What tools and software do commercial designers use to stay on the cutting edge?

1 Sketching and brainstorming

Before you start working on your computer, you might want to consider sketching out ideas and concepts on paper or a tablet. This can help generate creative and original solutions, as well as test different layouts and compositions. Procreate, Paper by WeTransfer, and Adobe Fresco are some of the tools and software that can assist you with sketching and brainstorming. Procreate is a powerful and versatile drawing app for iPad with a wide range of brushes, layers, and effects. Paper by WeTransfer is a simple app for iOS and Android that can capture thoughts, ideas, sketches, notes, diagrams, and photos. Adobe Fresco is a digital painting app for iPad and Windows that includes natural and vector brushes, as well as live brushes that mimic watercolor and oil paint.

2 Graphic design and editing

Once you have your sketches and concepts ready, you can transfer them to your computer and refine them with graphic design and editing software. These programs allow you to create and manipulate images, vectors, text, and other elements to achieve the desired look and feel. Popular tools for graphic design and editing include Adobe Photoshop, the industry-standard software for photo editing, manipulation, and compositing; Adobe Illustrator, the industry-standard software for vector graphics; and Affinity Designer, a powerful and affordable alternative to Adobe Illustrator with similar features and performance, as well as seamless integration with Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher.

3 Layout and publishing

When you have all your graphics and elements prepared, you must arrange them in a layout and format suitable for your project and audience. Whether you are making a flyer, brochure, magazine, or book, you need to use layout and publishing software that can manage your text, images, colors, fonts, and styles. Adobe InDesign is the industry-standard software for layout and publishing, with features for typography, grids, tables, interactivity, and integration with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Affinity Publisher is a powerful yet affordable alternative to Adobe InDesign with similar features and performance as well as integration with Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer. Canva is a user-friendly online tool for creating simple yet attractive layouts and designs with an extensive library of templates, fonts, images, and icons.

4 Web design and development

If you are working on a web design project, you need to utilize tools and software that can assist you in creating and coding responsive and interactive websites. Programs such as Adobe XD, Webflow, and Sublime Text offer features such as prototyping, testing user interfaces, a visual interface, a CMS system, syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and multiple selections. These tools provide the capability to design and preview your website as well as write and edit HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code.

5 Collaboration and communication

As a commercial designer, you might need to collaborate with other designers, clients, or stakeholders on your projects. To facilitate this process, you should use tools and software such as Dropbox, Slack, and InVision. Dropbox is a cloud-based service that allows you to store, sync, and share files across devices and platforms. Slack is a cloud-based platform that facilitates communication and collaboration through channels, messages, and calls. InVision is a cloud-based platform that enables you to create and share interactive prototypes of your designs. These are just some of the tools and software available to commercial designers; there are many more options and alternatives depending on your preferences, budget, and needs. Finding the right ones for your workflow, style, and goals will help you create amazing and effective designs.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?