So … I have a theory. Walk with me, why don’t you …

Sometime in the mid-2010s, SaaS started taking over all of our lives. Seduced by low overheads and the potential of unreasonably large buyouts, software companies started coming out of the woodwork in dozens, espousing the “next generation” or backend tooling, API integration, or **insert something else just as tech-y and equally vague.**

In an effort to piggyback off the sexiness of SaaS, companies wholly unrelated to software started rebranding as Silicon Valley titans. They exchanged questionable WordArt and retro shading for flat logos and soulless sans serifs. White landing pages, electric blue CTAs, and Corporate Memphis NPCs colonized our browsers and cackled at the swift death of artistic integrity. Blush illustrations and the Humaaans library had us all in an MMA-level chokehold. “The long-limbed, blue man can’t hurt you …” they said, “ … his head’s far too small … his hands weigh more than his body …”

Ok, ready for my theory? Brands in the 2020s took note of the 2010’s calculated coldness and went in the opposite direction … although unfortunately, to a similar end. The youths these days are no longer charmed by overt minimalism and stock animations. We’re cynical, terminally online, and allergic to even the slightest trace of corporate capitalism. We crave authenticity, and big business is listening … or, at least trying to.

The 2010s were marked by SaaS-ification. The 2020s, however, are currently experiencing (what I like to call) Canva-ification. Freeform gradients, grotesque typefaces, high-contrast photography, and Y2K nostalgia populate our feeds and clog our browsing histories. Everything is branded to look like a natural wine bar, art deco lounge, or preteen’s birthday party. I mean, half the time, I can’t tell if I’m shopping for olive oil, booking a dermatologist, or reading a newsletter (ya, that’s right, we’re getting meta now). It’s all just a bit too editorial, a bit too aesthetic, a bit too different for different’s sake.

😮‍💨 Design inspo sites that don’t suck

Behance and Dribbble will always have our hearts. But, if you’re interested in diversifying your inspo sources (and differentiating yourself from the oppressive trend cycle), I recommend checking these sites out:

• Godly: a powerhouse for web design inspo —> filter by styles (large type, scrolling animation, etc.), fonts used, frameworks (React, Next.js, etc.), and more

• Minimal Gallery: aggregates beautiful websites and domains for sale —> links through to actual websites, so you’re not stuck looking at screenshots on someone’s portfolio

• Awwwards: browse award-winning websites, digital products, and take masterclasses

• Appshots: best for app inspo —> filter by iOS, Android, and Web and by user flow

• Mobbin: search 100,000+ mobile and web screenshots

• Designspiration: think Pinterest except you can search for designs, logos, photos, etc. by color palette (up to 5 HEX codes at time)

• Read.cv: not actually a classic inspo site, but people do post some pretty cool projects; plus, there’s added social functionality for connecting with fellow designers, PMs, and founders (you can add me here if you want … I know, shameless self-promo)

🔌 Featured plugin

Ok, I’m about to CHANGE your life … SERIOUSLY …

• HTML to design: convert any website into an editable Figma design by copy and pasting a URL (Disclaimer: we are not encouraging plagiarism, but this can be helpful in the early stages to simplify tedious tasks i.e. spacing, CTA creation, etc.)

👨‍🎓 Ready for a pop quiz?

P.S. No … the irony of adding a partnership button on a post about corporatism is not lost on us … but, we all gotta pay the bills somehow …