Resources

A creative's toolkit.

Tools, books and techniques we actually rely on—plus a hand-picked layer made specifically for when you are stuck. Bookmark it, raid it, share it.

Type & fonts

TypewolfFont inspiration & trend recommendations Fonts In UseArchive of typography used in the wild WhatTheFontIdentify a font from an image FontstructBuild your own fonts for free CalligraphrTurn your handwriting into a font VelvetyneFree, experimental open-source type

Type foundries

a selection of the greats

Klim Type FoundryBeloved, characterful retail type Grilli TypeSwiss type foundry Commercial TypeEditorial & brand typefaces DinamoContemporary type + tools Pangram PangramModern foundry, generous freebies Future FontsBuy fonts while they're in progress Vocal TypeType celebrating diverse histories Adobe FontsThousands, free with Creative Cloud

TBI MockupsLayered PSD mockups (The Brand Identity)

Mr. Mockups · Mockup MaisonHigh-quality PSD mockups

Icons

FlaticonBiggest free icon repository The Noun ProjectHuge icon library (paid) Iconmonstr4,700+ free icons NucleoOrganise + customise icon libraries

Color

Material PaletteQuick palette generator Contrast CheckerMake colors pass WCAG accessibility StarkContrast & accessibility (Figma)

The Day's Color · Wes Anderson PalettesDaily color inspiration

Design inspiration & references

CosmosDiscovery engine for creatives SaveePinterest, but for art & design The DielinePackaging & branding inspo Public WorkFree public-domain art & photos Google Arts & CultureArt history & museums Archive.orgMillions of free images, films, sites Same EnergyVisual search engine EyecandyVisual technique library FramesetStills from films, ads, music videos ShotDeck · Shot CafeMovie-stills archives

Award-winning ad archives

Love The Work MoreEvery Cannes Lion winner since 1954, free The One ShowThe world's best ad/design work D&AD AwardsCreative excellence in design & ads Communication ArtsBest of design, illustration, advertising The CliosAwards across health, sports & more unblock.coffeeSearchable ad archive (by agency, CD)

AI tools

IdeogramAI images that render text well MidJourneyHigh-quality image & video gen Adobe FireflyAI image/video + audio GeminiChat + strong image editing LM ArenaTest & compare leading AI models calligrapher.aiRealistic AI handwriting

Writing & copy

WordCounterWord & character count Calmly WriterDistraction-free writing RhymeZoneRhymes, synonyms, related words ConvertCaseChange text case quickly TextFXAI writing/brainstorming (Google) Manifesto WritingStudy the craft of brand manifestos

Build your portfolio / website

ReadymagHighly customizable site builder CargoBuilt for designers & creatives Adobe PortfolioFree with an Adobe subscription FabrikMade for creative portfolios BestfoliosA library of great design portfolios

Figma plugins & Chrome extensions

Super TidyAuto-tidy, rename & reorder frames (Figma)

Better Font PickerFaster type exploration (Figma)

StarkContrast & accessibility testing (Figma)

GoFullPageFull-page screenshots (Chrome)

WhatFontIdentify fonts on any page (Chrome)

Window ResizerEmulate resolutions for screenshots

Social media tools

JulipA microsite for your profile (better Linktree) Social SizesSizes & templates for every platform Adobe ExpressRemove bg, schedule, templates BiggedFree ad-spying tool

Learning & courses

SuperHiPractical creative-career courses SkillshareCreative classes, beginner → pro DomestikaBeautifully made creative courses CodecademyLearn to code, free W3SchoolsGo-to for CSS/HTML snippets

★ A Creative Block personals

For when you're stuck

A hand-picked layer made for getting unblocked—tagged to the 7+1 working map so you can reach for the right lever.

The unblocking canon

books

The War of ArtSteven Pressfield — names "Resistance," the force behind avoidance.Starting & Doing / Confidence & Exposure

Bird by BirdAnne Lamott — "shitty first drafts," one small piece at a time.Starting & Doing / Structure & Workflow

Art & FearBayles & Orland — why artists quit; quantity beats perfectionism.Confidence & Exposure / Starting & Doing

Big MagicElizabeth Gilbert — fear, curiosity, permission to create.Confidence & Exposure

The Artist's WayJulia Cameron — 12-week unblocking program; Morning Pages.All blocks

Steal Like an Artist / Keep GoingAustin Kleon — nothing's original; how to keep going.Direction & Meaning / Confidence & Exposure

Atomic HabitsJames Clear — tiny actions, systems, environment design.Starting & Doing / Context & Support

Anatomy of a BreakthroughAdam Alter — the science of getting unstuck.Direction & Meaning

MindsetCarol Dweck — fixed vs. growth; reframes "not good enough."Confidence & Exposure

The PracticeSeth Godin — ship creative work consistently.Starting & Doing

Four Thousand WeeksOliver Burkeman — finitude vs. perfectionism.Confidence & Exposure / Direction & Meaning

Daily RitualsMason Currey — how 150+ creatives structured their days.Structure & Workflow / Context & Support

Films & documentaries

Abstract: The Art of DesignNetflix — inside top designers' process

Get BackThe Beatles — watch a block form and break

Jiro Dreams of SushiMastery, devotion, the long gameSkill Gap

Chef's TableReinvention & finding your voiceDirection & Meaning / Confidence & Exposure

Art & CopyThe people behind iconic advertising

The Creative BrainNetflix — how creativity works in the brain

Talks & videos

Ira Glass — The GapTaste outruns skill at first; keep goingSkill / Confidence & Exposure

David Kelley — Creative confidenceTED talkConfidence & Exposure

Elizabeth Gilbert — Your elusive geniusTED talkConfidence & Exposure

Tim Urban — Master procrastinatorTED talkStarting & Doing

John Cleese — On CreativityOpen vs. closed modeDirection & Meaning

Csikszentmihalyi — FlowTED talkContext & Support

Podcasts, newsletters & blogs

The Accidental CreativeTodd Henry — prolific without burnout

Creative Pep TalkPep + tactics for stuck creatives

Design MattersDebbie Millman — honest creative interviews

The Creative IndependentInterviews + guides on overcoming blocks Ness LabsMindful productivity + neuroscience The ImperfectionistOliver Burkeman — perfectionism & getting unstuckConfidence & Exposure / Starting & Doing Austin KleonWeekly notes on keeping going Dense DiscoveryThoughtful tools & ideas, weekly

Reduce friction & protect focus

Context & Support

FreedomBlock distracting sites & apps Cold TurkeySerious, scheduled blocking one secAdd friction before opening time-sinks OpalReclaim attention from your phone ForestStay off your phone, grow a tree Brain.fm · EndelFocus soundscapes

Start small & build momentum

Starting & Doing

PomofocusDead-simple Pomodoro timer FocusmateBody doubling: scheduled video co-working Streaks · HabiticaTiny daily-habit tracking Sunsama · Llama LifePlan one realistic, timeboxed day

Organise the chaos

Structure & Workflow

MilanoteVisual boards for ideas & projects Notion · ObsidianNotes & a "second brain" Whimsical · FigJamMind-maps & flows Goblin Tools — Magic ToDoBreaks an overwhelming task into tiny steps

ADHD & neurodivergent focus

Goblin ToolsTask breakdown + tone helpersADHD TiimoVisual, time-based planningADHD FocusmateBody doubling for accountability

How to ADHDJessica McCabe — YouTube + book

How to Keep House While DrowningKC Davis — shame-free "functioning"

Techniques & exercises

the unblocking toolkit

Morning Pages3 longhand pages first thing, to clear the clutter

Friction auditList what adds resistance — remove just oneStructure & Workflow

Lower the barMake bad work on purpose; aim to startStarting & Doing / Confidence & Exposure

The 10-minute startCommit to ten minutes only; momentum followsStarting & Doing

Explore vs. commitName your mode; stop demanding certainty too earlyDirection & Meaning

Body doublingWork alongside someone (or Focusmate)

Change your contextA walk, a new café, a different roomContext & Support

Brain dump / mind mapGet it all onto one pageStructure & Workflow

Keep a "done list"Log what you finished, not just what's leftConfidence & Exposure

Separate work from worthName the feared verdict — then ship anywayConfidence & Exposure