Graphic Design Inspiration: 20 Designers You Should Know

When you walk into an art museum or view an exhibition for the first time, you get a specific sense. Graphic design Inspiration causes your eyes to widen and your mind to race. Above all, it is a tremendous force for generating new ideas. There's no better way to encourage yourself than to witness good design in action if you're working on a graphic design project. Designers are an essential part of a fast-paced world that is evolving all around us, from conceptualizing the technologies that will propel us into the future to pushing the frontiers of visual communication.
We wanted to share with you some of our favorite designers who inspire and excite us and help us stay creative. We are always on the lookout for new talent! Is there anyone you believe we forgot to include on this list? Do Let us know what you think!
Graphic Artists To Look Out For
Aaron Draplin
Aaron Draplin is a self-taught graphic designer from Detroit who found his ability while snowboarding at the age of 19. He got his first design job making snowboard graphics after spending two years on the slopes reading a number of design books, marking the start of a successful career in design.
Erik Marinovich
"Lettering has a blue-collar work ethic—repetitious it's and time-consuming, but when you're finished...something there's tangible to show." Erik Marinovich, a San Francisco-based lettering artist and co-founder of the popular Friends of Type blog, is driven by a tactile approach to type.
Richard Perez
Richard Perez makes images that bring a grin to your face. Perez's genuine approach makes no apology for status, with customers ranging from Google and Facebook to more obscure names like indie pop band Death Cab for Cutie.
Lauren Hom
Lauren Hom is a designer and letterer based in Brooklyn who is known for her vibrant color palettes and playful letterform. You may find her selling your ex-tears boyfriend's or letters for lunch in New York City when she's not designing for clients like TIME Magazine and YouTube.
Violaine & Jeremy
In the works of the French art and design team Violaine Orsoni and Jeremy Schneider, commonly known as Violaine & Jeremy, whimsical worlds and traditional pastel color palettes are elegantly packed. This creative French duo's or graphic designers abilities range from detailed drawings to crisp magazine editorials to corporate branding.
Frank Chimero
Frank Chimero's design thoughts are insightful, with a book under his belt and a pen in his hand almost all of the time. Chimero leads Another, a fluid design company focusing on the "middle way" that connects "digital and analogue, art and commerce, reach and resonance," in addition to writing and speaking on the design on a regular basis. They just published a bi-annual print edition of The Great Discontent's legendary interviews, which were previously only available online.
Sean McCabe
Sean McCabe's handwriting classes made six figures in the first three days after they were released. This comprehensive series on everything from compositional hierarchy, bespoke type logos, digitizing, selling, licensing, and design contracts are one of the most unusual and enriching on the web for the type-curious.
Alex Trochut
Alex Trochut's creations, which he creates between his homeland of Barcelona and Brooklyn, are recognized for turning the modern concept of minimalism on its head. Trochut's self-proclaimed motto: "More is more" seeps generously from his work with high-profile clients such as Absolut, Coca-Cola, and The New York Times.
Viktor Hertz
The Noun Project, probably the most beautiful and useful collection of icons on the web, was created by Viktor Hertz. With a special spot for pictograms and other basic forms and things, he makes icons, posters, and logos for companies like Ikea, as well as works on creative personal projects on a regular basis reflecting his graphic designer job description.
Lotta Nieminen
Few 29-year-olds can brag about owning a design company in New York with customers like Hermès, Google, and the New York Times. But then again, making Forbes' 30 Under 30 list and winning an ADC Young Guns award are no minor accomplishments.
John Maeda
When John Maeda was named President of the Rhode Island School of Design, he was asked how he planned to move the school forward. What was his response? "I'm going to bring RISD's future back." Maeda is a significant thought leader in the field of digital design, echoing his conviction that the purpose of technology is to simplify, not complicate, human lives. In addition to his job at RISD, Maeda has previously served as a professor and head of research at the MIT Media Lab. He just joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a Silicon Valley venture capital company, as a Design Partner, and currently heads the eBay Design Advisory Council.
Mike Perry
If you ask Mike Perry why he designs, he will tell you that he aims to captivate and awaken you with his constellations of line, form, shape, color, and concept. Perry's work as a designer and artist has appeared in books, periodicals, films, and newspapers, illuminating the pages and walls on which they appear.
Llew Mejia
"Textiles, couture, folk art, wallpaper, and all kinds of sweets," says the author. Llew Mejia is an excellent example of a designer whose passions are seamlessly integrated into his work. Mejia is an up-and-coming designer who has created wonderfully colorful, textured graphics for clients such as Adidas, Reebok, and Element skateboards.
Timothy Goodman
What happens when two excellent friends with opposing relationship issues are both singles at the same time? When two friends have as much courage and brilliance as Timothy Goodman and Jessica Walsh, the outcome is a visual masterpiece that is stunningly honest: The 40-Day Dating Challenge. The narrative, which began as a blog, is told in the recently released book of the same name, which contains several beautifully crafted, emotional pages. The project is a great example of the design duos' limitless imagination, and I personally suggest the book as possibly the most engaging weekend reading you could hope for.
Goodman is also known for his work as a designer, artist, educator, and art director. He now operates his own studio, where he works with high-profile clients like The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time. Goodman's portfolio is a playground of ideas, with work spanning from logo design and editorial to skateboard decks and office murals.
Chuck Anderson
Chuck Anderson left college at the age of 18 to pursue a career as a freelance graphic designer (90% of designers are freelancers as per digitalintheround). NoPattern was the end outcome. While most individuals were finishing design school, he was able to work with clients such as Microsoft, Nike, and Reebok through a creative agency. Check out his portfolio to see his vibrant, colorful work, or listen to him interview designers that inspire him here.
Dan Cassaro
Dan Cassaro, a self-described "get out of here" New Yorker, has had his work recognized by publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and The Wall Street Journal. In his battered Brooklyn studio, Cassaro specializes in type, lettering, logo design, and strong 1970s rock & roll.
Dana Tanamachi
Dana Tanamachi, located in Brooklyn, spends her days designing bespoke typography for the magazine, lifestyle, culinary, and fashion businesses in her boutique studio. Tanamachi's joy of working with her hands shines through in the fine intricacies of her work.
Dave Foster
“Any message must have a compelling visual presence to survive in today's noise,” Dave Foster declares, outlining the inspiration for his work. Foster, located in Sydney, develops fonts and lettering for design studios, type foundries, businesses, and individuals all around the world, putting Australia on the map one letter at a time.
David Carson
Dave Carson, a consequence of southern California's surfing subculture, began experimenting with graphic design in the mid-1980s. Carson became recognized for his "filthy" type, which follows none of the normal typographic rules and is frequently unreadable, after working for an outstanding portfolio of surfing magazines.
Jacob Cass
Jacob Cass' proactive approach can encourage you if you're thinking of becoming a graphic designer. Cass, who is originally from Australia, now has his own design firm, Just Creative, and has worked with clients like Disney, Nintendo, and even Jerry Seinfeld. Just Creative is also a popular blog that offers a wealth of useful design tips as well as a refreshingly open view of the creative design process. Do follow these amazing graphic artists or designers and let your creativity flow on IM photo editor to extract benefits of the graphic design industry whose global valuation is estimated to be over 45.8 billion dollars as per findstack.
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