Style Guides mcdonalds, coke, etc https://brandingstyleguides.com/

Die Line print & packaging designhttps://thedieline.com/Branding Style Guides

Packaging of the world https://packagingoftheworld.com/

Another Graphic typographic inspo (anti-design)https://anothergraphic.org/

Political Designs political logoshttps://www.politicsanddesign.com

HISTORIC

People’s Graphic Design Archive https://peoplesgdarchive.org/

AIGA Design Archive https://designarchives.aiga.org/#/home

Typehunting vintage typograpyhttps://typehunting.com/

Letterform Online Archive historichttps://oa.letterformarchive.org/

Wim Crouwel dutch designer works & about

Vintage Advertising Design from 50shere

Paul Rand Paul Rand’s logo presentation books here

Saul Pass Bell (AT&T) Logo Live Pitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKu2de0yCJI

UI / UX DESIGN

Awwwards https://www.awwwards.com/

Maxi Best Of see what was used to make sites https://maxibestof.one/

Website Inspo UI/UX https://www.webspo.io

Cargo contemporary website design inspo & builderhttps://cargo.site/In-Use

Site Inspire https://www.siteinspire.com/

Cofolios portfolios from designers in big tech ​​https://www.cofolios.com/

Godly website inspohttps://godly.website/

Brutalist Websites https://brutalistwebsites.com/

Design Modo web related articles https://designmodo.com/website/

Landing Pages Explained https://landingpagesexplained.com/

Codrops shows code btshttps://tympanus.net/codrops/category/playground/

UX Tools resources for product designershttps://uxtools.co/

Design Spells micro interaction inspohttps://www.designspells.com/

Humane principles & methods https://humanebydesign.com/

Apple Design Resources https://developer.apple.com/design/resources/

A/B Testing results from real appshttps://abtest.design/

Mobbin UI/UX Inspohttps://mobbin.com

Curated best websiteshttps://www.curated.design/

Apple Design Awards https://developer.apple.com/design/awards/

Personal Portfolios

Lauren Hom lettering artisthttps://www.homsweethom.com/work

Dana Tanamachi public space designerhttp://www.tanamachistudio.com/

Georgia Lupi info designer at Pentagram http://giorgialupi.com/

Guido Galina Cumar crazy illustrationhttps://www.behance.net/guidogalinacumar

Tyler Spangler color pophttps://tylerspangler.com/

Daniel F Art director for applewww.danielfrumhoff.com

Priya illustrationshttps://www.priyamist

Huy Phan REALLY nice sitehttps://huyml.co/

Evelyn Luu rlly cool print designhttps://eluu.design/

Eugene Hyun motion graphicshttps://www.ehyun.design/

Hanson Ma rlly cool packaging designhttps://hansonma.org/

Michael Wang 3D Motion Designerhttps://www.michaelwang.design/

Nicholas Sheehan cool contemporary stuffhttps://nicholasc2.com/

Timothy Goodman keith haring stylehttps://www.tgoodman.com/

Nuria illustration & animation https://www.nuriaboj.co.uk/

Elijah Vary rlly cool collage stuffhttps://elijahvary.com/mixedmedia

Edward Sun https://www.edwardcreates.com/

Nick Faucher https://nickfaucher.myportfolio.com

An Bui very clean website & motion workhttps://www.anbui.co/

Sofie Beier studies in typographyhttp://sofiebeier

Jessica Hische lettering artisthttps://jessicahische.is/

Martina Flor hand letteringhttps://www.martinaflor.com/

Adam Guzman shoes / clothinghttps://adamguzman.com/

Matt Singleton motion ui/ix https://www.mattsingleton.xyz/

Claire Coullon handwritten typehttp://www.coullon.com/index.html

Stefan Vitasovic front end devhttps://stefanvitasovic.dev/hisnice process show off

Udayraj Sathe great UX case studieshttps://www.udayrajsathe.com/

Noah Mooney https://noahmooney.co/about

Enrico Ferreria https://enricosf.com/

Ashia https://www.ashiadshelton.com/

Kevin Paz UX / UI designerhttps://www.kevinpaz.me/

Twisha patni https://www.twishapatni.com/

Tomasz sick collage / illustrationhttps://womasz.org/

Pol Buch https://polbuch.cargo.site/

Sebastian senior designer at D.C. agencyhttps://sebastianthecreative.com/

Jiacheng at applewww.jyang.io

Michelle Gore at applewww.michellegore.com

Adrian at applewww.azumbrunnen.me

Eric Jordan at applewww.ericjordan.design

Design Studios

Pentagram worlds largest design studiohttps://www.pentagram.com/

Design Studio https://design.studio/

Studio fnt cool public space design https://studiofnt.com/Projects

Hoodzpah Design https://hoodzpahdesign.com/

We Are In House https://weareinhouse.com/

Grow https://thisisgrow.com/

How & How design & brandinghttps://how.studio/

Studio Moross music industryhttps://www.studiomoross.com/

Mucho brand designhttps://wearemucho.com/

Everyday Practice korean design studiohttp://everyday-practice.com/

Brethren beer & music industry https://www.brethrendesignco.com

Out of place brandinghttps://outofplace.studio/

fatfish web dev agencyhttps://fatfish.ca/en/

Zajno digital design studiohttps://zajno.com/

++hellohello web design & dev studiohttps://www.hellohello.is/

Duckpin https://www.rollwithduckpin.com/

Dinger https://www.dingercreative.com/

EightySeven https://www.madebyeightyseven.com/work

Sydopia https://sydopia.com/

Column Five https://www.columnfivemedia.com/

UK DESIGN STUDIO LIST

Hiaaryan’snotion list here

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STUDIOS

Gensler https://www.gensler.com/

Gable https://gablecompany.com/

Advertising Agencies

Alma rlly cool stuff for pepsi https://www.almaad.com

Razorfish advertising agency, rlly cool car ad for Cadillachttps://www.razorfish.com/

Lola Mullenlowe (advertising agency, commercials) https://lola-mullenlowe.com/

Merkley + Partners snoop dogg bic ad https://www.merkleyandpartners.com/

Design Podcasts

A Change of Brand real world branding insightLink Here

The Typecast here

My Life In Design Apple Podcasts

Misc

Pepsi’s $1 Million logo presentation here

Design Principles basically a wikihttps://principles.design/

Design Systems https://www.designsystems.com/sections/getting-started/

Gestalt Principles https://www.gestaltprinciples.com/

Photoshop tutorials

Playlist cool tutorials and techniqueshere

Design Youtubers

Jesse Nyberg nice freelance insightshttps://www.youtube.com/@JesseNyberg

Ricardo Perez UI/UX designer at googlehttps://www.youtube.com/@rahpstudio

Texturelabs cool photoshop & motion stuff https://www.youtube.com/@Texturelabs

Articles

Portfolio advice Your design portfolio needs better copy

UX Case study challenge for google hiring process link here

Agency Process: https://medium.com/smith-diction/trust-the-process-97ac8999d56a

Creatives Lives in Progress career insightshttps://www.creativelivesinprogress.com/

CAREER

Salary Transparency

AIGA Salary Excel Sheet here

Aquent https://aquent.com/lp/salary-guide

Foundations / Groups

AIGA American Institute of Graphic Arts https://www.aiga.org/

AAAF American advertising federationhttps://www.aaf.org/

RDG Registered Graphic Designers (Canada)https://rgd.ca/

Job Search Sites (most are UK based)

The Jungle https://www.welcometothejungle.com/en

Creative Access (mostly UK Based)https://opportunities.creativeaccess.org.uk/

If You Could https://www.ifyoucouldjobs.com/

The Dots networking events & job listings https://the-dots.com/

Run The Check job listingshttps://www.runthecheck.com/

UAL: internships https://creativeopportunities.arts.ac.uk/

Malt https://careers.malt.com/

Feel free to leave comments with any suggestions or things you’ve seen that you think would be cool to add!

Must-read guides for new designers:

Mega-directories for design tools/resources:

Design inspo sites/resources

Job Boards

A list of platforms for finding design-related jobs. Links with a star next to them are specifically for freelancers. Note — not all of these platforms are free and some may require a subscription.

Graph View