Meeting other graphic designers can feel hard when you work from home or spend most of the day behind a screen. Yet finding your people brings feedback, fresh ideas and sometimes new projects. Here are eight ways that work, online and in your city.
See all 8 ways
Communities bring designers together all year, with talks, portfolio nights and casual get-togethers. They are the easiest way to meet the same people more than once, which is how acquaintances turn into friends.
Here are some to start with:
Design conferences bring together designers from all over the world for talks, workshops and parties. Everyone is there to talk about design, so starting a conversation is easy. Arrive early or stay a little longer: the best conversations often happen before the program starts or after it ends.
6-8 May 2027 · Barcelona, Spain
10-12 Nov 2026 · Miami, FL, USA
date 2027 tba · Los Angeles, CA, USA
Meetups are small and informal: a lunch, a coffee or a picnic with a handful of creatives from your city. Members of the Creative Lunch Club host them in cities around the world.
The next ones:
One of the best things I've done since moving to Stockholm has been joining the Creative Lunch Club, a community I first discovered back in Australia and was so happy to find here too! These catchups have been such a great way to connect with other creatives, share stories and experiences, and feel part of the design community here. I've met some incredibly talented and kind people through these catch-ups, and it's helped me explore more of Stockholm too!
Graphic Designer, Stockholm
Not every connection has to start in person. Online communities let you share work, ask for feedback and find designers with the same interests, wherever you live. Pick one or two and take part regularly rather than joining ten.
Some of the best connections come from doing something together. Take a typography class or a short branding workshop, work from a coworking space with a creative crowd, or go to gallery openings and poster exhibitions where the local design scene shows up.
Freelance illustrator Daniele Morganti puts it this way: "Workshops are a good option to meet other people in a way that seems creative and fun. I would suggest to pick something easy, like a short course of 6/8 hour, just to have the time to learn something new and have lunch with other people who are interested in the same topic. Being at the same workshop is always a nice icebreaker!"
You can also join a design challenge like 36 Days of Type or volunteer at a design festival.
One habit makes all of this work better: after meeting someone, send a short message the same day or the next. Small follow-ups turn a nice chat into a connection.
When I found about the Creative Lunch Club I immediately thought I had to join. I live for design communities but so rarely we get opportunities to have these small group gatherings, so lunch feels like the ideal excuse to meet other creatives. Had the first one the other day and yep, it was a great experience and can't wait for the next.
Brand Designer, Creative Technologist & Community Builder, Lisbon
Hosting your own meetup is the fastest way to become the person who connects the local design scene. With the Creative Lunch Club it is easy: in the member area you pick a format, such as lunch, coffee, afterwork or a picnic, a place and a date at least a week ahead.
We then announce your meetup by email to Creative Lunch Club members in your city, so you do not have to find the guests yourself.
The Creative Lunch Club matches you once a month with two other creatives from your city, and the three of you meet for lunch. No name tags, no pitching, just a good conversation. It runs in more than 100 cities.
Membership costs 7.50 € per month, or 15 € for three months (plus VAT).
Join the Creative Lunch ClubCity guides for the places with the most graphic designers in the Creative Lunch Club.
Creative Lunch Club has been an invaluable part of my creative journey in Helsinki and beyond. Alongside introducing me to incredible people, the conversations and moments shared through the network have given me fresh perspectives, much-needed respites, lasting friendships, and the encouragement to persist through the hurdles of freelancing!
Communications Specialist | Content Creator | Graphic Designer, Helsinki
At local communities such as AIGA or CreativeMornings, at meetups and design conferences, and online on Behance, Dribbble or r/graphic_design. The Creative Lunch Club adds a monthly lunch with two other creatives from your city, in more than 100 cities.
Meet the same people more than once. A community or a monthly lunch gives you that more easily than a big event. Be curious about other people's work, follow up after you meet someone, and keep showing up.
Probably. AIGA has local chapters across the United States, and CreativeMornings and Ladies, Wine & Design run events in cities around the world. The Creative Lunch Club runs in more than 100 cities: see the list of cities.
Behance and Dribbble for sharing your work, r/graphic_design for questions and honest feedback, and Design Buddies or the design Slack groups listed on Designer Slack Communities for everyday conversation.
Plan something regular outside the house: a coworking day, a workshop or a monthly lunch. With the Creative Lunch Club you meet two other creatives from your city for lunch once a month, for 7.50 € per month or 15 € for three months (plus VAT).
No. It is open to all creative professionals, from illustrators and photographers to copywriters, developers and art directors. Your lunch group is usually a mix, which is a big part of the fun.
5. Use social media
Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads are where many designers share their work. Comment on posts you like, and reply to people who comment on yours.
Brand and social strategist Lauren Crow found a friend this way: "I went on a business-focused instagram account I liked at the time and found people that liked their content and connected with them. that’s how I met @socialsorcery_ and we’ve been friends and collaborators for a year and a half now."
Instagram
LinkedIn
Threads