My 5 Favorite Websites for Creative Resources
Whether you are a freelancer taking on more work on a growing agency that needs to deliver results, every creative can greatly benefit from having the proper resources to manage your workload. Sometimes these resources can be used as an inspiration tool to get started on something great, and other times these resources are dynamic enough to complete a task entirely. Below are my five favorite websites that I use nearly everyday to find creative resources.
THE NOUN project
Icon Library
The Noun Project is an online library that consists of over 2 million icons that I use in graphic design work on a regular basis. You can search the database for whatever icon you’re looking for, and once you find the one it’s available as a transparent PNG or a fully editable SVG vector file. In addition to a simple search and download, you can also change the color of the icon on the website, before you download it. And in addition to that, The Noun Project can also be built into your workflow when working from your creative software. This means I can pair my Noun Project account to my Adobe account, and search for icons in a window inside Illustrator or Photoshop, without even opening an Internet browser. Also, did I mention it’s just $39.99 for the year? Easily the biggest value of this list.
envato elements
Creative Resources
Whether you’re a graphic designer, videographer, animator, or anything in between - Envato is the biggest website for all facets of creative resources - and Envato Elements is a scaled down version of the mothership marketplace. One annual fee gets you access to millions of files, ranging from stock video and photo, MOGRT files for Adobe Premiere, product mockups and print templates, and hundreds more. It’s easy to work as a team on Envato and bring on more members to use, and their project management system keeps everything you download categorized by project or client. With files being added every day, Envato Elements is the perfect companion to any creative who needs access to high quality resources on a regular basis.
ezra cohen
Cinematic Assets
Described as a boutique shop for cinematic assets, Ezra Cohen is a filmmaker who uses his talents towards building incredible visual resources for other videographers to add into their workflow. With a unique selection of typography, animation, elements, textures, overlays and more - Ezra provides some mind bending add-ons that can carry video work to the next level. With a refined selection of handmade work, these products do come with a heavier price tag - but I find it well worth the cost. In the process of using these assets, I also deepen my knowledge of programs like Adobe Premiere and After Effects.
yellow images
High Quality Mockups
Mockups are a great way to bring a design idea to life, especially if you’re presenting it to a client or using it to create your portfolio. While there are some mockups available on websites like Envato Elements, Yellow Images specializes in unique mockups, all in super high quality format. Another unique offering from Yellow Images, are the new 360 degree PNG images that are based on high-resolution photos of real objects and 3D renders. Yellow Images can help bring flat design work on you computer screen to life, through the use of their incredible selection of mockups.
blkbk
Fonts
BLKBK is a graphic design studio that specializes in typography, custom fonts, and brand identity. Another boutique style marketplace, BLKBK offers a unique selection of hand drawn fonts that you won’t find anywhere else. For brands looking for even more customization, BLKBK offers a custom font design service to offer a truly 100% unique branding experience.
