7 Hidden Gems: Free Design Resources You Need to Know About

8 min readJun 19, 2023

In the vast universe of design, there’s no shortage of resources, but finding the right ones that align with your creative vision can sometimes feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. You’ve probably heard a million times of Unsplash, Pexels, Freepik or Undraw — and while these are excellent resources, this blog post aims to navigate you through this labyrinth by shining a light on seven lesser-known design resources that are not only free but also brimming with high-quality assets.

Whether you’re an illustrator looking for unique elements to incorporate in your work, a graphic designer on the hunt for trendy fonts and mockups, or a video editor in search of the perfect soundtrack, these resources are treasure troves waiting to be unearthed. From SVG illustrations to design templates, sound effects, and surrealistic artworks, these platforms present a world of possibilities to stir your creative juices and bring your ideas to life. Let’s dive into this exciting journey of discovery and creativity.

Lukasz Adam

Lukasz Adam is a name that deserves more recognition in the realm of digital design. As an artist dedicated to his craft, Adam has crafted a plethora of time-saving SVG illustrations that are freely available for all creatives. His free illustration library is a goldmine, offering a wide spectrum of SVG illustrations under the generous MIT license. This means you can use these assets for both commercial and personal projects without having to worry about attribution.

But what sets Adam’s work apart is his ability to create designs that are versatile and adaptable. These illustrations aren’t just beautiful; they’re designed to seamlessly blend into a variety of contexts, making them a fantastic resource for designers, marketers, and content creators alike. Whether you’re designing a website, creating a marketing campaign, or adding flair to your blog posts, these illustrations can add depth and visual interest to your projects.

Moreover, Lukasz Adam’s website isn’t just a gallery; it’s a hub of knowledge where he shares insightful articles to help others in their creative journey. By offering these resources free of charge, Adam exemplifies the spirit of the creative community, where artists help each other to grow and flourish. Let his library of illustrations and wealth of knowledge inspire your next project.

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Free Design Resources

Free Design Resources is an invaluable hub for every designer’s toolkit. This platform is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the design community, bringing together high-quality design resources crafted by an impressive array of artists and professional designers from all corners of the globe. These resources aren’t just free; they’re also meticulously crafted and curated, ensuring you receive top-notch quality every time you download.

The diversity of resources available is truly astounding. You have access to an extensive collection of fonts in various styles — serif, sans-serif, handwritten, and more — that can breathe life into your typographic projects. The range of mockups available can add a professional touch to your presentations and client pitches. If you’re in need of graphics, you’ll find an assortment of icons, vectors, and textures to complement your designs. Moreover, you’ll find a wealth of templates for web design, social media, printables, and more, ready to be customized to your needs.

Free Design Resources is a testament to the spirit of sharing in the design community, providing free access to a world of resources that can elevate your work and streamline your design process.

Graphic Burger

Graphic Burger is a veritable feast for designers seeking high-quality, free design resources. Its playful name echoes the platform’s philosophy — serving up a diverse menu of design resources that are as satisfying as a well-made burger.

The platform provides a wide assortment of design resources that are free for both personal and commercial use. You’ll find everything from realistic mockups that can give your presentations a professional edge, to UI kits that can speed up your web design process. They also offer a myriad of icons, backgrounds, and textures, all designed with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

One of the standout features of Graphic Burger is the quality of the resources. Each asset is crafted with precision, ensuring they not only look good but also function well in your design projects. The files are easy to work with, often coming with customizable elements that allow you to tweak them to suit your specific needs.

Graphic Burger embodies the generous spirit of the design community, offering a banquet of resources that can add a touch of creativity and professionalism to your projects. With Graphic Burger, you’re not just downloading files, you’re gaining a reliable partner in your design journey.

MixKit

MixKit is a game-changer for video creators, offering a comprehensive suite of free assets that can elevate any video project. This platform is a testament to the power of multimedia, bringing together a wealth of video resources that are not only high-quality but also free to use.

One of the standout features of MixKit is the sheer volume of resources it offers. With over 41,000 stock video clips, you’re bound to find footage that aligns with your project’s theme and aesthetic. Whether you need drone footage of a bustling city, a tranquil beach scene, or close-ups of nature, MixKit has you covered.

But MixKit isn’t just about videos. The platform also boasts a substantial collection of music tracks and sound effects, enabling you to create a rich auditory experience that complements your visuals. Additionally, with over 851 video templates, you can quickly create professional-quality videos without starting from scratch.

By offering these resources for free, MixKit is helping to democratize the video creation process, making high-quality production accessible to creators regardless of their budget or experience level.

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Absurd Design

In a world where many design resources can start to feel homogenous, Absurd Design stands out with its distinctive style and approach. Offering a collection of free surrealistic illustrations and vector art, Absurd Design is a breath of fresh air in the design world.

Each illustration is a work of art in its own right, offering limitless interpretations and sparking creativity. These aren’t your typical illustrations; they’re imaginative, unconventional, eccentric, and full of personality. The high-quality images come with a transparent background, making them easy to incorporate into a variety of design contexts.

Moreover, the illustrations’ surrealistic style can act as a conversation starter, drawing attention and intrigue to your designs. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of whimsy to your website, make your social media posts stand out, or create memorable branding materials, Absurd Design provides the resources to make that happen.

For those who wish to support the artist behind these unique creations, Absurd Design also offers a membership plan. Members receive new artwork regularly, ensuring a constant supply of fresh and intriguing visuals for their projects. This platform is a testament to the power of imagination, pushing the boundaries of design and inspiring creators to think outside the box.

Onfire Illustrations

Onfire Illustrations is a powerhouse of creative energy, offering unique and vibrant designs that can enhance any project. This platform is a testament to the transformative power of color and form, providing a range of illustrations that are as versatile as they are visually striking.

Each illustration available on Onfire Illustrations is meticulously crafted, showcasing a vibrant palette and distinct style that can breathe life into your designs. These aren’t just illustrations, they’re narratives waiting to unfold, capable of adding depth and dynamism to your projects. Whether you’re designing a website, creating marketing materials, or seeking a captivating image for your blog post, these illustrations can set your project alight.

The platform offers its illustrations in two color styles and in SVG & PNG formats, providing flexibility to suit a variety of needs. What’s more, these assets come under a commercial license, meaning they can be freely used in your projects, be they personal or commercial.

Onfire Illustrations is a beacon of creativity in the design world, sparking inspiration and enabling designers to bring their ideas to life with a burst of color and imagination.

Shapefest

Shapefest is a powerhouse of visual resources, offering a vast library of over 100,000 3D illustrations available at an ultra-high resolution. This platform is a testament to the power of scale and quality, providing a wealth of resources that are as impressive in quantity as they are in quality.

One of the standout features of Shapefest is the easy access to downloads. The platform has been designed with user-friendliness in mind, enabling you to quickly find and download the assets you need. Furthermore, the extended license that comes with these resources never expires, providing you with the freedom to use these assets in your projects whenever you need them.

Each asset on Shapefest is rendered with a high level of consistency, ensuring that the quality of the illustrations remains consistent across the board. This level of quality control is a testament to the platform’s dedication to providing top-notch resources.

Shapefest also offers different subscription plans, including a lifetime plan, providing flexibility to cater to various needs and budgets. This platform is truly a treasure trove of visual resources, providing a wealth of options to elevate your designs and bring your creative vision to life.