Every designer has it; a box of go-to tools, widgets, and tricks that make every day design tasks a breeze. Let’s be honest, every designer has a wish list of items they wish they had in their box of tricks too! Today, GraphicRiver reviewer and freelance designer, Ben Gribbin, shares some of his favorite must-have design files for getting things done.
Web Boxes | Banners | Seals | Web 2.0 Ribbons
This selection of Boxes, Banners, Seals and Ribbons fit’s snuggly into any designer’s toolbox. While it was intended for use on the web, the elements could also easily be used as template or the base of a poster or advert. A great file that you’ll find use for in almost any project, thanks to its complete customizability.
Web 2.0 GUI Kit
This item combines over 80 high quality GUI elements that you can use in any conceivable design mock-up, including buttons, pagination menus and input boxes. They look very slick and professional.
100 Photo Styles
This is a great file for tweaking bland, lifeless photos – be sure to check the Sepia, LOMO, False HDR – these really do transform a dull photograph.
A&H Stella Regular
A unique sans-serif font that makes your work stand out and is a refreshing alternative to some of the more over-worked fonts popular with designers today.
Xmas Styles
No matter what the season, the details on these items are just amazing. Don’t miss the fine texture on the "Cookie" style and Santa’s polka dots.
Resumes (5 Pack)
This pack has 5 beautiful, ready-to-print resumes. The included Photoshop files are highly flexible and the overall quality is very, very good.
Identity System – Includes PSD, AI and INDD files!
A multi-format Identity pack with a sound, corporate image. Includes letterheads, invoices, contracts and more – the author has thought of everything!
Pack of 60 Icons
A high quality set of 60 icons, suited to almost any use! The included vector file means the icons are infinitely scalable, equally at home in an iPhone app or on a business card.
Business card for photographers
Make a truly memorable 3D Camera model that doubles up as a business card – very cool idea!
26 Watercolor Splatter Brushes
Super high-res set of watercolor Photoshop brushes. These brushes make striking backgrounds and brilliant effects when laid over photos for a grungy look.
Smooth Icon Set
Draw attention to sections of a page and embellish your designs with these clean, light icons.
Professional Template With Footer
Helps in crafting clean, simple presentations to deliver information effectively. This Powerpoint Template is ideal for showcasing a company, portfolio or product.
Mail Order Catalog InDesign Template
Create a modern and clean catalog using a grid-based layout. InDesign template includes 16 pages with easy to edit layouts.
Minimal eBook Template
A Minimal design means this eBook template suits almost any industry or book, includes a Layered InDesign File – the design can thus be tweaked and altered as you wish.
Mega Pack Mock-Up #1
Create web page display mock-ups in seconds. Use the file to display a selection of websites or similar work in a portfolio for example.
Mac Styles
If Apple made Photoshop styles, these would be them. We like the idea of using these file as an aid when mocking up apps and websites – though the styles could be use standalone too.
Comic Speech Bubbles
A pop art / comic book style set of speech bubbles – provided as both .EPS and high-res JPEG files so you can simply drop these into your designs, whether for print or the web.
Original Filmstrip
The Isolated Objects category has a massive library of isolated objects (items with the background removed) – use to create interesting backgrounds, headers and more. This filmstrip sits in at 10000×2390, and is ideal for use with AV club posters, cinema boards and more.
AppCon: App Icon Creator
The next time you need an icon for an application, you won’t need to break out the gloss and rulers. Design your icon, press a button, and off you go.
Isolated Masking Tape Pack
Paper, Cork board and Masking tape can give a design an earthy, back to nature style – this isolated masking tape pack works great on posters, giving the appearance of a collage or hand-made theme. The tape pieces vary in shape and size, so they are suited for use anywhere.
Old TV – Wide & Normal
Another high-quality Isolated Object, this time a retro TV with screen mask – gives a real retro / vintage feel to any design.
8 Tileable Terrain & Wall Textures
These industrial, grungy textures are very dark, moody and dramatic. Laid over a photo, or used in a website theme they can give a real urban, aged look. The textures are tillable and thus are perfect for using on the web as backgrounds.
9 Cloud Brushes for Photoshop
A high resolution, ABR file for use with Photoshop. Simply load these brushes and start creating skyscape backgrounds and adding that heavenly touch to your work.
Twitter Bird Character
This file features some truly unique, individual characters you can use to really mix things up and stand out from the tweeple.
Viable Sans Serif Font
This font screams New York Taxi! The style lends itself to use in any setting, whether it be for a non-profit organization or restaurant. A great alternative to fonts such as Bebas Neue or League Gothic but with a lowercase set of characters too!
Virtual Magnifier
Create magnified sections of an image, website or photograph in seconds. This file includes an action that ‘blows-up’ a selection beneath the included magnifying glass icons. Works really well, looks great and saves you 10 minutes trying to do this by hand!
