Design Resources

November 24, 2004 4:32 AM

Now that I'm a Print Designer for the next few days, what sites should I go to for inspiration when I get stuck? As a web designer I would go to K10K or Design is Kinky, or check out the newest sites at MoLuv. I am looking for things like online mags in PDF or Flash, people's print portfolios, or just anything else that is similar to print in terms of layout or design.
posted by banished to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

That's the catch - you can't really go to websites looking for print design. Web colorspace is just too different from CMYK, and you also need to look at paper: the texture and weight of paper is something no website can possibly show you, and it has a surprising importance in print design.

Try to find caches of Print magazine or other design magazines, the more recent the better - maybe there's a design college nearby with a library, or maybe someone you know knows a designer with packrat tendencies who'd let you look at some of their magazines. Even going to a newsstand and flipping through a few current design mags might help.

I have a growing stack of Taschen books for visual inspiration. Their smaller paperbacks are well-printed, and surprisingly cheap. Maybe you could go to a bookstore and browse their art shelves.
posted by zadcat at 6:38 AM on November 24, 2004

Response by poster: Zadcat, thanks for the insight. I am definitely open to aquiring print materials, and I'll write down to look for Taschen books. Anyone else have any ideas as to design mags / books available at the local Barnes and Noble that are worth getting? I'll be browsing there later today, but should I look for anything in particular?
posted by banished at 6:46 AM on November 24, 2004

I don't have the URLs handy at the moment, but here are a few places (PDF and webzines) where I go for inspiration:

- This Is A Magazine
- Orangeflow
- Sceyelines

Google should get you to these downloads on time.
posted by mds35 at 6:47 AM on November 24, 2004

Also, Communication Arts is a great resource for inspration, especially their Annuals. Check out eBay for used copies or head to the CA site to order back issues.
posted by mds35 at 6:49 AM on November 24, 2004

Graphic Design USA is pretty decent for the price: free.
posted by MegoSteve at 7:05 AM on November 24, 2004

One last chime-in, sometimes I go to here to find new designers. See a desktop you like? There may be a link to the artist's web page.
posted by mds35 at 7:51 AM on November 24, 2004

Issac Tobin
posted by Aaorn at 8:26 AM on November 24, 2004

It's on the web, and hence, web-looking and feeling, but a good place to find inspiration is speakup. I think they're still going over the posters (critique) that they had from their big poster contest. I find with speakup that the inspiration comes from the people contributing to it rather than the look and feel of the site itself. They have a good mix of print and web folks and a good vibe (though the usual community bumps apply).
posted by safetyfork at 10:51 AM on November 24, 2004