What are the best web design communities that you can be part of? There are several but we can only fit the leading ones that can truly benefit you in terms of getting help and information, being updated on the latest developments in the world of web design, and seeing the works of other web designers.
You would want to join a web design community because that is where people are who share the same passion as yours. It’s a great and fun way to expand your network of peers and professionals. There could be veterans and experts so you are sure to get valuable insights from them through discussions.
Again, this is an ongoing article series on web design and the many areas related to it. You may want to read up on the best web design forums as well as the best web design bloggers out there to keep you sharp and regularly informed. It’s our goal to give you the best references for your continual self-improvement. Check this article if you want to know more about web design.
Best Web Design Communities That You Can Be Part Of
What to Look for in a Web Design Community?
Never go rushing in without knowing first what’s in it. Your motive should be clear – you need information and inspiration. You’re a web designer or developer and as such you also need to be with people who harbor the same interest.
It’s like joining a book club or a camera club, you’d like to learn and expand your knowledge. What better way to do that than with peers who can advise you and give tips and techniques on the craft or trade. With a web design community, check for the following:
Discussion Space
Most web design communities, especially the ones online, have discussion spaces or forums. This is where you can ask questions and get immediate answers from community members, some of which may be seasoned web designers and developers.
You can browse or participate in these forums on just about any core or related topics usually with the help of search filters. In these spaces, you can read up on advices, experiences, insights, events, trends, updates, guides, and many other subjects.
Member Galleries
Look for a dedicated section where the works of members are featured and displayed. It’s good if members are allowed to create a profile page that contains contact information and a sampling of their work. This way they can showcase their web design projects as well as browse the work of others.
Marketplace
Online communities normally reserve a space where members can post their services. This is where potential clients and employers look for if they need to hire a web designer or freelancer. Also, the place serves as a “buy and sell” corner for digital items like websites, domains, themes, and other web elements.
Resources
You’ll find lots of resources in web design communities that can help you in your work or career. These include books and publications, courses and training, tutorial and demo videos, conferences and workshops, and even digital assets like fonts, clipart, icons, and stock images that are exclusively available to members.
Gamification
This is good if you are the competitive type. Some communities offer games, challenges, and quizzes that allow you to rise in the ranks or leaderboard depending on your score, active contribution, and achievement. You are then awarded recognition or badges which are things you can add up to your credentials.
Best Web Design Communities
Take note, the size of a community can be a good indicator of its popularity. However, don’t go by that yardstick alone. A smaller community may be just that because it has stricter entry rules or it is by invitation only. In any case, assess a community by the criteria we itemized in the earlier section. And to further help you along, see our selections below.
1. StackOverflow
Image credit: stackoverflow.com
StackOverflow was founded in 2008 and is easily your default go-to site if you need solutions to web design and development issues. It is the largest forum and community of developers of all kinds – from mobile, front-end, back-end, full-stack, software, programming, etc.
It has a public Q&A platform for which it is best known but the full benefits of the site can be derived from opening an account. It is easy to find topics and answers with the use of tags, and you can earn reputation points and badges for your contribution and active involvement in the community.
Fast facts: 20 million registered users (as of March 2022), 100 million monthly visitors, 24 million questions, 35 million answers, and 50.6 billion+ times a developer was able to get help.
2. Designer Hangout
Image credit: designerhangout.co
Designer Hangout is the ultimate community for User Experience Design (UXD). It’s an invite-only community so you have to request an invite and undergo a vetting process. The rigid entry is to ensure the community remains a spam-free grouping of design professionals. Once accepted, you join an exclusive collective of thousands of UXD professionals.
As a member, you get access to articles and research by UX experts and join the discussion on everything related to UX such as trends and developments. You can also join live Q&A events and network in person with fellow UX practitioners. The community prides itself on the “secret weapon” for attaining your life goals and advancing your career.
Fast facts: 18,000+ designer members, real-time answers from 1 million+ posts and messages sent, discover a mentor or be a mentor, and find the right opportunities in the job board.
3. Interaction Design Foundation Community
Image credit: interaction-design.org
The Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) was founded in 2002 and is principally an educational organization. It produces and offers online educational materials and courses crafted by industry experts and professors. Subjects cover areas of user interface design, user experience, human-computer interaction, psychology, and more. IxDF is considered the leading online design school.
The community is a network of groups in a hundred countries. Most likely there are local IxDF communities in your area that conduct live workshops and discussions. But master classes and courses are the most sought-after since these are offered according to skill levels – beginner, intermediate, and advanced – after which, upon completion, you get to receive industry-recognized certificates.
Fast facts: 313,000+ designer members, 485 local communities in 103 countries, and 151,000+ graduates.
4. Sitepoint
Image credit: sitepoint.com
Sitepoint is a community by web professionals for web professionals. It was started in 1999 as an internet forum for beginner web developers. Today it serves as a valuable resource not only for web developers but also for web designers, programmers, entrepreneurs, and product creators looking for articles, tutorials, forums, courses, and books relating to the technicalities and workings of websites and the Web.
As a result of its growth and popularity, Sitepoint produced many spinoffs including 99designs, a marketplace dedicated to outsourced graphic designs; Flippa for selling and buying domain names and websites; and Learnable as the main outlet for Sitepoint’s courses and books. Sitepoint later took over Learnable as the primary learning platform.
Fast facts: Over 600 tech books and courses, real-time support from the community, and more than 100,000 developer users.
5. Behance
Image credit: behance.net
Behance was established in 2005 as a social media platform intended to discover and showcase creative work. The site was acquired by Adobe Systems in 2012 and continued its mission of providing a community outlet for creatives to promote, showcase, and sell their works. You need to open an account with the site. This allows you to create a project profile page of your design work that is organized, searchable, and with statistics on project views, followers, appreciations, etc. Members and non-members alike can view and comment on your work.
Fast facts: 2017 Webby (the Web’s Oscars) Award Winner for Community category; 24 million members as of October 2022.
6. Dribbble
Image credit: dribbble.com
Dribbble was launched in 2009 as an invite-only site for designers to share their work. Through the years it blossomed into a social networking platform and portfolio site for digital designers and creatives. Registering with Dribbble opens you up to a community with lots of activities and features such as your own profile and portfolio page, a marketplace, a resource page for digital assets, and more. It’s a great place to find design inspiration, study the design projects of others, and be discovered by prospective clients.
Fast facts: Global community reach of over 140 meet-ups in 43 countries; site usage in 195 countries; and 4 million+ monthly visitors.
7. Digital Point
Image credit: digitalpoint.com
Digital Point is a huge community with a very active forum. People flock to it because of its extensive resource offerings starting with wide-ranging discussions that cover web tools and techniques, software development, web design, programming, marketing, SEO, domains, and many more. Then there is a comprehensive marketplace where you can buy and sell digital products like websites, domains, plugins, templates, scripts, designs, and e-books, among others.
Fast facts: 945,000 members; 2.3 million discussions; 10,000+ articles on lifestyle, technology, and business; 7,000+ digital items in the marketplace.
8. Killersites Community
Image credit: killersites.com
The Killersites Community boasts thousands of members composed of web developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and marketers. Its website features a forum, leaderboard, job board, and gallery showcasing the web design works of members. The Killersites forum can have dozens of members online at any one time asking and answering questions that range from web design and programming to web marketing and entrepreneurship. There are also several sub-forums that deal with the nitty-gritty of website creation and operation.
Fast facts: 38,000 community/forum members; 580 members of the private mentoring club/forum.
9. Mockplus
Image credit: mockplus.com
Mockplus is a design platform often compared to the likes of Figma and Adobe XD. It is focused on prototyping tools, scalable design systems, and effective collaboration to enable designing easier, smarter, and faster. Its mission is to help its designers deliver the best user experience in their designs. In the Mockplus forum, you’ll learn from other designers about design templates, UX styles and components, animations, mobile designs, storyboards, web/app prototyping, wireframing, and many others.
Fast facts: 2 million+ users worldwide; 200,000+ teams from big tech companies using the platform; and 24/7, 365 days technical support.
10. DEV Community
Image credit: dev.to
DEV Community is a large aggrupation of web developers from across the globe who regularly converge online to stay updated with industry developments, share their knowledge, and grow their careers. You’ll find helpful and meaningful discussions revolving around programming, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, WordPress, backend, productivity, etc. There are also software comparisons, guides, video tutorials, podcasts, mentorships, a marketplace, and a job listing section.
Fast facts: Over 1 million developers use the site and hundreds of thousands of posts and discussions in 100 major web development-related subjects.
11. HTML Forums
Image credit: htmlforums.net
HTML Forums is a small but vibrant community for developers and coders. It has everything you need to know about the cornerstone technologies of the web – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript – which power the design and creation of websites. You’ll find discussions revolving around web design, graphic design, web development, and front and back end. If you want a concentrated focus on coding, this is the community to join. It offers a hassle-free registration process.
Fast facts: 2,143 members and 4,874 discussions in 1,371 threads.
Community is Connection
People are social creatures and it is their natural tendency to communicate and connect with other people. A community of peers will certainly give you that connection and sense of belonging. More than a repository of resources like books, videos, and courses, a web design community allows you to learn, get support, and even provide support to others who may need it. Be part of a web design community now and experience the benefits it can bring to your career and connections.
