I thought it would be useful for any web designers/developers out there if I posted some of the web sites I visit regularly to keep up with the latest news and get some useful tips (this was after reading this article). Since I am a freelance web designer, I will also list a few Freelance related blogs/web sites.

Actually I will start of with a couple freelance web sites. Freelance folder and Freelance Switch. Both sites have useful advice for freelancers including interviews with successful freelancers out there. As well as being useful, its an entertaining read.

Now to the web designer related web sites. The first two I visit every day (often several times a day) are Smashing Apps and Smashing Magazine. Both sites have loads on the web site from useful web sites and software, showcases to give you inspiration, how-tos, useful resouces. On Smashing Magazine it quite often showcases some beautiful looking artwork e.g. posters, web sites backgrounds, artwork, etc.

Some other general web design “blogs” I visit regularly and find useful:

• You the designer – similar to Smashing Apps and Smashing Magazine. This site has lots of great articles, sources of inspiration, freebies and more.
• Web Designer Wall – full of “design ideas, web trends, and tutorials”.
• CSS Globe – this site is full of really useful CSS tips and “hacks”.
• CSS Beauty – another great site with the latest web design news. Also has a section for submitting your own work and “showcasing” it.
• Stylegala – latest news and useful sites. Like CSS Beauty you can submit your own web site to showcase and also submit your own news in the public news section.
• A List Apart – deals with the design and development of web content with particular focus on web standards.
• 456 Berea Street - another one of those sites for of useful articles and tutorials.
• Web Development Blog – this site has got some great examples and code extracts of some cool Javascript techniques/effects.
• Web Resources Depot – every day this site has a free web resource for you ranging from a sliding gallery to social networking icons.
• Just Creative Design – a personal blog of graphic/web/logo designer. Many interest and useful articles and resources.

Most of the sites I visit are updated regularly, often more than once a day. Sometimes its hard keeping track of new updates and for that reason I use RSS feeds. Loads of web sites have RSS feeds to help the visitor find out when there are new posts or new news. There are lots of RSS readers from those within the browser such as Wizz RSS or sites like Google Reader. There are also standalone readers. I personally use Wizz RSS. However, the choice is yours – all down to personal preference

If you have had enough of all these web design related blogs, here are some blogs I like to visit which arent all about web design. They are a bit techie though (aka “geeky”)

• Kevin Rose – this is the blog of the one and only Kevin Rose. If you didnt know hes the founder of Digg.com (the place for people to discover and share web content). He also co-presents the brilliant online video podcast show Diggnation.
• Veronica Belmont – the co-host of online video podcast show Tekzilla. She also happens to be very attractive and into gadgets/computers etc.
• Larissa Meek – like Veronica, Larissa is another rather attractive women whos into “tech”. Shes an artist but has been in the past a 3D animator, Miss USA finalist, model, actress and reality TV star
• Jason Bradbury – blog of The Gadget show TV presenter

UPDATE:

Another site worth visiting is Sharebrain – a great resource site for “Webworkers”.