Whether you’re a designer or an artist, graphic and web design tools are essential for working on the design of your projects. A few years ago, these tools were more limited to high-end designers who could afford their own software, but with today’s technology such as the internet, most people have access to online programs that let them create stunning designs in no time.
Here’s a list of 25 tools for designers that can help you get the job done faster and better.
Getting design feedback with screenshots, images and unclear data and is time-consuming and exhausting. With Disbug you can directly edit the text, colour, font, and spacing of web objects by annonating on any live website.
Photoshop is a well-known and widely used design tool that lets you manipulate images to create graphics, logos, and more. It’s an expensive program but it offers a lot of features for designers who want to create high-quality designs.
• It can be used to edit photos of any size or shape.
• It has powerful tools for enhancing images such as filters, adjustments, and layers.
• It allows you to create photo collages and graphics.
• You can also use it to create digital paintings and illustrations.
Illustrator is similar to Photoshop in that it allows you to create graphics and logos, but it also has some additional tools for creative designers. It’s also a bit more expensive than Photoshop, but it offers a wider range of features that can be useful in many projects.
• It is a versatile program that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as logo design, web graphics, and illustrations.
• It offers a wide range of tools that are essential for creating quality graphics, including the ability to edit vectors, images, text, shapes, and paths.
• It is easy to use and requires minimal training to get started.
• It has an extensive library of pre-made templates that can be used to speed up the process of creating graphics.
Inkscape is an open source vector graphic design program that includes support for EPS, PDF and AI files. It can be used to create illustrations, logos, icons and other graphics very easily and cheaply compared to some of the other programs on this list.
• It is free to use.
• It has a wide range of capabilities, including the ability to import and export files in several formats, including PDF, SVG, JPEG, PNG, EPS, and AI.
• It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create complex designs.
• It can be used on both Mac and Windows platforms.
GIMP is another free and open source vector graphic design program that is similar to Inkscape. It’s not as widely used as Inkscape or Photoshop, but it can be a useful tool for more creative projects.
• It is a versatile photo editor that can be used to edit photos, graphics, logos, and web pages.
• It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use for beginners.
• It has a wide range of filters and effects that can be used to improve the look of your photos.
• It supports batch processing which makes it easy to merge multiple photos into one file.
QuarkXPress is an expensive software package that allows you to create professional layouts and graphics for print, web and multimedia projects. However, it’s not as widely used as some of the other programs on this list, so it may not be a first choice for many designers.
• It is free to download and use.
• It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to learn.
• It supports a wide range of fonts and graphics.
• It has an easy-to-use template system that lets you create custom documents quickly.
• It can be used to create brochures, flyers, and other types of marketing materials.
Procreate is a free app that allows you to create high-quality graphics and illustrations with ease. It’s available on both iOS and Android devices, so it’s easy to use even if you don’t have access to a computer.
• A powerful brush engine that allows you to create detailed and realistic paintings.
• A built-in layer system that makes it easy to add effects and textures to your artwork.
• An intuitive user interface that makes creating art easy and fun.
• Export your artwork in a variety of formats, including PNG, JPG, PDF, TIFF, and EPS.
Vectornator is a user-friendly image manipulation software that allows you to create logos, illustrations and other graphics very easily. It’s also free to use, so it’s a great option for beginners who want to start creating graphic designs.
• The ability to create stunning 3D visuals of your data in minutes.
• A user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and understand.
• The ability to share your visualizations with others for feedback and collaboration.
• The ability to export your visualizations as PDFs or images for further use.
ArtRage is a free software package that allows you to create professional-grade illustrations and graphics. It’s very user-friendly and includes lots of features for creative designers, so it can be a great option for those who want to start creating their own designs.
• It is easy to use and beginner-friendly.
• It has a variety of tools and features that allow you to create high-quality artwork.
• It is compatible with a wide range of devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones.
• It offers an extensive library of templates and assets that can be used to create art.
Vectr is a free and open source vector graphic design program that lets you create illustrations, logos, icons and other graphics very easily. It’s also very user-friendly, so it’s great for beginners who want to start creating their own graphics designs.
• It is easy to use and can be used by anyone with basic computer skills.
• It has a wide range of features that allow you to create stunning graphics and illustrations.
• It is compatible with many different file formats, so you can easily share your work with others.
• It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate.
Canva is a free online graphic design platform that lets you create professional-grade graphics and illustrations. It’s very user-friendly, so it’s great for beginners who want to start creating their own designs.
Some of the features and benefits of Canva include:
• The ability to create professional-grade graphics with ease.
• The ability to easily share your designs with others using the built-in social media tools.
• The ability to sell your designs online or through other platforms.
• The ability to use templates and add text, images, and videos to make your designs even more unique.
Dribble is a free online platform that allows you to share your creative ideas and designs with the world. It’s popular among designers, so it’s a good option for those who want to start creating their own graphics designs.
Features of Dribble include:
- User profiles that include a biography, photo, and videos.
- Posts that can be photos or videos.
- Comments that allow users to interact with each other.
- The ability to follow other users and receive updates about their posts.
- The ability to collaborate on projects with friends or followers.
- The ability to share links to articles, videos, or websites.
PicsArt is a free online photo editing and graphics program that lets you create professional-grade images and illustrations. It’s very user-friendly, so it’s great for beginners who want to start creating their own graphics designs.
• It has a wide range of filters that you can use to improve the look of your photos.
• You can easily add text, stickers, or other effects to your photos.
• You can share your photos with friends via social media or email.
• You can save your photos in a variety of formats for easy storage.
Diigo is an online bookmarking website that offers two kinds of bookmarks, either for bookmarked URLs or for highlighted text. Users can add tags to web pages and even highlight parts of a page as well as add sticky notes directly onto the page.
• It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.
• You can add notes, highlights, and bookmarks to any document so that you can easily find it later.
• You can share documents with other people by using the Diigo social media platform or by emailing them directly.
• You can access your documents from any device or computer that has an internet connection.
Pixlr works across the cloud, so it may be the first step of many in bridging image creation to image sharing. The great thing is that with Pixlr, you can do much more than just share your pictures and your memories; you can make them live on through editable snapshots for friends and family to see.
It has many features and benefits such as:
• It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.
• It has a wide range of photo editing tools, including filters, frames, borders, and effects.
• You can also add text or graphics to your photos and videos.
• Pixlr offers a variety of templates to help you get started quickly.
• It is compatible with both Windows and Mac platforms.
InVision Studio is a prototyping and animation tool that lets you create advanced, vector-based screen designs fast thanks to flexible layers and an infinite canvas. It's considered one of the best high fidelity prototyping tools out there.
• It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.
• It can be used for both web and mobile designs.
• It allows you to create prototypes quickly and easily.
• You can share your prototypes with other people in your company or with the public.
• You can export your prototypes as images or videos.
Toggl is the world’s leading time tracking tool. It allows you to see exactly how much time you’ve spent on each task, project or goal and even share this information with others. This can be a great way to monitor your progress and track the time you’ve spent on your graphics designs.
Some of the features and benefits of Toggl include:
• It is easy to use and can be used on any device.
• You can easily track your time spent on projects, tasks, or work sessions.
• You can see how productive you are over time and make adjustments to improve your workflow.
• You can export your data in various formats for use in other applications or to share with others.
Figma is a design tool that was created to make the entire interface designing process easier and better. This software works well in audio with multiple stakeholders that are involved in shaping the outcome of it all. Available in the browser, or on Windows, Mac or Linux, this software is great for both small business and individuals alike. And there are both free and paid versions depending on what you use it for.
Some of the features and benefits of Figma include:
• It is a well-designed platform that is easy to use.
• It has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create user interfaces.
• It has built-in components that make it easy to create prototypes.
• It supports various languages, including JavaScript, React, HTML, CSS, and more.
• It has an extensive library of plugins that can be used to add additional functionality to the platform.
MockFlow is a collection of web wireframing and planning tools. WireframePro assists you in laying out your first concept and then iterating until it's perfect - there's even a UI revision tracker to assist you. It includes thousands of pre-built components and layouts that you can customise to fit your needs, as well as a preview mode for showing your work to colleagues and clients.
Features of MockFlow include:
• The ability to create beautiful, realistic visuals for your web and mobile apps.
• The ability to easily drag and drop components to assemble a prototype.
• The ability to share your prototypes with others for feedback.
• The ability to export your prototypes as HTML, PDF, or PNG files.
Flinto is a vector animation software that lets you animate 2D and 3D content by hand or automatically using physics-based simulations. It's perfect for animating logos, product demonstrations and more. And there are several different editions depending on your needs. And that's just a few of the great tools out there for graphics designers - there are tonnes more! Experiment and find the ones that work best for you.
• It is easy to use and doesn't require any special skills or knowledge.
• You can create videos of any length, and they will be high quality.
• You can share your videos on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• You can sell your videos through Flinto's marketplace.
Fluid is a modern prototyping tool that lets you rapidly build wireframes, user flows and UI prototypes. It includes drag-and-drop components, real-time updates and collaboration capabilities so you can work with others on projects more easily. And there are several different editions depending on your needs.
It offers features such as:
• Automated customer interactions by sending automated messages, follow-ups, and surveys.
• A better understanding of customer behavior through insights that are collected every time a customer interacts with your business.
• A single platform to manage all your customer data from different channels (email, phone, website, social media).
• Ability to send push notifications to customers about important updates or events.
Pattern Lab is a tool for designers and developers that helps you create reusable code patterns. The app includes both static and interactive content, as well as an editor to help you create your own Patterns. You can also share your Patterns with others or use them in your projects. There are several different editions depending on what you use it for.
Some of the features and benefits of Pattern Lab include:
• User behavior analysis – This tool can help you understand how users are interacting with your site, what content is most popular, and which areas need improvement.
• A/B testing – You can test different versions of your website to see which one performs better.
• SEO analysis – This tool can help you optimize your website for search engines.
Bootstrap is a popular front-end development framework that helps you create dynamic and responsive websites. It includes over 350 components and layouts that you can use to create powerful sites quickly. And there are several different editions depending on your needs, including Foundation, UI/UX, Advanced and Child themes.
Features of Bootstrap include:
• Easily create responsive websites with a single codebase.
• Built with Sass, Less, and JavaScript, making it easy to use and maintain.
• Comes with tons of built-in components for common tasks such as forms, buttons, grids, navigation menus, and more.
• Compatible with both desktop and mobile browsers.
Squarespace is a platform that lets you create your own website or blog. You can choose from a range of templates and designs, as well as add your own content. And there are several different editions depending on what you need, including an Enterprise plan for businesses with more complex needs.
• You can create a website or blog in minutes, without any coding knowledge.
• It is free to use and there are no monthly fees.
• You can easily customize your site with beautiful templates and designs.
• You can add multimedia content such as videos, photos, and articles.
• You can easily sell products and services through your website.
Balsamiq is an app that lets you quickly create mockups and wireframes. You can use it to see how a website or app will look before you start coding, and it includes multiple layers so you can add complexity easily. There are several different editions depending on your needs, including Designer, Basic and Pro plans.
• Balsamiq makes it easy to create wireframes, user flows, and prototypes.
• You can use Balsamiq to design websites, mobile apps, e-commerce stores, and more.
• The software is versatile and can be used for both small and large projects.
• Balsamiq is affordable and easy to use.
As a designer, creativity must be your top priority. These tools help you bring your visuals to reality by tightening other loops. Experiment what works for you and what doesn't. Hope this curation was helpful for you.
