Creative Lunch Club

Communities, Networks & Events for Graphic Designers

Graphic design is shaped by the people you meet and the places you show up. Creatives do better when they stay connected, whether through community events, online spaces, or the tools that support their daily work. This guide brings together useful communities, networks and events for anyone looking to stay inspired.

Graphic design is more than software and technique, it is shaped by the people, ideas, and communities around you. Whether you work freelance, study, or sit in a studio, staying connected helps you grow through conversations, inspiration, shared knowledge, and fresh perspectives. From global online communities and major conferences to local meetups, this guide highlights some of the most useful places, events, and resources to help you stay inspired and connected as a designer.

In-Person Communities & Meetups

AIGA

AIGA is the go-to hub for designers in the US to connect and get inspired, with community vibes, events, and resources to level up your craft.

The Design Kids

The Design Kids is a global community for emerging designers, with city meetups, interviews, jobs, and practical resources to help you build your folio and grow your career.

Illustration Ladies

Illustration Ladies is an international community for female and non-binary illustrators, creating space for connection, support, and visibility through meetups, drawing sessions, and workshops. It’s a space to share ideas, grow creatively, and support each other in an often isolating industry.

Ladies, Wine & Design

Ladies, Wine & Design is a global community uplifting creative women and nonbinary folks with meetups, talks, and mentorship. Inclusive vibes, real talk, and chapters around the world.

CreativeMornings

CreativeMornings is a global series of free, monthly morning talks that bring creatives together for coffee, inspiration, and good vibes.

Creative Lunch Club

Creative Lunch Club is a global community for people working in the creative industries. Whether you are a graphic designer, a photographer, a marketer, or a filmmaker, the Creative Lunch Club gives you the chance to regularly meet other creatives in your city for lunch.

Online Communities & Social Networks

Behance

Behance is a portfolio platform where designers post full case studies and detailed projects. It attracts a global creative audience and is useful for finding inspiration and getting feedback on bigger bodies of work.

Dribbble

Dribbble is a go-to spot for bite-sized design inspo and slick portfolio shots. Perfect for discovering trends, following creatives, or hiring talent.

The Studio by Creative Boom

The Studio by Creative Boom is a private community created by Creative Boom for designers, illustrators, writers, and makers. Free from the noise of social media, it’s a calm, supportive space for conversations, peer feedback, and professional development.

Designer Slack Communities

Designer Slack Communities is a curated list of design Slack groups from around the world, easy to browse by location and topic.

r/graphic_design

r/graphic_design is a popular Reddit community where designers discuss projects, ask for advice, share resources, and learn from others. It’s a helpful space for honest feedback and real conversations about the industry.

A professional platform where designers can showcase their experience, connect with agencies and studios, and join design-focused groups. It’s ideal for career opportunities and industry networking.

Instagram

A visual-first space where creatives share their work, explore new styles, and build a personal brand. It’s great for finding inspiration and connecting with other creatives through comments, DMs, and shared interests.

Threads

A conversational space that encourages quick, casual interaction. Designers use it to share thoughts, ask questions, and connect with other creatives in a more relaxed, real-time way.

Events & Conferences

OFFF Barcelona

OFFF Barcelona is a leading festival and community for contemporary visual creativity where innovative and emerging talents share their creative processes and explore the future of the global creative industry. It brings together designers, artists, developers, and thinkers for inspiration and collaboration.

Adobe MAX

Adobe MAX is the ultimate creativity conference for graphic designers, illustrators, and digital creators, featuring keynote talks, hands-on workshops, and previews of upcoming Adobe tools. It’s also a great chance to meet fellow creatives, get inspired, and explore the latest trends shaping the design world.

AIGA Design Conference

AIGA Design Conference is the flagship gathering of AIGA, bringing together graphic designers, visual communicators, and creative professionals from around the world. It features inspiring talks, workshops, and community events that explore how design shapes culture, drives innovation, and creates real impact.

NOW26 Conference

NOW26 Conference is a celebration of typography featuring inspiring speakers from graphic, web and motion design, publishing, visual identity, communication, and type design, with talks, discussions, workshops and more.

Pictoplasma

Pictoplasma is the leading festival for contemporary character design, bringing together illustrators, animators, designers, and visual artists from around the world. Hosted in Berlin, it offers talks, exhibitions, screenings, and workshops that explore the future of character-driven storytelling and visual culture.

The Best Graphic Design Conferences to Attend in 2026

How to Stay Connected

You do not need to join everything at once. Pick one or two communities that suit your interests, Go to a design conference or follow from afar if you cannot attend in person, and build a small system for inspiration that works for you.

Connect with other creatives you admire, ask questions, and share your work. A few simple actions can help you feel part of a much larger creative world.

Conclusion

Creatives do better when they are part of something larger. Communities, events, and useful tools can spark ideas, friendships, and collaboration. Find the spaces and resources that suit you and shape a creative setup that helps you grow.

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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!

Lucy Cochrane

Graphic Designer, Stockholm

The CLC is great because I can easily get to know previously unknown creative people in the city, gain new inspiration, expand my talent network and also discover new corners and restaurants in the city. I think CLC members are curious and open-minded people by nature. It's always exciting to learn more about the city's creative scene and its projects. At my previous meetings, we always had interesting discussions and the time for lunch was often far too short. I'm already looking forward to my next CLC.

Markus Wohlhüter

Graphic Designer, Zürich

As a proud member of the Creative Lunch Club, I have connected with countless talented and inspiring creatives across Amsterdam, London, New York City, and Portland, OR. This community has enriched my international network and allowed me to collaborate with amazing freelancers on client projects for my purpose-driven creative agency. The Creative Lunch Club is a beacon of creativity and camaraderie in the industry.

Meredith Lockwood

Multidisciplinary creative designer and founder, Portland