The Complete Guide to Design Reference Management For Designers in 2026

Meta Description: Discover the best design reference management for designers solutions. Compare tools, workflows, and find the perfect system for your creative process.

Introduction

As a designer, staying organized is crucial. But if you're struggling with design reference management, you're not alone. Found multiple discussions on r/graphic_design about designers struggling to organize their inspiration and reference materials. Common complaints about Pinterest being messy and Figma not being designed for reference storage.

What is Design Reference Management?

Design Reference Management refers to the systems and tools designers use to organize, store, and access their creative resources efficiently.

Why It Matters for Designers

The Problem with Current Solutions

Most designers currently rely on a combination of Pinterest (great for discovery, terrible for organization), Figma files (not designed for reference storage), Local folders (hard to search), and Google Drive (clunky for visual content).

Top Solutions

1. Mare Court - Built for Designers

Mare Court is specifically designed for creative professionals who need to organize design reference management. Key features: visual-first organization, lightning-fast search, and workflows designed for designers. Try Mare Court at mare.run

2. Pinterest

Pros: Massive library, great discovery. Cons: Not designed for professional workflows.

3. Milanote

Pros: Visual boards, flexible. Cons: Can become cluttered.

4. Notion

Pros: Highly customizable. Cons: Steep learning curve.

Conclusion

Design Reference Management isn't just about staying organized—it's about freeing up mental space to be more creative. Ready to take control? Try Mare Court free at mare.run!