Instagram inspiration
While it may have started out as a way to post lo-fi photos, Instagram has also become an amazing place to keep up on artists and creatives whose work you admire. It can be a vital source of inspiration, and here we round up some of the best graphic designers and illustrators who you should be following.
Tishk Barzanji
Born in Kurdistan and based in London, Tishk Barzanji’s designs and illustrations are inspired by modernism, movement, and surrealism. His feed is a delight, packed with bright colours and striking scenes.
Tuesday Bassen
For inspiration in mastering different disciplines: as well as creating irreverent, stylish illustrations, Tuesday Bassen also designs clothing.
Dschwen LLC
A design studio based in Minneapolis, Dschwen’s feed features highlights from current projects, which can range from illustrations to new product designs, usually framed by a striking, colourful backdrop.
Erik Marinovich
A lettering artist and designer based in San Francisco, Erik Marinovich is worth following to keep tabs on his brash, bright and pop culture-referencing designs.
Margot Harrington
A Chicago-based designer, Margot Harrington creates eye-catching magazine covers and artfully simple gouache sketches.
Jean Jullien
A French graphic artist and illustrator based in Paris, Jean Jullien has a distinctive style that’s been exhibited in galleries around the world and in commissions for some of the world’s most esteemed magazines.
Joseph Lebus
A designer at creative agency Made Thought, Joseph Lebus’ feed features simple and spare designs ranging from club flyers to offcuts from logos and typography he’s developing.
Gaurab Thakali
One for music lovers, Gaurab Thakali’s illustrations depict many of the artists in London’s thriving jazz scene, as well as many of the greats.
Laura Baisden
Laura Baisden has an understated, distinctive style in her designs, and her feed offers candid updates of her current works in progress.
Andreas M Hansen
A designer and maker based in Copenhagen, Andreas M Hansen’s feed features shots of his designs in situ in his naturally-lit, artfully decorated home.
Steven Harrington
Based in LA, Steven Harrington has exhibited his playful, psychedelic designs in galleries around the world, and his feed is a chance to see them featured in places ranging from posters to new editions of sneakers.
Neil A Stevens
Doing lots of work for sport and tourism clients, Neil A Stevens’ work sees him apply his unique eye to rugby, cycling tours and scenic landscapes.
Timothy Goodman
A New York-based illustrator, designer and muralist, Timothy Goodman’s work is playful and considered, his feed varying from eye-catching murals to pithy quotes or phrases.
ZEITGUISED
An art and design studio with a background in virtual reality and 3D printing, ZEITGUISED post futuristic, surreal scenes which can be alluring and confounding in equal measure.
Daniel Aristizabal
Daniel Aristizabal is the founder of art direction and digital design studio Lazy Eyes, and his feed features an eye-popping array of illustrations, videos and designs, drawn from both commercial as well as artistic work.
Mary Kate McDevitt
For fans of lettering, Mary Kate McDevitt creates fonts for a delightful array of uses, almost always inspiring a sense of positivity.
Hey Studio
Barcelona-based designers Hey Studio use bold colours and geometric shapes across their work for various clients, and can always be relied upon for inspiration or pleasing distraction.
Mike Perry
Led by Emmy Award winning designer Mike Perry, this design studio produces a huge wealth of visually arresting work, from adverts for TV show Broad City to one-off sketches.
Lotta Nieminen
From Finland originally, Lotta Nieminen’s New York design studio create work ranging from delicate illustrations to brash, colourful 3D installations.
Will Bryant
Another designer who creates bold, joyous images, Will Bryant creates murals and prints filled with ambitious collisions of colour, as well as nice merch which could provide handy inspiration.
Tad Carpenter
There are always times when a positive message can be encouraging, and in those times, the place to turn to is Tad Carpenter, who often creates tongue-in-cheek designs built around gentle words of encouragement.
Brand Nu
A showcase for the work by Radim Malinic’s LA-based Brand Nu studio, there are creations for small businesses as well as major clients, and there are some great examples of innovative work for commercial projects.
Tania Samoshkina
Simple and earnest, Tania Samoshkina’s illustrations are based around childhood, family and relationships.
Supermundane
From irreverent political posters to idiosyncratic printed poems for sale, Rob Lowe’s Supermundane feed always offers a unique perspective.
Al White
Closely connected to Scotland’s independent music scene, Al White’s feed is perfect inspiration for anyone who’s fond of club flyers and interesting record sleeves which nod to a lo-fi aesthetic.