The world today moves fast, maybe sometimes too fast. To stay updated, a designer needs to dedicate time to forecasting innovation and trends. Here are some of my favorite websites that I enjoyed exploring as a student and still visit regularly today. These sites cover a variety of content including:
- Technology forecasting
- Material innovation
- Design competitions
- Creative entrepreneurship
Every designer is unique, so browsing multiple sources of design inspiration will better equip you to develop your own style and design direction. These sites are great influences for building your own design culture.
1. Design Boom
Design Boom hosts international design competitions open to anyone, with superstar designers often serving on the jury. The site showcases thousands of projects, including many from students, making it exciting and inspirational. You’ll find creations and interviews from big names like Zaha Hadid. It’s an “innovation nest” that encourages you to pitch your craziest ideas—often simple ideas turn out to be the most beautiful!
2. Red Dot Design
Red Dot is internationally recognized for its prestigious Red Dot Design Awards. Each year, nearly 5,000 entries from over 50 countries compete for top honors such as the “Best of the Best.”
Products adorned with the Red Dot logo in stores symbolize exceptional design quality and innovation. Beyond the awards, Red Dot operates museums in Singapore, Taipei, and Essen, which showcase award-winning designs and serve as inspirational hubs. Visiting one of these museums offers an immersive experience to understand current trends and design excellence.
3. Wired
Wired magazine provides a wide-ranging look at design as it intersects with technology, science, business, politics, and culture. While it doesn’t focus exclusively on product design, Wired highlights how design influences our lifestyle and future.
The articles offer in-depth exploration of emerging technologies, sustainable materials, and digital innovations shaping the industry. For designers interested in broader societal impacts and future-facing trends, Wired is an invaluable resource to stay informed and inspired.
4. Le Manoosh
Le Manoosh focuses on the beautiful marriage between art and product design. Its galleries showcase stunning visuals that range from concept art to finished design objects.
Whether you’re creating moodboards or seeking fresh visual inspiration, Le Manoosh offers a rich variety of curated images that stimulate creativity. The site places equal emphasis on aesthetics and innovation, making it especially useful for designers looking to explore the artistic side of industrial design.
- Beautiful galleries where you will find unlimited inspiration where Art merge with Product design
- You may look for awesome pictures for your moodboard
5. Intramuros
Initially a respected physical design magazine, Intramuros offers comprehensive coverage of the design scene through its online platform. It features profiles and interviews with legendary designers such as Alberto Alessi, Christophe Pillet, Yohji Yamamoto, André Putman, and Marc Newson. Intramuros also keeps you updated about major exhibitions, festivals, and design events worldwide.
For designers seeking to deepen their understanding of contemporary influences and historical context, this site is a rich cultural resource.
6. Yanko Design
Yanko Design is a popular source of inspiration for industrial designers. It showcases innovative products and projects from students, startups, and well-established design brands. Yanko Design’s curated content emphasizes creativity, functionality, and modernity.
Their online shop, CKIE, features clever and humorous products that blend practicality with novelty, providing a fresh perspective on design utility. For emerging designers, Yanko Design offers ideas on how to blend innovation with market appeal.
7. Core 77
Core77 is a comprehensive platform dedicated to industrial design news, events, and inspiration. It covers cutting-edge technology, material experimentation, transportation design, and much more. The site hosts a community forum, design competitions, and career resources, making it an excellent all-in-one hub for professional development.
Core77 is part of a family that includes Coroflot.com, a portfolio site where designers can showcase work and connect with potential employers or collaborators.
8. MateriO‘
Materio is a vast library of materials, textures, and surfaces that designers can draw inspiration from for their projects. With a physical library in Paris open by appointment, Materio offers hands-on access to innovative materials that can spark creativity.
The platform also hosts articles, conferences, and resources around motivation, time management, and creative business strategies, making it invaluable for entrepreneurs. Whether you are searching for textures to import into Photoshop or looking for advice on running a creative business, Materio is a precious resource.
9. Not a website anymore but a series of Books: 99U
For designers aspiring to launch or expand their creative businesses, Make Your Mark: The Creative’s Guide to Building a Business with Impact is a must-read.
99U series of books available on AMAZON.
This compilation shares wisdom and practical advice from successful entrepreneurs and business consultants, helping creatives unlock their potential and build sustainable businesses. Available on Kindle, this book complements online resources and conferences focused on entrepreneurial skills, motivation, and impact-driven design.
There are many other fantastic websites out there. Feel free to share your essential design resources in the comments below!
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