Resources
The tools and assets we actually reach for
Curated roundups, not link dumps. Every pick is here because it earns its place in real work, with a plain note on what it is for and what to watch out for.
Kept byHardy Design Co.3 roundupsLast change
Compiled by the studio, and nothing on these lists was ranked in exchange for payment. Free tiers and licenses move faster than anything else we publish, so each roundup is re-checked at least twice a year against the maker's own pages.
The best free fonts for real projects, sorted by job
A short, opinionated list of free and open source fonts that hold up in professional work, grouped by what you actually need them for rather than by what looks nice in a specimen.
Read roundupThe best free design tools, and what each one is really for
A practical guide to the free design software worth your time, from interface design to photo editing to vector work, with an honest note on where each one stops being free.
Read roundupWhere to find free images, icons, and assets you can actually use
The free asset sources worth bookmarking for photos, illustrations, and icons, plus the licensing basics that keep you out of trouble when you use them in client work.
Read roundup