Personally speaking, preparing a new web design isn’t as simple as opening Photoshop. I need constant influence from many creative sources to keep my mind fresh on what’s hot and what’s not. When I need inspirational eye-candy, my sources include CSS galleries, digital prints, and typography demonstrations.

For those who have similar inspirational needs, allow me to lend a helping hand. I’ll list my personal favorite websites categorized by three major design pools: web showcasing, typography, and digital art.

CSS / XHTML / Flash Showcases

Digital beauty in the form of web design…

The easiest place to gather hordes of inspirational material is among the hundreds of CSS/XHTML and Flash showcase websites. Each of these showcase websites are dedicated to the programmers looking for inspiration through others works. Here are a few of the best:

CSS Vault & Design Shack

Both CSS Vault and Design Shack have a huge collection of CSS-based websites that offer the common user the ability to comment and rate each submission. The Vault also showcases a load of css demos, hacks, and tools, while the Shack sports bitchin’ tutorials.

Design Snack

Although very similar to CSS Vault and Design Shack, Design Snack uses cookies to award submissions a ranking on their website. Registered users of Design Snack can rate submissions, much the same way Digg users rate articles - the popular ratings get noticed and awarded, while the runts of the group are dropped from the website.

Stylegala

Stylegala stands out from the rest by syndicating important design-related news directly onto their website. This, along with their groovy features section, and wicked forum gives them a special place in my code-ridden heart.

FWA

Without a doubt, FWA is one of the most pristine Flash web awards on the net, showcasing over 2,300 websites in the last seven years. To be listed or better yet, receive Site Of The Day (S.O.T.D.) or Site Of The Month (S.O.T.M.) notoriety, is a real honor. Plenty of talent listed for the gawking.

A List Apart - Design

Because of the abundance of well-written articles on A List Apart, this website will no doubt appear once for each category. Though the website itself is pure beauty, A List Apart’s purpose is to provide meaningful web reads for us geeks. They succeed.

Typographic Hotness

It’s not what you say, but how you display it…

It may not be the most interesting of topics, but typography is probably the most important detail of web design. The text spacing, positioning, color, size, and angle can make or break a designs (web or print related) appeal. When you’re in the mood for some typographic porn, these sites might tickle your fancy:

I Love Typography

I Love Typography is hands down one of the best typography related websites - not only are endless examples archived for viewing pleasure, but its authors frequently attempt to explain why certain designs are more appealing than others.

Typographica

Typographica says it best: “Typographica is a journal of typography featuring news, observations, and open commentary on fonts and typographic design.” One of my favorite typography journals.

A List Apart - Typography

Once again A List Apart makes it into my list of favorites - this time for typography. The first true typography article I ever read came from A List Apart: Typography Matters.

Smashing Magazine

Although Smashing Magazine spreads across each of these categories nicely, it’s typography section is especially nice. There generous gift of free fonts once a month and “Monday Inspiration” articles quickly have you dreaming with font.

ISO50

Scott Hansen, a typography god, created ISO50 to display his visual works.
Easily a print design prodigy, Scott has repeatedly inspired me to think outside and even beyond the box.

Mark Boulton

Though Mark Boulton’s website has plenty of useful information, this post in particular is one of the best crash courses in learning better typography habits that I’ve ever read. Take ten minutes to absorb the tips - be a better designer. As simple as that.

Art, The Physical Kind

Inspiration that hangs from your walls…

Yes, there are many kinds of art and no, I’m not defining art as anything you can hang on your wall. However, surrounding yourself with inspirational works outside of your computer can help in grasping real world print and design. Here are a few artists that inspire me on a daily basis:

David Lanham

Digital artwork at its best. David Lanham takes everything you thought you knew about artwork and makes it better - way better. The colors are amazing - the prints so perfectly detailed. Every print available for purchase also comes in digital form, as a desktop wallpaper, allowing you to capture the inspirational goodness on all mediums.

Scott Saw

Patterns are Scott Saw’s obsession. His work is littered with brilliantly colored stencils, covered with scenes of nature, mechanical objects, or spiritual innuendoes. I personally have a small collection of Scott’s work - I recommend starting your own.

ProcessRecess - James Jean

A beautiful site coupled with amazing artwork you can actually buy - James Jean works magic on a large number of different mediums, including glass and aluminum. His use of gradients makes him my personal hero.

Are Age - 555[Design]

Are Age is his art name and real-world art mixed with Photoshop skills is his art game. (I rhymed.) Less fiction, more life. Are Age delivers rich content saturated in complex detail. One of his works are sure to appear on my wall soon.

What Did I Miss?

Add your favorite inspirations…

Obviously my inspirations might differ from yours. Add the sites that inspire your creative by leaving a comment.