I save many things each month that I find inspiring for some reason, and I like organized lists, so I figured I’d share those lists and maybe help someone out of a creative block.
Why Designarchy?
Because Inspiration and creativity do not have true governance, we creatives have time and feedback constraints that keep us from being true artists. Still, the process inside our minds, that split second when we decide which direction to go and what to create, based on god-knows-what, is the black box no company culture will ever own and control. And since this is the base of all other capabilities of a designer, I decided to always remind myself of that by changing the list’s name.
Your deliverables are the product of your inner mind, which feeds your taste and craft. Elevate those, and you elevate your abilities. All the software in the world won’t improve your taste.
Pro tip: use the cmd + f to find the inspiration you need faster. For example: “Portfolio inspiration”
1. The Last Shot — Tech-infused basketball court
Step into MJ’s shoes. Step back in time. At NBA All-Star Weekend in NYC, A group of creative companies allowed people to trial the brand’s latest performance shoes and take one of MJ’s high-pressure, championship-winning buzzer beaters. ‘The Last Shot’ is a fully immersive and interactive LED half-court that transforms into Michael Jordan’s greatest moments — with era-specific crowds and iconic NBA and NCAA courts.
Players choose from three different moments to recreate the shots that cemented MJ as the greatest player of all time.
I would love to see more LED graphics on physical surfaces that combine imagination and reality for all of us, not just those who have the huge cable glasses.
https://medium.com/media/a6c9184de62734100a24901be2ae708b/href
2. Nike Unlimited Stadium — Tech running course
The Jordan Moments court reminded me of another great example of using tech mixed with physical surfaces to create experiences the Nike launch campaign with the LunarEpic running shoes.
in the center of Manila, NIKE has constructed a pop-up arena that has been dubbed the ‘world’s first full-size LED running track’. taking over an entire city block, the layout of ‘unlimited stadium’ is derived from the footprint of NIKE’s LunarEpic running shoe. the 200 meter-track, which takes the form of a figure-eight, is lined with LED screens, where up to 30 runners can take part in a virtual race against themselves.
NIKE's unlimited stadium in manila is the 'world's first LED running track'
3. MCCS — Coming soon templates
Does a creative project you're working on need a hype page? something to fill the empty domain space? this very visual list is a cool resource for such pages because you’re busy doing other things.
MCCS – Webflow HTML website template
4. mymind — your personal space
I’ve highlighted Tobias van Schneider’s creative projects before and I even mentioned their articles and email list. This time I’ll recommend you take a look at the mymind landing page.
Each detail was thought through, and each use case from saving my favorite quotes to having your search engine represent your mind.
made to be used when you need it, and not when you don’t. I think this product can qualify as a Calm Tech product.
mymind is the extension for your mind.
5. Mark Bush — Graphic designer highlight
Based in Copenhagen, Mark is a talented designer focusing and polishing his own visual style that is clearly attractive and with a sense of demure, depth, and European clarity and sharpness. He has a way of resuing lifestyle and culture icons in a different way, giving them a new life.
If you're looking for inspiration, check out his Pinterest saved folders.
https://dk.pinterest.com/markbuschn/my-visual-inspiration/
6. Principles.design — Principles from the greatest
Principles.Design is a place to learn about and create Design Principles.
This open-source project is managed by Ben Brignell, an independent product designer and consultant from the U.K.
I revisit this website from time to time when embarking on new design projects, looking for better ways to build a north start to my project.
Design principles and values are not an easy thing to build!
7. Article of the month — Cognitive bias cheat sheet
Buster Benson wrote an article I visit again and again because of how it's written and how important it is for designers to read from time to time when making experience decisions.
He basically Wikipedia’s list of cognitive biases and rearranged it in a way we can reference and make sense of. I highly recommend you save this.
8. Procreate Dreams — Web and app design
Procreate Dreams is an animation app packed with powerful tools that anyone can use. Create rich 2D animations, expressive videos, and breathtaking stories on iPad.
I love their approach to design (which got them the Apple Design award in 2024) and their website design, as clean simple and tells a story as possible.
9. Spotify Feature release — Cover art
The new Create Cover Art feature, currently in Beta, lets users personalise playlist covers using text, background colours, gradients, stickers, and their own images. Spotify’s creative team collaborated with artists Jun Ioneda, Sam Lyon, James Marshall, and Shivani Parasnis to design, illustrate and craft the tool’s sticker collection — something they intend to expand on with other artists in the near future.
It’s working with artists to design a creative feature that I really appreciate and take inspiration from. Bringing an expert to your project not only increases the likely result but you end up learning so much more.
Spotify now lets you create and customise your own playlist covers, in-app
10. Monthly highlight — Turbo Design
Turbo Studio is led by Shane Levine, a product designer based in Brooklyn, New York.
With modern, clean and sharp projects associated with big clients such as Ramp, Jeep, StockX you can already know it’s a good inspiration spot.
Turbo – Product design studio for startups
Summing up
If you just scrolled past this list and said “There’s nothing here that helps and ignites creativity”, you need to adjust your curiosity. These links offer hundreds of sub-links, more references, additional work, inspiration, and resource banks. Scroll back and now really look.
I hope you found this useful, Let me know in the comments.
-SH
Bonus
Designarchy Vol. 15 was originally published in UX Planet on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.