10 of the most inspiring creative Substacks to subscribe to

“Good Graf!” is a treasure trove for creatives, especially those interested in the intersection of design, writing and technology. Written by Carly Ayres, a writer and strategist, the newsletter promises to cut through the noise with sharp insights, practical wisdom and occasional hot takes. Expect essays on design trends, resources on writing and advice on creative careers.

This weekly newsletter is for artists and makers who want to engage with the questions of developing their creative practice. Created by artist and writer Carolyn Yoo, it focuses on illustration, writing and visual journaling. Check it out for insights into her practice, in-depth reviews of art materials and tools, roundups of creative finds and conversations with inspiring creatives.

Are there any history nerds in the building? Here’s a newsletter for you. “Casual Archivist” covers design history – be it ephemera, packaging, or printed matter. Think essays that delve into everything from Christian propaganda posters to vintage concert stubs. It’s written by Elizabeth Goodspeed, an independent designer and art director who’s also the US editor-at-large for our sister publication, It’s Nice That.

When Zoë Akihary entered the industry, she realised that art direction isn’t just about creating eye-catching visuals. There’s a ton of strategy, research and intention behind it, but not a lot of guidance to go around. That’s why she created this newsletter. Meant to inspire and support the next generation of art directors, it offers helpful advice and resources for people at all levels.

Design is fun. Design is cool. Design can also be really hard. Scott Berkun wrote a book on it, but he’s also launched a Substack to help designers reframe their frustrations into solvable problems and develop the skills to navigate them. He doesn’t shy away from the unconventional either – so if you want to find out why designers fight with each other or how bad design makes money, you’ll want to give it a read.

Did you know that Soviet viewers loved Japanese anime? Or that Lilo and Stitch’s visual style was inspired by the shape of fluffy bread? This newsletter will tell you about all this and more. Devoted to animation from around the world, “Animation Obsessive” delves into rich stories and intriguing tidbits about the industry – whether new or old, mainstream or rare, familiar or strange.

The publishing industry is notoriously obscure, so getting the low-down from insiders can be invaluable. “Before and After the Book Deal” is published by Courtney Maum, an author who’s dedicated to helping other writers succeed financially and emotionally. She dishes real talk about the industry, tips on writing, reading recommendations and more for both publishing novices and established authors.

We live in a visual world where images are everywhere – but we’re not really taught to think critically about what we see. Julien Posture, an illustrator and anthropologist, started “On Looking” to remedy just that. Exploring what it means to create and consume, it’s full of essays on advertising, art, AI and social media.

Want art delivered daily to your inbox? Check out “Art Delivery”, a newsletter written by bestselling author Danielle Krysa. On top of featuring artists, Krysa actively interacts with subscribers and co-creates daily themed content – like inspiration on Motivation Monday and advice on Therapy Thursday.

“A State Of Flo” consists of reflections, resources and advice for creatives in the music industry who are interested in the natural world. It’s run by Brian D’Souza, a sound artist and music producer who’s on a mission to connect the worlds of ecology, technology and music. Some of the essays he’s posted recently include deep dives into his process and advice about navigating the tension between making and selling.