Explore 20,000 Inspiring Projects in AIGA’s Free Design Archive

Discover 100 years of iconic design ideas from creatives around the world, with book covers, packaging, and beyond

Every designer, regardless of their craft, needs inspiration. That inspiration can come in many forms—the natural world, fellow artists, advertising, magazines, and more—but finding (and keeping) it is an ongoing challenge designers face throughout their careers.

The American Institute of Graphic Arts' (AIGA) Design Archives provides creatives with thousands of free visual references of iconic designs through history to inspire their projects. With a collection dating back to the early twentieth century, it's an invaluable resource for artists of all disciplines.

Read on to find out more about AIGA, the archives, and how to access them.

What is the AIGA Design Archives?

AIGA Design Archives is an extensive and free online resource for anyone with an interest in design, from experienced artists to lovers of the craft. Featuring over 20,000 works from AIGA's national juried design competitions, the archive covers everything from typography to illustration dating back to 1924.

You’ll find work from major studios, as well as lesser-known artists, and special collections dedicated to famous designers.

You can also explore more than 7,000 physical artifacts gathered from AIGA’s annual competitions at the Denver Museum of Art.

A professional association for design, AIGA itself was first created back in 1914. What started out as a small community of artists in New York has since developed into a nationwide collective of talented creatives with over 15,000 members. Its aim? To “advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force” through free resources, events, and more.

Inspiration for every creative interest

No matter your experience, or area of expertise, there’s something to help every designer find their creative flow in the archives.

Get inspired by fellow artists, work from years gone by, a specific discipline, and more.

You’ll find everything from typography and editorial design to advertising and posters in AIGA’s collections, and each entry is accompanied by useful information on the project including its title, the year it was created, where, and who by for anyone wanting to take their research further.

How to explore the archives

Exploring these free resources is simple and there are many ways to filter your search. Entries are categorized by year, format, city, state, country, and industry to name a few, offering a specific set of search results based on your creative interests.

Below are some popular searches and what you can expect to find within them:

1. Typographic design

Search by typographic design and you’ll find examples of powerful lettering compositions for editorial layouts, logos, product designs, and more.

2. Book design

Book design is another common search term, bringing up almost 7,000 examples of creative covers from around the world by award-winning artists like Chip Kidd, the creator of Jurassic Park’s iconic logo.

3. Color

Searching by color is one of AIGA Design Archives’ most unique features, and it goes beyond just primary colors; users are able to search by specific shades with their latest creative project in mind.

Collection highlights

If you’re looking for somewhere to start on your search for inspiration, we’ve rounded up a handful of impressive collections on photography, graphic design, and more.

1. People, Places and Things

The archive describes People, Places and Things as: “The best in photography and illustration published in 1984-1989”—and that’s exactly what you’ll find in this collection, from realistic portraits to interpretive caricatures.

2. Packaging

For anyone interested in product design, this is a must. Explore commercial packaging for wine, cosmetics, clothing, stationery, and everything in between from the United States and Canada.

3. B. Martin Pedersen

As a creative director, author, and publisher among other titles, B. Martin Pedersen has established himself as a leading designer in his field. Here you’ll find a roundup of his work, including editorial pieces and print ads.

Access the AIGA Design Archives

Browse works from these collections and more via the AIGA Design Archives. Plus, for more contemporary inspiration, follow AIGA's blog, Eye on Design.

More creative inspiration

Looking to put your newfound inspiration into practice? Check out Domestika's online Design courses, and read on for more…

1. From public domain image banks to film libraries, discover all kinds of free resources for creatives on the Blog.

2. Explore five classic graphic design styles to inspire your poster art in 2022.

3. Learn the skills to create impactful visual content, from posters to presentations, logos, and more with these ten essential graphic design courses.

4. Whether you’re searching for ideas for book cover design or children’s book illustration, check out UCLA’s free library of 2,000 vintage children’s books.