Tools
There are tools for everything. Which one is best, that is you at work deciding which one best accommodates your own ways. Enjoy!
Social Network Sizes and References
Development Tools
This section mentions development tools and browsers. Development browsers have features that help developers and designers create and test websites and apps.
Experience Monitoring
Listening to users is important but seeing the real usage is even more crucial. For these, you need to install different analytic tools, experience monitoring software, and user behavior apps. Just use those analytics solutions concerning users data:
Gradient Tools
You can see gradient colors are everywhere — UI, branding, illustration, typography. A gradient is created by using two or more different colors to paint one element while gradually fading between them. It might look as a memorable, fresh and unique color. To make such a gradient for your design, use these gradient color palettes.
Icons Tools
As well as fonts, icons are used in every design. These basic elements support and guide many user actions inside the product. Without a doubt, icons are a vital element in user navigation. While making those small design elements is hard and time-consuming, you can get thousands of vector icons for personal and commercial use.
Illustrations
Illustrations can be used on your landing page, blog posts, inside your app or email campaign. They make your design live and playful. While drawing good illustration is a task of a skilled graphic designer, you can grab free SVG images & illustrations from very kind people in our community:
Logo Design
A logo is the starting point of your brand identity. It reflects the product mission, functionality and brand message. Ideally, the logo creates a strong connection between your product and the users. Logo design is an art, as well as many other design disciplines. With the right logo design tools, this art can be done right a bit faster.
Mockup Tools
A mockup is a visual way of representing the product. While a wireframe mostly represents a product’s structure, a mockup shows how the product is going to look like. These mockup tools that help you create and collaborate on mockups, wireframes, diagrams, and prototypes:
No Code Tools
With a rise of “no code tools”, everyone with a laptop can build and launch a project. These tools help designers and makers create websites, apps, and even games. No code tools allow to automate routine tasks and can be used without a development background. Take a look at the tools here and if you need more — check Design to Code section.
Pixel Art Tools
Pixel art is a digital art form where color is applied to individual pixels to create an image. The pixel art can be used to create everything from intricate scenes and game backgrounds to character designs or emoji. If you feel curious to try, check this pixel art software for both macOS and Windows:
Prototyping Tools
A prototype is a simple experimental design of a proposed solution. It should help to test ideas, design assumptions, and hypotheses in a fast and cheap way. Prototyping tools allow designers and clients to see how the product would function in the real world and collaborate on this solution. Many modern prototyping tools can use for wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration:
Screenshot Software
Taking screenshots is a typical task in the design & development workflow. So these free and full-featured screenshot apps can help you capture a screen with ease. Some screen captures are macOS only, while others support both OS:
Sketching Tools
Sometimes you need just a pencil and paper to start creating your app or website. So here are you can find online sketching tools with great sketch sheet templates to speed up your creative process:
SMM Design Tools
Often marketing teams need well-design materials. It can be different banners, promo visuals, favicons, animations or just nice images for social platforms, like Twitter or Instagram. It this section we will keep adding tools for everyone to create marketing designs.
Sound Design
Sound design is an art of creating a soundscape for a site, app, movie, game or any other product. The sound has great potential for transforming the way people connect with your product. Some sound design software is very advanced and can be used mostly by sound designers, while others are good for beginners.
Stock Photos Tools
Need a high-quality photo for iOS app or new banner? You can always shoot it yourself or borrow from the stock photo sites. Luckily, there are hundreds of beautiful, free stock photos and royalty-free images that you can use for any project:
Stock Videos
If you work with video-content, you will enjoy these high-quality, hand-curated stock videos. You'll find many good and free stock video sites below, which you can use on your website, in your ad campaigns or social media:
Tools for Learning Design
UI Design Tools
What are the best UI design tools in 2019? You can pick any of the tools below and it will allow you to do dozens of design tasks — UI for site or mobile, wireframe, prototype, animation, logo. These are great and fully-functional tools for UX & UI designers:
User Flow Tools
User flow is a series of steps a user takes to achieve a meaningful goal. It's a fast way to plan customer journey paths and improve UX. So if you need to make a user flow diagram, user flow map or a sitemap, take a look at these tools:
User Research Tools
User research helps you understand user behaviors, needs, and motivations through various qualitative and quantitative methods (interviews, observation, forms, etc). These user research tools can be useful for you:
Visual Debugging Tools
Wireframing Tools
A wireframe is a visual mockup that outlines the basic structure of the site or an app. It contains the most essential elements and the content, helping you easily explain ideas on design. Wireframes are a low-fidelity way of showing a design. This section is presented the best wireframing tools for a variety of use cases.
3D Modeling Software
3D graphics are used in gaming, film making, architecture, engineering, and 3D printing. 3D artists & designers use specific 3D modeling software, mentioned in this section.
Addendum (Reference & Inspiration)
Awesome Design Tools & Plugins is curated by Lisa Dziuba & Valia Havruliyk from Flawless team. And it was hugely inspired by articles from the design community and Prototypr.io Toolbox made by our good friend Graeme Fulton. If you found some great design tools, please suggest it. Thanks for making this project awesome :) Contribute on GitHub
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