There’s a huge variety of designers available for all levels of investment, from budgets in the hundreds to those in the hundreds of thousands.
The more effort you put into finding the right designer, the more likely it is you’ll get the level of design you deserve. As I’m not always the right fit for the projects I’m approached about, whether due to budget or skillset, I’ve collated a few broad resources that I hope are helpful.
Creative Review. One of the design profession’s leading publications.
Behance. A massive portfolio network.
LinkedIn. A lot of talented designers share their work on the platform.
THE DRUM. News, information, jobs, a comprehensive directory, and more.
It’s Nice That. Creative inspiration from around the world.
AIGA. The American Institute of Graphic Arts.
Graphic Artists Guild. Similar to AIGA, I think, only smaller.
X (Twitter). Search for a relevant term, or ask someone to post a request.
Identity Designed. Visual identities from designers across the globe.
Dribbble. A “show and tell for creatives.”
Forrst. Similar to Dribbble in some ways.
Coroflot. Portfolios showcasing a wide range of creative specialities.
Creativepool. Jobs, portfolios, and freelancers.
Design Week. A professional publication with news and features.
Cargo. A popular portfolio platform with a “featured sites” showcase.
Graphic BirdWatching. Promotion of female graphic designers everywhere.
Design blogs. Those are just a few of the ones I like visiting.
Additionally, it can be a good idea for potential clients to contact companies that have distinctive branding, as there’s no harm in asking who created the work. Designers, too, can be a great source of referrals, as those I know are more than happy to recommend others in the design profession.
Further resource: Design Business and Ethics, from AIGA.
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