Design tools
The applications most interface and graphic work actually happens in — from browser-based collaboration to the long-standing Adobe suite. Most designers end up using several of these together rather than picking one.
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Adobe XDAdobe's UI design and prototyping tool.
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CanvaTemplate-driven design for people who aren't designers.
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FigJamFigma's online whiteboard for sketching and workshops.
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SketchVector interface design for macOS.
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Untitled UISponsoredThe design system used by 500,000+ designers, packed with 12,000+ components.
In real designer stacks
The most common design tools in the 39 public tool stacks designers have shared on QuickPick are Figma (30 of 39), Canva (11 of 39) and FigJam (11 of 39). See how they compare with every other tool on the designer tech stack page.
How to choose a design tool
Start with where the work is shared
If you work with developers or other designers, a browser-based tool with shared files and comments saves more time than any single feature. Desktop apps still suit solo and offline work.
Match the tool to what you're making
Interface and product work favours tools with components, auto layout and prototyping. Print, packaging and illustration are better served by apps built for them, like InDesign and Illustrator.
Check how files move in and out
Developer handoff, asset export and opening files from clients matter more over a year than first impressions. Look at import formats and handoff before committing a team to a tool.
Expect to use more than one
Most designers pair an interface tool with a whiteboard for early ideas and an image editor for pixel work, rather than forcing one app to do everything.
Keep the ones you use in one place
QuickPick puts every tool you actually open one click away, with boards for inspiration and notes beside the work. Free to start.
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