If you’re trying to build a brand or design your own visual identity, you’ve probably downloaded dozens of freebies and tried hundreds of tools. I’m not trying to add to the list of things you’ve been unimpressed by. These are the resources I use myself and the ones I recommend most to my freelance clients.
Heads up: Some of the links in this post are Affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase — at no cost to you. I promise, the only items on this list are ones I’ve used or recommended to clients.
Visual Design
Adobe Color
A free tool for generating color palettes that are guaranteed to be harmonious and versatile. Great for someone without prior experience in color theory.Coolors Color Palette Generator
A free tool that generates endless color palettes. This one is great for people who have one or two specific colors in mind, but need help generating the rest.Coolors Color Contrast Checker
A free tool that lets you check to see if your brand’s color combinations are easy to read when layered (AKA if they’re Accessible to folks with low vision. Very important!)
Photography and Video assets
Unsplash
Artistic and editorial stock photography from real creators with free and paid options. They also have a great library of illustrations. Free for commercial use, but you can’t resell unaltered images.Pexels
Pexels offers clean, commercial-style photos and videos that work well for branded content that requires a polished look. Free for commercial use, but you can’t resell unaltered images.TONL
Stock photography has a huge diversity problem. TONL is an intentionally inclusive stock site showcasing people of color. These are paid images with two different license types.Styled Stock Society
Membership-based site with stock photos, video clips, and Canva templates. Feminine-forward and super clean.
Typography
Creative Market
You genuinely won’t find a larger collection of themed fonts on the web. If you create seasonal items or products for niche markets, a subscription quickly pays for itself. I’ve had one for years, since they also offer Canva templates, images, and illustrations.Jen Wagner Co
I’ve been swooning over Jen’s fonts since I purchased Editor’s Note to use in my personal branding. Her packs are super versatile and strike the perfect balance between vintage and modern.Google Fonts
A massive library of free, open-source fonts designed for commercial use and easy web integration. Not all fonts you purchase for your website will show up correctly on other people’s devices, but Google Fonts will show up consistently everywhere.
Showing up online
Stan Store
You’ve probably seen these link-in-bio single-page “websites” before. A Stan Store is ideal for someone selling digital products or who wants to book clients from one single page. (Check out my Stan Store here for an example.)Carrd
Carrd lets you create single-page websites that look polished and professional. This is a great option for people who know that the vast majority of website visitors will be on a mobile device. Ideal for a service provider who wants to showcase a portfolio.Squarespace
If you’re ready for a full website, I can’t recommend Squarespace enough. (That’s what this site is built on!) You can build your site in one day using sleek, professional templates that are easy to customize. No developer required.Canva
There are both free and paid versions of Canva, and in my opinions, the paid version is extremely underpriced. Even as a pro designer who often works in Figma or the Adobe suite, I’m using Canva on an almost daily basis. A must-have if you’re creating presentations, social media graphics, Pinterest pins, or printables.
Ready to DIY your own branding?
Created by a freelance designer for side hustlers, creatives, and small business owners, this workbook helps you establish a visual language, define your values, craft your message, understand your audience, and build a brand that feels uniquely yours.
Here’s what you‘ll walk away with:
A visual language that includes a logo, color palette, brand font, and mood board.
A clear, confident brand message that explains what you do and why it matters.
A brand story that feels like you and sets you apart from the sea of sameness.
A deeper understanding of your audience, so your content resonates with them.
A personality-driven brand voice that’s consistent across all media.
A roadmap that keeps you from straying off brand.
If you’re interested in recommending a new tool or becoming an affiliate, please drop me a line at AnjaLHarris@gmail.com