Graphic Design Tools For All Your Graphic Design Needs

In the fast-paced world of digital communication, graphic design has become an essential component for conveying messages effectively. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or a novice looking to explore the creative realm, having the right tools at your disposal is crucial.

Graphic design tools

Sketch artist

We know what you are thinking, it’s not exactly the content you came here for, but trust us, every designer also needs basic tools, which include a sketchbook, pens, and pencils. Every project we work on starts with sketched ideas and scribbled annotations, otherwise, it’s easy to get carried away with subtle designs that might otherwise end up on the cutting room floor.

Apple iMac M1 24 inch

Apple iMacs aren’t cheap, but there’s a reason they’ve become the gold standard for design studios around the world. For the first time since 2012, Apple has revamped its iMac line, and the latest model, powered by their clever little M1 chip, performs incredibly well. The 24” monitor is large enough to make sure nothing stands in the way of your ideas and comes in a range of colors to suit any design studio or home office.

Adobe creative cloud

Adobe is the industry leader when it comes to graphic design software, and with the advent of Adobe Stock and Adobe Fonts, they have become a one-stop solution for all your design needs. There are a few Creative Cloud plans that give you access to different apps, but for us, the key software is Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and XD. With them, you’ll have everything you need to edit photos, logo designs, brochure layouts, website designs, and everything in between.

  • GIMP
  • Crit
  • Inkscape
  • SVG boxes
Adobe creative Cloud

Tablet and stylus

When working on the finer details of a project, a mouse often doesn’t give you the control and precision you need. Although there are cheaper brands on the market, Wacom’s line of digital tablets and styluses have become the industry standard for their quality and reliability. If you’re using a small tablet with a large monitor, sometimes even the smallest gesture can cause your cursor to fly across the screen, so for more control and accuracy, we recommend choosing one of the larger tablets in this range.

Project management software

One of the most useful tools available to a designer is project management software. Although as designers we often like to jump straight into a project, these useful tools are invaluable when it comes to planning, following briefs, meeting deadlines, and collaborating. Other great project management tools include Trello and Wrike, both of which allow you to create boards for your workflows and drag and drop task cards across different phases of a project.

Stock content

One of the most useful tools for graphic designers is access to quality photos and vectors. You won’t always have the time to design every element of a project from scratch or the budget to hire a photographer to capture custom content, that’s where stock assets come into play. Stock photos used to get a bad rap for looking cheesy and staged, but the quality and quantity of real, candid shots have improved in recent years. There are so many websites that offer stock content with different plans and subscriptions, some of our recommendations include iStock, Adobe Stock, and Shutterstock.

Fonts

Typography adds personality to a brand or design project, so it is important to choose the right fonts and tone of voice. If you’ve opted for an Adobe Creative Cloud plan, then you’ll already have a well-stocked font library, but it’s always important to keep an eye out for new alternatives to keep your designs modern and fresh. Google Fonts is a free font catalog offering an impressive collection of over a thousand open-source fonts in over 135 languages. Google Fonts can be downloaded to your computer and can also be easily implemented on web pages.

Conclusion

The world of graphic design is vast and diverse, and the tools mentioned above cater to a wide range of needs and preferences. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your design journey, exploring these tools can enhance your creative process and help you bring your ideas to life.