10 Essential Graphic Design Tools (Free & Paid)
Graphic designers require more than mere talent or skill to produce visual art. To create engaging visuals, graphic designers employ both basic and advanced graphic design tools that reflect the constantly changing shapes and colors in their imagination.
From brushes of the Renaissance period to modern electronic styluses, the tools used in graphic design are continually advancing. Likewise, the audiences and market for visual art are also evolving. To thrive as a graphic designer in today’s digital landscape, one must acquire various skills and become adept with a broad range of graphic design tools that enable quicker, easier, and more impactful creation.
While there are numerous options available, here are 10 vital tools for graphic designers who aspire to unlock the visual experiences of the future.
Hardware
1.Computer
For digital creatives, this is the go-to tool that does all the heavy lifting. If you can splurge on the best and most powerful options — like the iMac Pro or the Surface Studio — then definitely go for it.
The iMac has a dedicated fan base among hardcore designers, mainly because it incorporates coolness into its essential features. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Studio stands as a strong competitor, giving PC fans some serious bragging rights for finally owning something that’s sleek, powerful, and agile — all wrapped up in a surprisingly elegant design.
But if these dream machines would make your wallet wince, there’s no shame in sticking with what most people use. Any decent computer that can handle graphics software well and connect to the cloud reliably can support your life as a modern graphics designer.
2. Stylus and graphics tablet
Creatives with a strong tech inclination in their DNA are likely to favor the digital version of pencil and paper for their sketching and doodling activities. Even their more traditional counterparts, who often sleep with analog pens in hand, sometimes look for the enhanced features of an electronic pencil and paper.
So, if you find yourself wanting a hybrid tool that lets you create hand drawings like a classic artist while using tech-savvy tools, don’t feel shy or think you’re betraying the craft. Instead, take a look at cutting-edge tools like the industry-standard Wacom tablet/Pro Pen and the adaptable iPad Pro paired with the Apple Pencil.
3. Smartphone
This device lets us connect with friends, clients, and the internet. It also carries your go-to apps — including super useful drawing and image-editing tools for when you’re on the move. Plus, the smartphone works as a pretty good camera for those surprise moments when you need one and your reliable Canon or Nikon is cozy in its case back home.
For web designers, having a smartphone handy is the simplest way to check if a certain web page looks good on smaller screens. As you might expect, graphic designers have differing opinions on which smartphone is the best for their work, but you’ll hear strong opinions backing both Samsung’s top-tier Galaxy S models and Apple’s newest iPhone version.
4. Monitor calibrator
Another method to manage wild colors is by using monitor calibrators. These gadgets make sure that the colors displayed on your screen match perfectly with those that appear in printed materials like posters, brochures, and magazines.
Software
5. Graphic design applications
This is the biggest and probably the most crucial part of a digital artist’s toolkit. Whether it’s set up to run on a desktop or available as a cloud service, these software programs let graphic designers create, edit, store, and manage their creative work: photos, images, videos, presentations, brochures, and other visual formats.
The Adobe Creative Cloud is the benchmark for this type of tool, offering a complete suite of applications for creating and editing raster graphics (Photoshop), vector images (Illustrator), videos (After Effects, Premiere Pro), and various desktop publishing formats like posters, magazines, brochures, and ebooks (InDesign).
For those looking for paid alternatives to specific apps in Adobe’s subscription service, there are options like Photoshop (raster), CorelDRAW (vector), and the macOS-only Sketch (vector).
6. Online graphic design services
With the rise of cloud computing, many companies have begun to provide web-based graphic design services aimed mainly at everyday users (i.e., non-professional or casual designers).
Leading the pack is Canva, a user-friendly drag-and-drop online tool that lets anyone quickly create, edit, and share images. This site is ideal for non-designers and even seasoned creatives who occasionally need a fast way to whip up images for different uses (like blog graphics, social media updates, etc.) and in various formats (such as infographics, presentations, header images, etc.). Snappa has a similar service and layout, or you might want to check out Design Wizard for quickly making both images and videos.
If you’re looking for logo and branding design options, ZillionDesigns offers a free logo creator with a bunch of templates and a straightforward interface.
For presenting new learning ideas, goals, or plans, Visme is super useful. It has ready-made presentation templates that you can tweak to fit your needs by just dragging and dropping—no design expertise required. With a variety of charts, icons, images, and other graphics, you’ll be able to visualize your information, making it easy to remember and digest for students.
7. Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI, such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, has really made waves around the globe. This groundbreaking technology mimics human reasoning and creativity, allowing it to swiftly create magazine articles, stunning images, catchy music, computer code, and engaging videos.
For graphic designers, this might feel a bit intimidating. AI tools like DALL-E and Midjourney can whip up images from text descriptions in just seconds — a feat that’s nearly unachievable for even the most talented human artists. But don’t worry. An increasing number of professionals are choosing to see generative AI not as a threat to their existence but as a fantastic tool to enhance human creativity, streamline digital processes, and boost creative results.
8. Graphics repositories
Websites like Shutterstock and Behance are awesome spots to check out for design inspiration. Plus, some of these sites, like Pixabay and Unsplash, offer free images that you can download and use legally in your projects.
9. Your own workspace
Designers have different ideas about what an inspiring workspace should look like. Some go for a super minimalist vibe, while others fill their areas with toys, nostalgic items, and other fun decorations. Depending on your personal style, you can change your workspace to make it a key part of your workflow. Think about lighting, color choices, window access, and comfort when creating and organizing your own creative corner.
10. Resource sites
Creatives are probably the group of professionals who need inspiration the most. Apart from drawing it from their surroundings (which is ideal), these individuals can check out design-centric websites that offer advice, tips, and a variety of inspirational content to help energize stressed or low-motivated designers. Some of the top spots online that can light that creative fire in you include Behance, Uncrate, and Google Arts & Culture.
Final Thoughts
Graphic design is a tough and competitive area. If you want to secure your career for the future, it’s essential to keep your design skills honed and stay updated on the latest tools in the industry.
Whether you’re an experienced graphic designer or just starting out in this thrilling field, these graphic design tools can help you unlock your creative potential.
Regardless, you can enhance your skills in handling raster and vector images through our Photoshop and Illustrator courses. Alternatively, you might want to explore web design to broaden your skill set as a digital design expert.
Wondering whether to pursue a career in graphic design or web development? Take a look at this guide to assist you in making your decision.