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Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, one thing’s clear: visual content like photos, videos, and graphics always grabs more attention. The best part? You don’t need expensive software to create fantastic designs. With these best free graphic design websites, you can create stunning social media visuals and other graphic design projects yourself.
1. Canva
Canva is one of the best free graphic design websites. Designers and non-designers can use it to create logos, infographics, ebook covers, social media graphics, simple videos, and more. The online tool offers professional templates for any design need. It also offers customizable templates, royalty-free images, and AI features, making graphic design easy even for those with limited experience.
Established in 2013 by tech entrepreneur Melanie Perkins, Canva is famous for creating designs with over 190 million monthly active users (MAUs) in over 190 countries.
2. Design Wizard
Design Wizard also ranks among the best free graphic design websites for beginners. You can easily create, share, and download images with just a few clicks. Design Wizard’s free features let you access over 1 million free images and 15,000 templates. Overall, the website excels as a frontline, free graphic design tool for beginners.
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3. Adobe Spark
If you’re looking for a free service that offers many options to help you design images, webpages, and short videos easily, try Adobe Spark. It’s easy to use and comes with a host of free customizable templates.
Adobe Spark has now been integrated into Adobe Express, a browser-based design website for creating social media posts, posters, flyers, etc. In addition, Adobe Express offers a free online video editor for content creators.
4. Krita
Krita is a free, open-source painting program developed by artists for artists. Its continuous development depends on donations and is inspired by the needs of the designer community. Krita has a customizable user interface, features-rich tools, and a comprehensive resource manager.
5. Corel Vector
Previously Gravit Designer, Corel Vector is a vector design application created by the geniuses behind Corel Draw. Its tools help create vector art. Corel Vector is among the best free graphic design websites for Windows and Mac. It is also available for ChromeOS and Linux.
Technically, Corel Vector isn’t free software, but you can sign up for a free trial to access “Pro features.
6. SketchUp
SketchUp is primarily designed for architects and graphic designers to help turn their ideas into reality with powerful 3D modeling software. Whether your design is simple or complicated, SketchUp has you covered.
One distinct feature of SketchUp is that it is intuitive and interoperable. From creating fantastic renderings to powerful sharing features, it is easy to see why professionals use SketchUp to build their ideas.
7. DocHipo
If you are a marketer looking for a straightforward graphic design solution, DocHipo is a good option. You can access free templates for posters, brochures, business cards, presentations, social media graphics, and advertisements.
DocHipo’s advantage is its exclusive design assets, including illustrations, icons, animations, and stickers. You can also access stock photos and free fonts.
8. Blender
This is another open-source software that lets graphic designers create everything from animation to rendering and motion tracking. Blender supports 2D animation and has a user community committed to helping Blender software improve.
9. Genially
Genially is a cloud-based platform known for its user-friendly interface, which makes graphic design easy. Its robust options allow designers to create artwork from scratch. Likewise, designers can access pre-made templates to add interactive features such as buttons, layers, and texts. Genially is also an interesting tool for making interactive presentations.
10. Inkscape
Inkscape is a vector design solution for designers across a wide range of industries. It provides professional-level designs that can be exported as needed. Inkscape can be used to create logos, illustrations, and other art. The Inkscape application can be downloaded to Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux devices.
Tips for Effective Graphic Design
Now that you have ample choices for the best free graphic design websites, it’s time to understand how to create compelling graphics. We captured five essential tips for effective graphic design. Let’s dive in!
1. Know your audience
Before starting your project, think about the people who will see your design and ensure you know the answers to these questions:
- Who am I designing this for?
- Where will the design be shown?
- How do I want people to feel when they see it?
- What information do I want to convey?
- What action do I want to achieve?
2: Find inspiration
Once you find a design that inspires you, you might know what you want to create. But if you find yourself stuck or seeking inspiration, creating a collage or Pinterest board of design ideas might be helpful. Afterward, decide what tool, software, or graphic design website to use for your project.
3. Choose the right color palette
Color is a vital element to capture attention and evoke emotion. It can make the design memorable and set the tone for the intended message. However, picking a color palette that works harmoniously can be challenging. There are several resources online where you can find detailed tips and techniques on choosing the perfect color scheme.
4. Include artwork in your design
Images and artistic elements add a unique personality to graphic design. For example, photographs of people create meaningful connections with the design and the audience. Artworks can also represent your brand identity.
5. Choose the right fonts
Lastly, good typography elevates your design. It can make a difference among your audience as they look at your design closely. Less is more! That’s why it is best to limit up to two different fonts in any design, including fonts of different weights.
While these websites offer hundreds of templates and inspiration, customization options are still limited. That’s why you need professional designers to create or enhance your designs. Here at Penji, we assign dedicated designers and illustrations to handle any design category you can think of. Watch the demo video to see how things are done at Penji.
About the author
Rowena Zaballa
With a background as a former government employee specializing in urban planning, Rowena transitioned into the world of blogging and SEO content writing. As a passionate storyteller, she uses her expertise to craft engaging and informative content for various audiences.
