TikTok, dubbed by some as the new Facebook or Instagram, might be one of the most exciting new platforms for designers and other creatives. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 12 most inspiring creatives to follow on TikTok this year. Keep reading for a rundown of the most inspirational designers on TikTok today.
The Futur
The Futur is on a mission to change the world for creative freelancers, one person at a time. In fact, you can go to their website right now and sign up to be one of the billion people who will learn valuable creative skills from The Futur.
The Futur makes their bold plans clear in their mission statement. Among other goals, they plan to:
“Gather the most creative minds, technologists, learning designers, and inspirational professionals to teach 21st-century skills including design thinking, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, strategy, experience design, communication, content marketing, and design.â€
The Futur’s TikTok feed is chock full of tips on managing your freelance business, improving your product, and crafting a great portfolio. You’ll find tutorials on a vast range of topics, from creating a color palette to setting prices for your work. This is an outstanding one-stop-shop for any designer looking to take their career to the next level in the coming year.
@thefuturishereWhat do you share on your #portfolio? #design #business #creative #education #tiktoklearning♬ original sound – thefutur
Letters and Lettering
LettersandLettering brings a continuous stream of color and childlike delight to your TikTok feed. Colorists, logo designers, and calligraphers will find inspiration here, but so will anyone interested in blending classic, artisanal lettering techniques with a modern sensibility.
Letters and Lettering offers tutorials on calligraphic techniques, and they also preview new tools and supplies. Plus, there are videos showcasing both new and ancient methods of creating pen and ink art. Most of them feature impressive pops of color and cheery, warm brush lines. The feed explains how to use brand new products, from gel pens to brushes to erasable highlighters. Letterers will love the color theory demonstration and novel approaches to setting your color palette.
@lettersandletteringGave these new Tombows a try! Just some quick messy lettering to get a feel & see the colors ???? #handlettering #lettering #calligraphy #tombow #fyp♬ ART CHICK WHOLELOTTAMILES – MILES
Jobsxdesign
Jobsxdesign is a deep dive into all things design. You’ll even find critiques of major brands like Dunkin’ and Tropicana, and Jobsxdesign isn’t afraid to call out a design “fail†where they see one. Of course, plenty of modern design – even mainstream commercial design – gets praised here too. It’s not all about the takedown.
One particularly memorable post is about a Coca-Cola label that transforms into a holiday bow with the tug of a built-in string. The caption reads, “Do you like creative branding?” and most of us will want to answer “Yes!”
These TikTok graphic design experts offer a wealth of information on the best design of the past century, from early Mickey Mouse cartoons to old Saul Bass movie posters. Plus, Jobsxdesign has a really fun, creative approach, and they make heavy use of gamification, too. You’ll find entertaining games using fonts and typefaces as well as helpful tutorials for the latest graphic design tools.
@jobsxdesignSoda #POP #learnontiktok #tiktokpartner #learnwithjenna #graphicdesign #designer #branding #typography #vintage #trends #learn #adobe #colors #package♬ original sound – Jenna Palermo
ProjectaCreativa
ProjectaCreativa is one of the most energetic and funniest TikTok design feeds around. This account focuses on women and especially Latina designers, so there’s a trove of information for Latinas working in the field. You’ll find insights into income inequality, discrimination, and related issues. It’s very real, but the tone is light with a wry sense of humor. The feed dishes out some harsh truths, but the bright atmosphere and upbeat music make those truths easier to swallow.
ProjectaCreativa also offers great tutorials for designers. You can learn how to build your brand, expand into new markets, develop a color gradient or create a custom wallpaper for a desktop. There’s plenty of detailed advice and suggestions for using Canva and Instagram mixed with a healthy dose of realism about the troubles plaguing the industry.
@projectcreativa3 SEO website design tips! #Joblife #learnontiktok #designtiktok #websitedesign #smallbusiness♬ Sunset Lover – Petit Biscuit
Brand Designer
As the name suggests, BrandDesigner specializes in all things related to branding and design. On this TikTok account, you’ll find loads of actionable advice on how to brand yourself effectively. And you’ll love how they present advice in an appealing format so that even people who stress and get anxious about marketing will relax and feel reassured. How can you say no, for example, to a little green cartoon telling you the dos and don’ts of social media?
Brand Designer also includes inspiring examples of social media makeovers, complete with “before†and “after†pictures. And if that’s not enough, you’ll find mini tutorials on how to become a social media manager, how to work with a brand designer, and what type of content you should post on your social media accounts.
@mckinleymediaGraphic design trends for 2021 – what’s your favorite?! #graphicdesigntips #branddesigner #2021trends #smallbusinesstip♬ Park Bench – Valley
Hello.Hazie
Hello.Hazie is a brand designer with a difference. This feed focuses less on the nuts and bolts of design and more on the spiritual inspiration behind effective branding. You won’t find much here about color palettes or technique – but you’ll find a wealth of ideas on presenting brand identity. You’ll even find some very Jungian theories about the main branding categories. (Did Carl Jung, that most mystical of psychologists, ever foresee that his ideas could be used for branding and design? We may never know.)
Hello Hazie also features a healthy dose of insight into what you need to succeed in today’s tough market. There’s plenty of information about pricing, working successfully with clients, and, of course, marketing your own business. The ratio of sass to sober business insight is just right.
@hello.hazieI get asked a lot “where do I beginâ€. #design #graphic #creativedirector #mentor #fundamentals #career #tips #brand #mentor♬ oops! – Yung Gravy
Ericysin
Ericysin has a brash, fresh take on logo design, and he’s not afraid to share it. This TikTok graphic design feed is full of hot takes on some of the biggest logos out there, from Intel to Snapple to the (mostly poorly received) logos designed for basketball stars.
You’ll find posts here like “Top 5 Worst NBA Logos” and “Slack: a Rebrand Retrospective.” The nicely balanced content features both positive and negative reviews of various rebrands and design overhauls, and the viewpoints are always fresh and in your face – no punches pulled.
Ericysin features plenty of tips for designers, especially on running a successful business in today’s environment and how to set rates that are fair to the designer and the customer.
@ericysinI freelanced first 10 years, and loved it. Here’s why. #freelancer #designer #design #branding #graphicdesign #careeradvice #business #wfh #education♬ original sound – Eric Sin
munopiaportraits
Munopiaportraits is one of the best feeds on TikTok for tips on all things photography. There’s expert, nitty-gritty advice on how to take great photos in every kind of weather and atmosphere – you’ll find information on correcting an over-exposed sky, for example, and you can also peruse advice on photographing models effectively despite the inevitable shadows from the midday sun.
Here you’ll find plenty of advice about marketing and selling stock photos, so it’s a great resource if you’re looking to expand your business. Need inspiration? Info on picking great locations? Munopiaportraits helps you get the most out of every photo shoot.
@munopiaportraitsReply to @simply_aly selling my travel, lifestyle or just random photos that are collecting dust in my hard drive #phototips #passiveincome♬ Bring It Around – Sky Summers
You can also find Munopia’s amazing products here on Creative Market:
RoxyPrima
A unique, bright, and fun look at murals plus “business tips for creatives,” RoxyPrima is definitely one of a kind. The team delves into every aspect of creating murals, from buying paint for a major project to picking out the right jumpsuit to work in. And of course, RoxyPrima has some terrific tips for client management and for making sure artists get their due respect.
RoxyPrima is operated by women artists, and they take a fresh, bold look at what it’s like to be a female artist, designer, or letterer working today. Need some great tips on how to deal with clients who don’t want to pay full price? What’s the best way to deal with condescending attitudes? Check out RoxyPrima for expert advice. Feeling down about your struggle to succeed as a woman in today’s marketplace? RoxyPrima will cheer you up and make you laugh!
@roxyprimaIt’s worth the investment! #muralartist #muralhack #muralistsoftiktok♬ Sorry, I Like You – Burbank
Shotbycharles
Shotbycharles is a great place to find tips on photography, especially fashion photography. The feed has a lot of actionable advice on taking successful photos in various settings and seasons – how to make the most of a sunset, for example, or how to take great shots in the dead of winter.
In addition, the wealth of specific advice on achieving certain looks is invaluable. Shotbycharles provides step-by-step tutorials on exactly how to get the right “grainy†edit, say, or how to achieve the “luxurious influencer†look. Shotbycharles is generous with tips about getting the right effects for your shots, so this is a great resource for anyone serious about becoming a truly versatile photographer. The feed also offers useful business advice if you’re interested in how the industry works.
@shotbycharlesleaves yo insta in the comments! ✌ï¸âœŒï¸ #presetslightroom #phototips #lightroomediting #fyp #lightroom #adobe #lightroompreset♬ Hung Up (SDP Extended Vocal) [Edit] – Madonna
ux_ui_design
ux_ui_design is the perfect resource for UX designers. The feed covers everything from what kinds of buttons to include in your design style guide to the ins and outs of app design. At the same time, ux_ui_design isn’t afraid to point out the harsher realities of life as a UX designer, albeit in a gentle, funny style.
You’ll find posts on misconceptions about UX design, for example, and insights into clients’ unrealistic expectations. The feed pokes fun at clients who want top-notch professional work right away but don’t want to pay the prices that a world-class designer can command. Anyone dealing with the realities of life in this field will enjoy the feeling of being understood.
Most of all, though, you’ll find inspiring design examples and tutorials on how to achieve a high level of success in the field.
@ux_ui_designHow IG designers work. #uxdesign #ux #ui #fyp #transformation♬ how would they know bad girls club – Chris Gleason
Cassidylphillips
Cassidylphillips is a fabulous resource for branding and web design. But it’s really about much more than that. This is THE feed to follow for pep talks, reassurance, and motivation, especially if you’re a freelancer or a start-up in the design field.
You’ll find a plethora of genuine posts about the trials and tribulations of working with clients who demand revision after revision without stating their actual goals. They also feature more specific advice on topics such as making your business run more smoothly, how to keep your clients happy, and how to attract new customers. Cassidylphillips also offers plenty of great resources on the website, such as checklists, templates, and simple breakdowns on the best ways to handle client relations, no matter what kind of problem you’re facing.
Best of all, you’ll enjoy the humor – despite the serious nature of the advice, this is a funny, laugh-out-loud resource and definitely a great feed to follow.
@cassidylphillipsIt’s time to stop feeling anxious about your design process ???? #branddesigner #webdesigner #websitedesigner♬ Hold My Hand – frad
Final thoughts
Many of us are looking for fresh inspiration and a fresh start. The past year has been challenging for everyone, so this is a great time to think about the changes we hope to see in the coming year.
The creatives listed here are all guaranteed to give you a new, exciting way to kick-start the year – and a brand new outlook on your life and your work. Whether you want to learn more about the ins and outs of your craft or need advice on professional development and career management, these 12 designers on TikTok will put you on the path to a better, more successful 2021. We hope you enjoy them. Most of all, we hope your new year is one of joy, inspiration, and boundless creativity!
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