These resources are great for when you are just starting out or looking for inspiration, we encourage everyone to support the designers, photographers, and artists financially when you can. Alright, let’s jump in and check out 5 FREE resources that every designer should know about.
Shapefest
Shapefest offers an AMAZING library of free 3D icons, ranging from geometric shapes to models of products. UI designers – rejoice! Their collection is massive, too, featuring over 160,000 free high resolution PNG images and shapes. Dive in and let us know what you think!
Why we Love Shapefest
- Image library is MASSIVE
- High quality designs
- Great for finding inspiration
Texture Fabrik
With flat design being so popular online nowadays, texture gives designers an opportunity to really stand out from the competition. Texture Fabrik offers an eclectic assortment of images, patterns and textures for a wide variety of use cases. Categories
Why We Love Texture Fabrik
- Well-designed
- Wide variety (i.e. metal, fabric, insects, sprayed, and many more)
- Much of it is free - its remaining assets are affordable compared to their competitors
Smithsonian Archives
Nonprofits and government organizations are hidden gems when it comes to finding design resources and inspiration. Smithsonian Archives, for example, offers a seemingly endless treasure trove of resources to dig through. They are constantly adding new content – although we doubt you will ever get bored since they have over 3 million (you read that right) FREE 2D and 3D digital assets to choose from. #SmithsonianOpenAccess – we thank you.
We should also note that NASA’s gallery is also open for the public to use. A universe of free images – right at your fingertips.
Why We Love Smithsonian Archives
- A seemingly endless library to pull from
- New content added regularly
- Great for projects requiring a realistic and/or historical aesthetic
Rawpixel
Rawpixel’s large collection of free design resources can help you keep the creative juices flowing without having to worry about copyright infringement or paying exorbitant fees for usage rights. They also offer beautiful, high quality designs at affordable prices for Premium users, because – while we love free things – we also encourage supporting designers financially whenever possible.
Why We Love Rawpixel
- Huge range of designs and photos to choose from
- Great search tools makes it easy to find what you need
- Premium membership option is affordable - $99 gets you lifetime access to everything
Kern Club
Finding the right typeface can make all of the difference. While not everything on Kern Club is free, there are still plenty of free and affordable fonts to choose from. Whether you are looking for the perfect font or something to inspire you, Kern Club is a great place to start.
Why We Kern Club
- Unique, high quality type faces and patterns
- Great resource for inspiration
- Premium products are affordable compared to competitors
Now, We Want to Hear From You!
Which of these resources have you used before or plan on using after reading about them? Are there any free resources you use that should be on the list? Let us know in the comments below or tag @DoloDigital on Instagram using #FreeDesignResources. Till next time!
