Are you seeking inspiration for your next graphic design project? Want to see how other experts in the field create impactful designs? Here are 9 outstanding graphic design examples and what you can learn from them.
Graphic designers can find inspiration almost anywhere—from nature and architecture to art, sculpture, and cinema. And, of course, one of the greatest inspirations of all: the work of other designers.
No matter what you’re designing or the medium you’re designing for, there is so much to learn and admire from others in the field. So, if you’re waiting for inspiration to strike, this post will no doubt come in useful.
We’ve rounded up nine stunning examples of graphic design across three major categories: digital graphic design, graphic design for print, and graphic design for branding. For each example, we also share some insight into the project and highlight why it’s so inspirational.
Here are our graphic design examples at a glance:
- 1) 3 Inspirational examples of digital graphic design
- 2) 3 Stunning examples of graphic design for print
- 5) 3 Powerful examples of graphic design for branding
- 1) Print and Publication Design Project by Bibin S
- 2) Print and Publication Design Project Sai Prasad Chandran
- 3) Print and Publication Design Project by Dushyant Singh
- 1) Brand Identity Design Project by Bibin S
- 2) Brand Identity Design Project by Sai Prasad Chandran
- 3) Brand Identity Design Project by Dushyant Singh
- 1) What Is Graphic Design? Everything You Need To Know
- 2) Step-by-step guide on how to become a graphic designer.
- 1) Watch this session by design veteran and AND’s Academic Head, Prachi Mittal, and our Course Lead, Soumya Tiwari.
- 2) Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- 3) Pursue our Graphic Design courses - all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- 4) Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Ready to be inspired? Let’s begin!
1. Inspirational examples of digital graphic design
Digital graphic design includes things like logos, web design, app design, social media graphics, animations, and digital ads—essentially any visual assets that are designed for the digital realm.
Let’s consider three awesome digital graphic design examples and why they’re inspirational.
Foodvisor nutrition app designed by Koto Studio
The Foodvisor app is described as “Your personal nutrition guide”, offering customised nutrition and training plans, recipes, access to a team of dietitians, and more—everything you need to set healthy goals and achieve them.
Created by the experts at Koto Studio, this is a great example of how graphic design is used to evoke certain emotions in the user and to establish an overall tone that aligns with the app’s goals.
The calm yet cheerful colour palette gives the app a soothing, approachable, and lighthearted feel. This helps to turn a potentially challenging and daunting task (setting nutritional goals or committing to a workout program) into something that seems more friendly and accessible.
Throughout the app, you’ll find simple yet charming illustrations, and you’ll be accompanied by your very own guide—Guakka The Avocado, an animated avocado who pops up to provide support and inspiration along the way.
Foodvisor is full of supportive and uplifting messaging delivered in Value Serif and Buenos Aires type, adding to the app’s playful and companionable feel.
Images sourced from the Foodvisor app.
Key learnings and inspiration
There are two key takeaways from the Foodvisor app design.
One: Choose your colour palettes to evoke the right emotions. The Foodvisor colour palette is gentle and calm, reminiscent of nature. While the topic of health and nutrition could potentially be very scientific, complex, and intimidating, the colour palette creates a space that’s soothing and approachable. When choosing your own colour palettes, think about colour psychology and how you want your end users to feel.
Two: Where appropriate, use animations and illustrations for more playful, engaging designs. Of course, it’s important to first consider whether “playful” is the goal—there are some design contexts where animations and illustrations would be completely out of place. But if the goal is to make a heavy topic more accessible and/or engaging, or to inject some personality into the designs, animations and illustrations can be extremely powerful.
Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego web design by We Make
Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego is a circus training school based in Antwerp, Belgium. They’re all about circus technique innovation, describing themselves as circus pioneers who “push for innovation and experiment every day.”
As you scroll through the Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego website, you’ll see how the concept of movement, dynamism, and experimentation comes alive with the design—from the bold, curvaceous type and action-packed imagery to the interactive hover effects over different elements.
The colour palette is bold and eye-catching, just like the circus itself, and the overall design is both artistic and modern—capturing Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego’s mission to present the circus as a contemporary, innovative art form which appeals to the next generation.
Every aspect of the design conveys expression, fluidity, and adventure, inviting the viewer into the exciting and multifaceted world of circus.
You can learn more about this impressive graphic design project on the We Make design agency website.
Images sourced from the Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego website.
Key learnings and inspiration
The Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego web design teaches an important lesson about the impact of high quality photography and video.
The website features what appears to be actual photo and video footage from the Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego circus school—and, of course, they’re mostly action shots which give the viewer an up-close-and-personal glimpse of what it’s like to be part of the Ell Circo D’Ell Fuego community.
These images are much more powerful than any stock photo, and they’re a conscious design choice. Consider how your own designs might benefit from custom photography or behind-the-scenes video footage.
F-Secure cybersecurity logo and website design by Nomad Studio
Cybersecurity is a critical topic for the modern-day consumer, but it may not strike you as an obvious candidate for compelling graphic design. However, cybersecurity company F-Secure provides an excellent example of how clever design can soften an otherwise heavy topic and help brands to go against the grain.
They enlisted the help of Nomad Studio to bring their new brand strategy of “Brilliantly Simple” to life across key digital platforms, including their website, mobile app, and social media, with impressive results.
F-Secure’s entire digital presence is characterised by their simple yet distinctive ‘F’ logo which is often animated to create the effect of ‘scanning’ for security issues; fun illustrations which make the brand personal and relatable; and a bright and breezy colour palette and font.
Through great graphic design, the experts at Nomad Studio have turned the dull and dispassionate topic of cybersecurity into something engaging, relatable, and emotional—driving home the importance of the product without alienating the everyday user.
Images sourced from the Nomad Studio website.
Key learnings and inspiration
There are two key learnings from this graphic design project.
One: Logo design plays a critical role in engaging the target audience and building a consistent brand. Spend time getting the logo right—and, when designing for digital, consider animating the logo to bring it to life and capture the viewer’s attention.
Two: Heavy topics don’t always require heavy, serious designs. Where appropriate, use illustrations, animations, and a lighthearted colour palette to make a dull but important topic more engaging and relatable.
2. Stunning examples of graphic design for print
In addition to designing for the digital space, graphic designers also design for print. This includes designing for books and magazines, posters, product packaging, t-shirts, and more—anything that’s printed onto physical material.
We’ve rounded up three very cool examples of graphic design for print, highlighting what they teach us about excellent design.
Girl, Woman, Other book artwork by Karan Singh
Girl, Woman, Other is the 2019 Booker Prize-winning novel by Bernadine Evaristo, with stunning cover artwork designed by Karan Singh. It tells the stories of twelve Black British women, exploring the intersections of identity and covering themes such as politics, feminism, racism, relationships, and sexuality.
The Booker Judges described the novel as “Passionate, razor-sharp, brimming with energy and humour, a must-read about modern Britain and womanhood…Dazzling.”
And, while the popular saying warns us to never judge a book by its cover, the beautiful artwork adorning Evaristo’s literary masterpiece is undeniably an integral part of the book itself. It’s beautiful, it’s vibrant, and it’s powerful—a striking cover design for a striking book.
Images sourced from Karan Singh’s portfolio.
Key learnings and inspiration
The Girl, Woman, Other book design teaches a valuable lesson about designing for print and the importance of using design to tell a meaningful story.
Graphic design is rarely just about creating something pretty that will catch the viewer’s eye. It’s about telling a story or conveying a message—and, in the case of book design, doing the book justice through the cover. The Girl, Woman, Other artwork centres a woman, just as the book itself revolves around the voices of women, and captures the vibrancy of the literature within.
Whether you’re designing for a book, a website, a product label, or something else entirely— approach each graphic design project as a storytelling exercise.
University of California’s 2022 annual report designed by Mucho in collaboration with John Burgess
The 2022 annual report released by UC Investments is an awe-inspiring example of graphic design for print. The report is available in both digital form (which you can view here) and as a printed magazine-style booklet which is mailed out to recipients.
Designed by creative agency Mucho in collaboration with illustrator John Burgess, the report is titled “Where others see chaos, we see opportunity”—a concept that is brought to life throughout the design.
Inspired by a turbulent financial year, the front cover features a clever typographic illustration which, at first glance, appears to be a disorderly smattering of letters (that’s the chaos!). But, upon closer inspection, you’ll see that it forms the letter “O” for opportunity. And, if you look even closer, you’ll find words like “Gas” and “Crypto”, a clever reference to things that caused chaos within the market itself.
Flip through the report and you’ll find bright colours, clean data visualisations, and exciting typographic illustrations. The finished product is modern, bold, and eye-catching, presenting a serious (and potentially intimidating) data-heavy topic in a playful, uplifting way.
The report also pushes the boundaries of designing for print by incorporating Augmented Reality. Readers can download a mobile app and use it to bring the illustrations to life for a more interactive reading experience.
You can learn more about this fascinating graphic design project on the Mucho website .
Images sourced from the Mucho website.
Key learnings and inspiration
One thing this project does really well is pushing the boundaries of designing for print. By incorporating Augmented Reality, the designers add a modern twist to the physical reading experience, allowing the reader to bring certain design elements to life.
When it comes to your own print design projects, don’t be afraid to experiment, innovate, and, if it fits the brand and the topic, incorporate a digital twist.
Knoll Works furniture catalogue, flagship issue designed by Gretel
Next on our list is a great example of graphic design for editorial: the flagship edition of Knoll Works, a printed magazine, lookbook, and catalogue all in one.
Knoll is a pioneer in modern workplace design, and the theme for their first ever Knoll Works catalogue was “change”. As you might expect, the entire design is a work of modernity, originality, and experimentation.
Led by the expert team at the design agency Gretel, this project is a great example of how editorial and design come together to create a powerful experience for the reader.
The magazine features expert interviews, client collaborations, and designer profiles, highlighting the breadth of the Knoll brand and service.
And, because every story is unique, the designers approached each feature as an individual project, using a custom colour palette, type treatment, and layout logic to “give readers a unique physical and visual experience.”
Images sourced from the Gretel website.
Key learnings and inspiration
Not only does the Knoll Works flagship catalogue look great and tell a compelling story; it also gives some really valuable insight into the process behind graphic design for editorial.
On the Gretel portfolio website, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the process. In particular, we learn how graphic design for print is heavily intertwined with, and influenced by, the content: “The editorial portion of the assignment meant working with Knoll to procure interviews, write and edit features, profiles and sidebars, source imagery and structure content.”
Something to bear in mind next time you’re tasked with an editorial design project, or if you’re considering a career in graphic design for print!
Wish to see what work involved in developing a brand identity, take a look at some of our student’s projects:
3. Powerful examples of graphic design for branding
In the branding space, graphic design is about helping companies or individuals to craft a strong, memorable, and unique brand identity. Graphic designers in this field help to bring the brand to life through visual design. Let’s explore three powerful examples of graphic design for branding and what they teach us about the graphic designer’s role in creating a strong brand identity.
Friend Zone beer packaging designed by Glasfurd & Walker in collaboration with Kate Dehler
Friend Zone is a fruity beer produced collaboratively by several different craft breweries in Port Moody, British Columbia. As such, the design needed to incorporate all the individual breweries’ brands while forging a distinct brand identity for the beer.
A challenging brief—but one that design studio Glasfurd & Walker executed brilliantly in collaboration with illustrator Kate Dehler.
The end result? A lighthearted, uplifting illustrated backdrop that captures the Port Moody landscape. Look closer and you’ll spot a lavender plant representing the Lavender Sour ale brewed by Moody Ales, a yellow dog to represent the Yellow Dog Brewing Co., and a lion in reference to Brave Brewing, just some of the breweries behind the beer.
The colour palette is vibrant and tropical, inspired by the juicy, fruity flavours of the beer itself. This limited-edition drink called for a unique brand identity, and that’s exactly what the designers delivered.
Images sourced from Kate Dehler’s portfolio website.
Key learnings and inspiration
The Friend Zone beer design could not be a better example of taking inspiration from the product itself to create a memorable and on-point brand identity. Everything about the design—from its tropical colours to the Port Moody-inspired landscape—captures the taste of the beer, where it’s from, and the people behind it. A powerful lesson in strong visual branding!
Le Temps Chocolate packaging design by Meeta Panesar
Le Temps Chocolate is a fictional company, the packaging for which Meeta Panesar designed as part of a hypothetical graphic design project. But, despite not being for a real brand, this is an impressive example of graphic design for branding.
The bright, bold colours, strong typography, and minimalist yet powerful illustrations all combine to create a distinct and eye-catching brand identity. Also, if you pay close attention, you might notice that the design of each chocolate bar is inspired by the percentage of cacao in that particular bar. For example, the bar with 76% cacao has a 70s-inspired design while the bar with 24% cacao is inspired by the 20s. That’s a brand you’re not likely to forget in a hurry!
Although each chocolate bar has its own unique design, Meeta Panesar has still ensured brand consistency across the board. You can see that the individual chocolate bars all belong to the same brand—which is essential when it comes to graphic design for branding.
Images sourced from Meeta Panesar’s portfolio website.
Key learnings and inspiration
Meeta Panesar teaches us two important lessons about graphic design for branding.
One: Consistency is key when creating a strong visual brand. Each individual chocolate bar design is unique, but this doesn’t prevent Meeta Panesar from achieving consistency. There’s a distinct design style throughout and this is crucial for ensuring that the brand is cohesive and recognisable.
Two: Fictional projects are a great way for budding designers to show off their skills and build their design portfolio. If you’re just starting out and don’t have much work to showcase, create your own design briefs for hypothetical brands and flex your creative muscles!
ToBeHonest mental health platform, a new brand identity designed by Voila
ToBeHonest is a mental health support platform for students. They enlisted design studio Voila to recreate their brand identity with the goal of providing a more comfortable and relatable digital experience.
The brand’s ethos, which is all about embracing uniqueness and normalising being different, is captured by the use of different fonts across the design. The cheerful yet soothing colour palette evokes a sense of optimism and calm, while whimsical illustrations inject a hint of fun.
Overall, the new brand identity is lighthearted and welcoming, making the topic of mental health a little less daunting—and a little more accessible—for its Gen Z target audience.
Images sourced from awwwards.com.
Key learnings and inspiration
A crucial part of branding is speaking your target audience’s language. And we’re not only talking about words; we’re talking about your visual language, too. The ToBeHonest rebrand does a great job of speaking to the target audience (students) through the medium of design—making the platform and the topic of mental health more relatable and accessible.
When designing a brand identity, think about who your target users are, how you want them to feel, and how you can design in a way that speaks to them.
If you wish to have a comprehensive understanding of the work involved in developing a brand identity, take a look at some of our student’s projects:
What next?
That brings us to the end of our inspirational round-up! Hopefully, you enjoyed those graphic design examples and can use them to inspire and inform your own work.
If you’re a graphic design newbie and want to learn how you, too, can create awesome designs,
If you’ve already got some impressive graphic design projects under your belt, make sure you show them off in your portfolio. You can learn how to create a professional graphic design portfolio here.
Here are some additional resources that might prove useful:
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
