Best Graphic Design Websites of 2018
Whether you were looking for fresh ideas, practical tutorials or a place to showcase your work, 2018 offered plenty of excellent websites for graphic designers. From creative portfolios to design publications, these sites helped designers discover new work, follow industry trends and develop their skills.
Here are some of the best graphic design websites to explore.
Behance
Behance was one of the leading places to discover and share creative work. Designers could publish complete projects, from branding and illustration to typography and packaging, while browsing portfolios from creatives around the world. Its project-based format made it especially useful for seeing how a finished design came together.
Dribbble
Dribbble offered a quick, visual source of inspiration. Its short posts—often called “shots”—showcased details such as icons, lettering, interface elements and illustrations. It was a popular platform for sharing work in progress, finding collaborators and keeping an eye on emerging design styles.
Awwwards
Awwwards recognised outstanding web design and digital creativity. Although its focus was broader than graphic design alone, the site was a valuable resource for designers interested in typography, colour, layout and the visual details of websites. Its award-winning examples could inspire fresh approaches to digital projects.
Designspiration
Designspiration was built for visual discovery. Users could browse and save examples of graphic design, photography, illustration and typography, then create collections around particular projects or ideas. It was a useful choice when starting a mood board or looking for a particular colour combination.
Pinterest
Pinterest remained a handy tool for gathering references and organising inspiration. Its wide-ranging image library covered everything from logos and editorial layouts to packaging and print design. Because the quality and context of images varied, it worked best as a starting point rather than a substitute for researching original sources.
Abduzeedo
Abduzeedo published visual inspiration, interviews and design tutorials. It covered graphic design alongside photography, illustration and digital art, making it a good site for creatives who wanted both ideas and practical guidance.
Creative Bloq
Creative Bloq offered news, reviews, advice and tutorials for designers and other creative professionals. Its articles covered subjects such as typography, software, branding and design techniques, making it a useful resource for learning as well as inspiration.
It’s Nice That
It’s Nice That celebrated creativity across graphic design, illustration, photography and the wider arts. Its interviews and features introduced readers to established and emerging creatives, often highlighting unusual ideas and distinctive approaches to visual communication.
The Dieline
The Dieline specialised in packaging design. Its project showcases offered plenty to explore for anyone working with branding, labels or product packaging, while its articles provided insight into the thinking behind selected designs.
Fonts In Use
Fonts In Use documented typography in the real world. It showed how typefaces appeared across posters, books, packaging, websites and other applications. For designers choosing fonts or studying typographic combinations, it was a particularly useful reference.
Finding the right design resource
The best graphic design website depended on what you needed. Behance and Dribbble were strong choices for exploring portfolios and sharing work; Designspiration and Pinterest helped with collecting visual references; and sites such as Creative Bloq and It’s Nice That offered articles, interviews and industry perspectives. For more specialised inspiration, The Dieline focused on packaging, while Fonts In Use put typography centre stage.
Used thoughtfully, these websites could help designers in 2018 find inspiration, refine their craft and connect with a wider creative community.
Top 7 Graphic Design Websites to Explore in 2018 for Inspiration and Creativity
- Browse Behance for polished graphic design portfolios.
- Use Dribbble to discover fresh visual ideas.
- Explore Awwwards for standout website design.
- Visit SiteInspire for curated web inspiration.
- Check CSS Design Awards for innovative digital work.
- Try Canva for quick, accessible design projects.
- Use Adobe Color to build balanced colour palettes.
Browse Behance for polished graphic design portfolios.
Browse Behance to explore polished graphic design portfolios from creatives around the world. Its project-based showcases make it easy to discover work in areas such as branding, illustration and typography, and to see how designers develop an idea from initial concept to finished piece.
Use Dribbble to discover fresh visual ideas.
Use Dribbble to discover fresh visual ideas by browsing designers’ “shots” across areas such as branding, illustration, typography and digital design. In 2018, it was a popular place to spot emerging styles, explore creative details and see what other designers were working on. Save examples that catch your eye, then use them as a starting point for your own ideas rather than copying someone else’s work.
Explore Awwwards for standout website design.
Explore Awwwards for standout website design and a fresh source of inspiration. Its showcase of award-winning sites highlights creative layouts, thoughtful typography, bold colour choices and engaging user experiences. In 2018, it was a useful place for graphic designers to spot emerging digital trends and see how strong visual design could work on the web.
Visit SiteInspire for curated web inspiration.
Visit SiteInspire for a carefully curated collection of website designs from around the web. In 2018, it was a useful source of inspiration for graphic designers exploring layouts, colour palettes, typography and visual styles, with examples that could spark ideas for digital projects. Use it to spot trends and gather references, while adapting what you like to suit your own brief.
Check CSS Design Awards for innovative digital work.
Explore CSS Design Awards for innovative digital work. The site highlights standout websites and creative projects, making it a useful source of inspiration for graphic designers interested in fresh approaches to layout, typography, animation and interactive design. In 2018, browsing its featured work could help spark ideas for web projects and reveal emerging trends in digital creativity.
Try Canva for quick, accessible design projects.
For quick, accessible design projects, Canva was a handy option in 2018. Its browser-based tools and ready-made templates made it easy to create graphics for social media, presentations, posters and more, even without advanced design software. It was particularly useful for simple projects or a fast first draft, while offering enough customisation to make designs feel personal.
Use Adobe Color to build balanced colour palettes.
Use Adobe Color to build balanced colour palettes for your designs. Its colour wheel and ready-made harmony rules make it easy to explore complementary, analogous and triadic combinations, while saved themes provide a handy reference for future projects. Whether you’re choosing colours for a website, brand identity or poster, Adobe Color can help create a cohesive palette that feels intentional and works well across your design.