Must-Read Magazines for Graphic Design Inspiration
I’m a lifelong magazine junkie and I was fortunate that in my last design job we were given stacks – yes stacks – of reading material to go over at our leisure. In addition to work supplied material I also have a couple of long-standing subscriptions to the design magazines I can’t live without. Here is a list of the best ones (in my humble opinion). Many of these are wonderful sources of inspiration not only for designers but for anyone in a creative field.
Design Ideas at Work
I’ve been reading HOW since 2001 and I consider it one of the best design magazines out there. The articles in HOW mainly cover the business side of design and ways to stay creative without the burnout that so many of us experience. Being creative on demand is a tough job. HOW is chock full of useful tips that will make your life easier, interesting interviews with successful designers, and lots of beautifully designed pages. I keep all of my back issues and when I’m stuck on a design I’ll flip through them for inspiration. HOW also hosts several large events each year such as the Mind Your Own Business Conference.
In their own words… “HOW magazine’s goal is to help designers, whether they work for a design firm, for an in-house design department or for themselves, run successful, creative, profitable studios.”
The How-To Magazine for Everything Adobe
I’ve had a subscription to Layers Magazine off and on for several years and what keeps me coming back is the tutorials and tips. Every issue features multiple step-by-step tutorials, covering a wide range of Adobe software with descriptions that are clear and concise.
Another regular highlight is the Design Makeover section which takes three separate designers/design teams and gives them the same assignment – to redesign a provided promotional piece from a real-life company in need of an upgrade. It’s amazing how each designer comes up with wildly different solutions to the same project. Accompanying photos of the finished designs is information about each designer and what processes they used to come up with their concepts.
Design For Curious Minds
Ever since it was founded in 1940 Print has been the gold standard in graphics publications. The first time I picked up an issue of Print was in my Communication Arts class in high school. I must have spent hours pouring over that issue and many of the pieces I found in its pages became the basis for paintings and design projects.
In their own words… “Print is dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary in design on and off the page. Covering a field as broad as communication itself—publication and book design, animation and motion graphics, corporate branding and rock posters, exhibitions and street art—Print covers commercial, social, and environmental design from every angle. Engagingly written by cultural reporters and critics who look at design in its social, political, and historical contexts, Print explores why our world looks the way it looks, and why the way it looks matters.”
The three above are my top picks but here are links to some additional magazines that I recommend….
Graphic Design USA -
Before and After -
Step Inside Design -
Communication Arts -
There are dozens of magazines that I read but I can’t list them all here, these are simply the ones I turn to first when I’m in need of inspiration. I’m always looking for fresh ideas and new techniques to learn so if there are other magazines that you feel is noteworthy please let me know!
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