Creative Lunch Club

Communities, Networks and Events for Illustrators

Illustration grows through connection. Whether you work in editorial illustration, motion, children’s books, advertising, or personal projects, being part of a community helps you find inspiration, learn new skills, and meet people who share your interests. This guide highlights useful communities, networks, and events for illustrators who want to stay connected and keep developing their craft.

Illustration gets stronger through shared ideas and community. Here are some of the best networks and events for illustrators who want to stay inspired and connected.

In-Person Communities & Meetups

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.

Reddit r/illustration

r/Illustration is a reddit community where artists share WIPs and finished pieces, trade tips, and get feedback—great for inspo, technique chats, and discovering new styles.

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.

LinkedIn

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.

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.

POV Budapest

POV Budapest is a design conference centered on visual practices. It mixes talks and workshops with performances, design walks, and curated side events that spotlight an often overlooked creative scene.

The Best Conferences for Illustrators

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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Creative Lunch Club changed the game for me. The similar mindset and openness that most people meet through this community allows for deeper connections and a sense of belonging, no matter where we are. I've connected with people in 2 different countries now and I still talk and/or meet most of them and miss the ones I can't see soon. I have another scheduled lunch already.

Maria Pereira
Illustrator & Photographer, Porto

I love Creative Lunch Club because it harnesses the most human way of connecting, sharing a meal. It's an effortless way for creatives to build diverse connections and friendships across various fields and meet people they wouldn't otherwise.

Júlia Mota Albuquerque
Illustrator & Muralist, Berlin

Creative Lunch Club is an amazing initiative for us creatives to meet others who are like-minded. As creatives we have our friends, colleagues and acquaintances, but having the opportunity to connect and get to know other operators who are inspiring and each have a story to tell is what our industry needs more of – to feel a part of a community.

Simon Morehead
Creative Director, Stockholm
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