Resources
There’s a myriad of resources for designers and developers out there. I’ve collected but a few—knowing that there are countless others that I haven’t had the privilege of stumbling upon or enjoying. Nevertheless, this page is an attempt to showcase some of the people and resources that I’ve personally found inspirational and helpful. I’ll be shaping and adding to it periodically.
People
There are so many fantastic developers, designers, illustrators, writers, and talented people on the web. Here are some that have been especially inspirational.
- Maggie Appleton
- Max Böck
- Ollin Boer Bohan
- Gwern Branwen
- Ben Brick
- Mike Bruner
- Simon Collison
- Pat Dryburgh
- Marc Edwards
- Lynn Fisher
- Michael Flarup
- Brad Frost
- Mike Kus
- Zach Leatherman
- Jack McDade
- Aphelandra Messer
- Dave Mottram
- Tania Rascia
- Reagan Ray
- Cole Roberts
- Matthew Skiles
- Sara Soueidan
- Simurai
- Jon Suh
- Sean Thorenson
- Adam Wiedman
- Joshua Wold
- Jan Van Boghout
Typography
Butterick’s Practical Typography
I read Butterick’s Practical Typography approximately two years before taking typography in college. Was it more immediately useful than my college class? Heh. Yes. Matthew is exceptionally good at condensing a ton of knowledge into a few mere paragraphs. I’m thankful for his generosity, attention to detail, and for such a great introduction to the world of letters. Oh, and Typography in ten minutes is so valuable.
Typewolf
Jeremiah Shoaf has put together a tremendous resource. Typewolf has a lot to explore and learn from. The Definitive Guide to Free Fonts has also been worth its weight in gold.
Fonts In Use
Indispensable. I’ve used Fonts In Use not only for inspiration, but also for historical research and help with font pairing. Seeing how master designers put together layouts and how they pair type is beyond useful, and the ability to find designs by topic, format, and typeface is lovely.
Web
Smashing Magazine
Visiting Smashing Magazine never fails to make me smile. It’s a go-to resource for learning about a variety of web design topics. I’ve found many other great websites and resources through Smashing Magazine, too.
3D
Roman Klčo
I’m not very capable in 3D modeling, but following Roman Klčo’s “Become a 3D Illustrator!” was really fun and enlightening. The course gave me renewed respect for 3D artists. I have a lot of admiration for Roman’s artistry—especially his skill in composition and color.