Today, I want to share how I find inspiration online. Previously, we discussed ways to stay inspired through everyday activities like talking to peers, walking around, studying others’ work, and staying knowledgeable about different topics. While these methods are fantastic for keeping the creative juices flowing, having a constant source of online inspiration is absolutely essential to the product design process.
In this article, I’ll walk you through several online platforms that I frequently visit to spark ideas and keep my creativity alive.
1. Dribbble
One of my go-to sites for design inspiration is Dribbble. I’m sure many of you are already familiar with it, but I love it because it allows me to create collections of various design patterns that resonate with me. Searching on Dribbble is straightforward, and it’s arguably one of the best places to gather ideas for your designs.
Dribbble is a fantastic way to study your peers and discover some of the world’s top designers and creatives. You can find inspiration across a wide range of disciplines, including animation, branding, illustrations, product design, web design, and print. There’s always a project to learn from!
How I Use Dribbble
I often browse different categories and create collections based on themes or design elements I’m interested in. For example, if I’m exploring typography, I might search for innovative print collateral and examine how designers use shapes and text layouts to inspire my own website hero pages.
When I find something intriguing, like an interesting mobile navigation design with micro-interactions and animations, I save it to one of my collections. I have collections for calculators, carousel forms, colors, CRM tools, and more. This way, I can easily reference different design solutions when tackling similar problems in my projects.
To organize your finds, simply hover over your profile, go to “My Collections,” and create or edit your collections as needed. This method helps me keep track of various inspirations and makes it easy to revisit them later.
Tip: Avoid getting hung up on finding the perfect solution to mimic. Instead, use Dribbble to explore a variety of options and spark your own unique ideas.
2. Pinterest
Another platform I frequently use is Pinterest. It’s a vast library of visual content where you can find inspiration for almost anything. While there can be a lot of noise, the key to effectively using Pinterest is to perform targeted searches.
For instance, searching for “mobile design” yields a plethora of options. You can save your favorite finds to personal boards, which act as collections. I have boards for various design patterns I love, and I also use Pinterest to explore other areas like interior design or any design-related field.
How I Use Pinterest
When I come across something that catches my eye, I save it to the appropriate board. Pinterest allows you to create new boards on the fly, making organization a breeze. There’s also a browser extension that lets you save content from any website directly to your Pinterest boards. For example, you can save designs from Dribbble or other sites, consolidating all your inspirations in one place.
Tip: Don’t limit yourself to finding the exact solution you’re seeking. Explore different categories to broaden your perspective and inspire creativity.
3. Behance
While I don’t use Behance as much as Dribbble, it’s another excellent resource for high-quality design inspiration with in-depth explanations behind the work. Behance is great for exploring various types of design, including graphic design, illustration, and more.
How I Use Behance
If I’m interested in mobile design, I search for projects related to that and explore the detailed case studies. One advantage of Behance over Dribbble is the comprehensive project presentations. Designers often provide breakdowns of their challenges, processes, and solutions, which I find incredibly valuable. It’s not just about the final product but understanding how they arrived there.
I enjoy seeing how designers define their style guides, handle animations, and present their work. This insight into their process can inspire me to approach my projects differently.
4. Pttrns
Pttrns is a resource focused on mobile design patterns. While it’s not entirely free, it offers great mobile app designs and in-depth UI element screenshots. You can search based on specific UI elements, which is incredibly useful when you’re looking for inspiration for a particular component.
How I Use Pttrns
I explore categories like “Cards” or “Lists” to see how different designers have handled these elements. Although the free version limits how much you can view, even the limited access can be helpful. If you’re serious about diving deeper, a premium account might be worth considering—especially if your company can provide it.
5. Awwwards
For web-based design inspiration, I turn to Awwwards. This platform showcases exceptional website designs evaluated by expert judges through a strict evaluation process. It’s a great place to find the latest web trends and see how innovative designers are pushing the boundaries.
How I Use Awwwards
I might search for “banking” to see how designers approach what is traditionally considered a rigid and strict field. The results often surprise me with creative takes on banking websites. You can click through to the actual websites to experience the designs firsthand, exploring navigation schemes and interactions.
Tip: Exploring live websites allows you to see implemented solutions and understand how they function in a real-world context.
