How to submit your work to 40 of the most popular graphic design blogs

It’s how you get noticed, win projects and secure your next job. It’s something we teach all of our students at Shillington.

However, you can’t only share your latest designs via social networks like Instagram or Facebook and expect to get noticed; you also have to reach out via other channels – such as online magazines and blogs – to attract a much wider audience.

With literally hundreds of sites out there – publishing a wealth of brand identities, new typefaces and packaging designs – how do you know where to make the extra effort and submit your work to be featured? To help you cut through the clutter, we’ve pulled together the following list of 40 of the best graphic design blogs to get your work seen.

But before we launch into our recommendations, it’s important to know how to submit, so you get the best fighting chance. The following tips will help:

Approach each blog with fresh eyes

Don’t just send a blanket email to every single blog and expect to get published. Every site is different and will require different things. For instance, some might want a certain size of images to consider; while others might just want a link to your portfolio. Most blogs will have ‘submission guidelines’ – find them and follow them.

Consider existing content

An extra tip would be to study the blog’s existing content, to gain an understanding of the type of work they already like to share. Does your work match up? Can you submit something that you think they’ll like?

Ensure you send everything they require the first time

Bloggers and journalists get bombarded with emails and are often time-poor. Make their lives as easy as possible by sending them everything they need in one email. Don’t give them the opportunity to chase you, as many won’t bother.

Add a catchy email subject

Don’t just add a generic email subject; put something catchy that will help you stand out. Make your email ‘clickable’ so the journalist won’t immediately trash your message. Don’t be afraid to add intrigue or humour – it will make a welcome change.

Make friends with the blogger or journalist

If you’re still not cutting through the crowd, follow the blog or person you’re targeting on Twitter and engage with them. Build a rapport before you approach them about your work. You’ll stand a better chance of getting featured.

And now for our top 40 of the best graphic design blogs to get your work seen, along with helpful instructions on how to submit to each one:

1. It’s Nice That

One of our favourites, It's Nice That has always had a strong lean towards graphic design, and they always support new and emerging talent on their site. You can easily submit your work online – just make sure you follow their requirements.

2. Creative Review

One of the industry's leading and most respected magazines has recently re-launched its web edition, and it's looking seriously good. Even better, the site regularly shares the latest graphic design work – and particularly enjoys supporting new talent. To be considered, contact the editorial team.

3. Aisle One

An inspirational resource focused on graphic design, typography, grid systems, minimalism and modernism. A must-read for all you discerning designers and plenty of opportunities to get your work noticed and shared. Just drop them a line to be considered.

4. The Design Blog

Founded, designed and curated by Ena Baćanović – a designer based in Zagreb, Croatia – The Design Blog brings you carefully picked high-quality inspiration, featuring works of designers and design studios from all over the world. Helpful instructions are provided to help you successfully submit.

5. Form Fifty Five

Founded in 2005 by an ever-growing group of designers, illustrators, coders and makers eager to collect and share the best design work they came across, FormFiftyFive has become an international showcase of creative work. If you'd like to be in with a chance of getting featured, simply submit via [email protected].

6. Abduzeedo

Abduzeedo is a collective of writers sharing articles about architecture, design, photography and UX. It was founded by Fabio Sasso in 2006 as a personal blog, later growing to become an international digital publication. Want to submit? Follow Fabio on Behance and share your work on the network to get noticed.

7. Creative Boom

Established in July 2009, Creative Boom has spent the past seven years growing an international creative audience, keen to keep abreast of the latest design work and people. It's a go-to resource for when you need inspiration or advice for your creative career or business. To submit your own graphic design projects for consideration, read these submission guidelines.

8. The Brand Identity

The Brand Identity is a curated platform dedicated to bringing together the finest design work from around the world. If you're interested in getting featured, you can contact their friendly team at [email protected] or send a direct message via Instagram or Twitter.

9. Mirador

Mirador is the image hunting work of Say What Studio, a graphic design duo based in Paris, France. They curate the most inspirational works out there and share them through this collection of projects. To submit your own work, simply drop them a line via [email protected].

10. Minimalissimo

Minimalissimo is an exploration and celebration of minimalism, aiming to inspire creatives and showcase the best in the field of design. If your work takes a more simple approach, then the magazine would be happy to hear from you – make a suggestion online by simply sharing a link to the work in question.

11. Design Work Life

Design Work Life is a daily blog published by Seamless Creative, whose purpose is to share a love of design through daily design-centric inspiration. There are some helpful submission guidelines that you must read before you get in touch.

12. DeMilked

DeMilked is a tasty source of inspiration for art, design and photography, and it's growing in popularity every day. To be considered, sign up and register with the online platform and then upload your work.

13. Inspiration Bit

Inspiration Bit offers design inspiration courtesy of Vivien, a creative living in Vancouver, Canada. Although she often scours the internet to discover and share new work, you're welcome to get in touch and make your own suggestions.

14. Logo Design Love

It does exactly what it says on the tin – Logo Design Love is devoted to the design of logos and brand identities. Launched as a side project in 2008, the site's usually updated one or twice a week. If there's something you want to see featured, you're encouraged to get in touch.

15. Dexigner

Dexigner is the leading online portal for designers, architects, illustrators, engineers, artists, and creatives of all kinds. Founded in 2001, it publishes the latest design news, events, competitions, books and resources. To be considered, contact the editor Isil Oygur via [email protected].

16. Designer Daily

Designer Daily is a "place for designers to find inspiration, resources, and thoughts that will be useful to their daily work". It's maintained by Mirko Humbert, a Swiss graphic and web designer, who you can contact via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Behance.

17. Design Instruct

Design Instruct was launched in early 2010 as a bootstrapped startup by Six Revisions founder Jacob Gube and photographer Isaac Gube. Today, it's a web magazine that aims to cater for designers and digital artists seeking new ideas and inspiration. Friendly and approachable, you're encouraged to get in touch to submit your work.

18. Inspiration Grid

Launched in February 2011, Inspiration Grid is an online magazine celebrating creative talent from around the world. Your daily fix of design, art, illustration, typography, photography, architecture, fashion and more. Feel free to contact them at [email protected] or send them a tweet via @inspirationgrid.

19. Graphic Exchange

Fabien Barral is a freelance graphic designer whose innovative and unique designs attract clients from across the world. Fabien also runs the “graphic-exchange” blog, a popular online venue for graphic designers. If you want to be considered, he's always happy to be contacted online.

20. Grain Edit

Grain Edit is focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period. If your work fits the bill, you can fill in the online form to submit.

21. Designinspiration

Put simply, Designspiration is a resource to help you discover and share great design. Founded in early 2010 by Shelby White, you can create an account to start saving things that inspire you, and upload your own work and discoveries too. Create your profile to start contributing to the community today.

22. Good Design Makes Me Happy

Good Design Makes Me Happy started in 2009 as an inspiration journal for graphic designer Hannah Dollery. Today, she attracts a wealth of regular readers from around the world. Fancy seeing your own projects on her blog? Follow Hannah on Twitter @hannahdollery and let her know about your work.

23. Creative Bloq

One of the best places to seek art and design inspiration on the web, Creative Bloq has been around for quote some time and is one of the industry's leading resources. To get noticed, give the new editor Craig Stewart a shout on Twitter @CraigStewart14.

24. Design Clever

Design Clever is a collaboration started by Jonathan Ring and Bethany Baker, two aspiring graphic designers with a passion for everything design related. And they're happy to consider sharing your own work. Just access the online submission form.

25. Design Everywhere

Design Everywhere is a blog focused on showcasing carefully selected graphic design work. It's a daily dose of visual inspirations, collected by Preston Tham. If you want to submit your work, you must consider two requirements: quality and aesthetic, and works that are categorised under branding and identity, book, editorial, logo, layout, print, poster and typography. Fire an email to Preston and include 'Submission' in the subject line.

26. Eye On Design

Founded in 1914, AIGA – the professional association for design – is the oldest and largest membership organisation for design in the United States—with 70 chapters and more than 26,000 members. For its blog, Eye On Design, it turns a well-trained eye on the best new work from emerging and established designers from around the world – and not just members either. To be considered, check out the blog's contributors to see how you can contact each one.

27. Design Week

Design Week sits at the very heart of the design industry and has done since it launched in 1986. To get your work featured in its Projects section is just the stamp of credibility you need to boost your career or business. Contact the warm and friendly editor Tom Banks via [email protected] or check out the Contact page for more options.

28. Collate

Collate is an inspirational blog by Dave Smith of Belfast-based Sort Design – bringing together some of his top graphic design picks from the industry. Follow him on Twitter @thisiscollate to bring his attention to your own work.

29. How Design

Founded in 1985, the HOW brand began its life as a print magazine. Today, the brand still includes an award-winning design magazine, but has grown to encompass a host of products and events, including an online resource for designers everywhere. Want to get featured? Contact the online editor, Jess Farris via [email protected].

30. Design Crush

Design Crush is a wonderfully curated design blog, founded and managed by the very friendly Kelly Beall. Not just sharing the visual communication side of design, she also loves to publish interior design inspiration. Very approachable and happy to accept submissions – just get in touch.

31. Visuelle

Sharing the best graphic design everywhere, Visuelle is an inspirational blog by David Bennett. Want to get your work featured? Email David your submission via [email protected].

32. Identity Designed

ID features visual identities from designers and studios across the globe. The site attracts around 100,000 monthly page views, and if you want to share a project, these guidelines will help show you what they like. Just make sure you send some images of your work, at least 1,000 pixels wide – along with some accompanying details of the brief, your idea, typefaces used or customised, paper stock printed on, timeframe and tales of the unexpected.

33. Design is Kinky

Curating since 1998, Design is Kinky is a hugely respected and established art and design blog, sharing the best work from new and established creatives worldwide. Not just focusing on graphics, the blog also loves to share art and photography. To submit, simply drop them an email via [email protected].

34. BP&O

Focusing on branding, packaging and opinion, Richard Baird's appealing blog loves to pick out the very best projects that he discovers on the web to offer you continuous inspiration. If you've got a design project you think Richard should see and share, send him a message and he'll be in touch.

35. Creative Roots

CreativeRoots is an ever-growing art and design blog based on countries of the world, with each post being influenced by its countries, culture and history. If your work fits the brief, then you can submit via these guidelines. Good luck!

36. Lovely Stationery

Just designed a range of stationery and think the world should know about it? Lovely Stationery curates the very best stationery design from across the world. To submit, drop an email to [email protected].

37. The Dieline

Established in 2007, The Dieline is devoted to celebrating the very best in packaging design from around the world. With thousands of daily readers, it's the ultimate place to get your work seen if packaging is your thing. Check out the very handy submission manager to put your projects forward for consideration.

38. We And The Colour

We And The Colour is a web magazine for your daily art and design inspiration. Featuring outstanding projects of various creative fields, you can also find trend-led graphics, templates and fonts available for download. To submit your own work, email the editorial team at [email protected].

39. Book Design Blog

Seriously into editorial design? Book Design Blog is the go-to online resource for you. And it'll be where others looking for designers will regularly visit to seek inspiration. Make sure you get your work in front of them by submitting your work for publication. Read these guidelines for the best chance of success.

40. Design Your Way

Last but not least, Design Your Way is a source of inspiration for web design, UI design, user experience and typography. It also shares a load of resources, such as icon packs and free stock photos, to help with your projects. If you want to get in front of their readers, check out these instructions to submit your work.