If you’re a graphic designer, people naturally assume that ideas are constantly bursting out of you, kind of like a champagne out of a just-popped bottle. While it is true that you know what looks good and what does not, you may not always have the ideas you need ready to create on the computer screen.

Sometimes you just need a little inspiration to get you going in the right direction. Thankfully, some super smart people created the internet a while ago, which enabled some other smart graphic designers to create some websites that help you with your inspiration need.

Designspiration

Designspiration.net, if you couldn’t tell by its self-descriptive name, was created to provide design inspiration. The sites vision is to have a “diverse selection of high quality, user-submitted images as a means of sharing inspiration.” It succeeds in its goal. In my opinion, this is the best site for finding the widest variety of excellent design projects.

Each day, many posts are added to the site showcasing user creations. Some types of projects include packaging, album covers, print ads, branding and logos, limited photography, lettering, and much more.

Anyone can use the site to find inspiration. However, in order to post on the site, a designer must submit a link to their online portfolio for review. Upon approval, a user can comment on others’ design, and share their work.

Dribbble

Dribbble.com is a “show and tell [site] for designers.” The site is basketball-themed (not quite sure why) and has a structure built around sharing. On Dribbble, Players, who are drafted/invited from existing members can share and comment on others’ shots (uploaded designs). A spectator is anyone who comes to view the site and find inspiration—they cannot post or comment. Lastly, prospects are spectators who have asked to be drafted. 

Not only will spectators find traditional forms of inspiration, but they’ll also stumble across a lot design elements created for iPhone apps, internet games, websites, and user interfaces. The site encourages feedback, which helps designers perfect their work.

The site takes a step beyond show and tell, and lets users find designers for hire based on skills and location, search for open jobs, and collaborate on work together.

Behance

Similar to Designspiration and Dribbble, Behance.net lets users share their work with other designers. Users can filter the website through a large amount of subjects, including advertising, branding, caricatures, caligraphy, crafts, costume design, photography, jewelry design, video effects, and much, much more.

Behance also has a section for finding and filling jobs. Additionally, Behance has a blog called The 99%, which gives tips for turning your ideas into reality. Action Method, an app created by Behance, is a task management program design specifically for creatives and helps users stay on track with their projects.

Lost Type Co-Op

Losttype.com is not your average inspiration site. Rather, it is a site where you can pay whatever amount you want, from free to a $692.34 if you were feeling generous, for distributing designer-created fonts. New fonts are added about once a week and with it comes a digital poster to advertise the font. These posters showcase each font and are often fun and creative, providing small yet, ample inspiration.

Lost Type has created a blog that showcases its fonts in action. For example, ESPN, the NBA, coffee shops, and greeting card companies have utilized fonts from this excellent resource. So, go take a look at Lost Type for some other designers’ creations—the worst that could happen is you’ll leave with some free fonts!

Serifs & Sans

Serifsandsans.com is a design blog with a simple premise executed flawlessly. Nearly everyday, awesome examples of contemporary graphic design are posted to the site. From posters, brand identities, typefaces and fonts, packaging, websites, and more, there will surly be something that appeals to everyone. What makes the site a standout is how many posts are visible all at once. Serif & Sans is a quick and easy tool for inspiration.

August Drilling, from Forte Promotions, which sells promotional products like custom flash drives, loves social media, all things Apple, and design.