When I first started learning web design, every type of creative software I used was proprietary. These tools often came at a cost, and there was no way to customize them beyond what was originally intended. Later, I discovered WordPress, which exposed me to the idea of open source software, and I instantly became fascinated with it. I couldn’t understand how a publishing platform this complete and robust could be available to literally everyone for free.
Open source typically refers to software designed for public access—meaning anyone can see, modify and distribute said software as they see fit. This often enables greater innovation and a level of organic community involvement that just isn’t possible with a small group in control of a project. WordPress isn’t the only platform to make its source code public and the concept isn’t limited to just software. There are tons of files, graphics, and images on various sites like Openverse which compiles and distributes resources that have a “CC0” (Creative Commons) license. Without getting too deep into the legalese, CC0 just means the creative work is intended for public domain, giving anyone the freedom to reuse and modify it for pretty much any purpose. Not only that, lately the quality of open source and CC0 design resources has gotten quite good, and it’s taking me back to that feeling I experienced when I first discovered WordPress.
Below is a recently compiled list of design resources that Christy and I compiled for our team here at Automattic, and we think you may find the list useful for your next project. Note that, although they’re free for personal or even commercial use, some of the resources below aren’t technically defined as “open source.” Be sure to check the license of any assets you plan to use to make sure they will be suitable for your project.
Enjoy!
Fonts
Font libraries
- https://fonts.google.com
- https://www.cufonfonts.com
- https://usemodify.com
- http://www.velvetyne.fr
- http://collletttivo.it
- https://open-foundry.com/fonts
- https://www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com
- https://fontlibrary.org
- https://www.fontshare.com
- https://fontesk.com/license/ofl-gpl
- https://fonts-for-freedom.com/en
- https://dotorgthemeinspo.wordpress.com/fonts
- https://www.are.na/frederic-brodbeck/open-source-typefaces
- https://www.fontsquirrel.com
- http://dotcolon.net
- https://typotheque.luuse.fun
Notable singular fonts
- https://github.com/njugunagathere/Metropolis — an alternative to Montserrat/Gotham/Proxima Nova
- https://github.com/rsms/inter — Inter with italics. Note the Google Fonts version does not include italics.
Some favorite Google fonts
Icons
- https://material.io/resources/icons
- https://www.flaticon.com
- https://iconoir.com
- https://feathericons.com
- https://icons8.com/icons
Backgrounds
- https://bgjar.com
- Background pattern resources via Wes Bos
- https://fffuel.co/nnnoise — svg noise generator
Photos
- https://wordpress.org/openverse — WordPress’s library of Creative Commons and public domain content; also has audio
- https://unsplash.com
- https://www.pexels.com
- https://shotstash.com
- https://icons8.com/photos
- https://nappy.co — stock images of black and brown people
- https://disabilityin.org/resource/disability-stock-photography
- https://affecttheverb.com/collection — disability stock illustrations & photos
- https://www.flickr.com/commons — Creative Commons library
- https://www.si.edu/openaccess — images from the Smithsonian’s collection
Illustrations & Art
- https://undraw.co/illustrations
- https://icons8.com/illustrations
- https://blush.design
- https://www.humaaans.com — also available via Blush (above)
- https://affecttheverb.com/collection — disability stock illustrations & photos
- https://www.rawpixel.com/public-domain — public domain art and design
Mockups
Audio
- https://wordpress.org/openverse — WordPress’s library of Creative Commons and public domain content
- https://icons8.com/music
Tools
- https://www.remove.bg — Photo background remover tool and Figma plugin
Image attribution:
- “Saturn’s Rings in Ultraviolet Light” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- “Starburst Cluster Shows Celestial Fireworks” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- “Hubbell Revival-style Rug with Moki (Moqui) Stripes” is licensed under CC0 1.0
- “Neutron Stars Rip Each Other Apart to Form Black Hole” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- “Tribal Art New York 2011: Africa/Oceana/Americas” by j-No is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
- “Olympic Games. Stockholm 1912” by Boston Public Library is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
- “Bob Beamon” by RobHelfman is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
- “The victorious English 400 m. women’s relay swimming team” is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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