From Figma to Fun: 25 Tools🔧 Every Web Designer Needs to Know
Web design is a vital aspect of today’s digital landscape. It encompasses everything from creating visually appealing websites to ensuring seamless user experiences (UX) for visitors. With the ever-growing number of digital devices, platforms, and technologies, the role of a web designer has never been more complex or challenging.
However, as a web designer, you’re not alone in this journey. There are countless tools available that can make your life easier and help you create stunning, functional, and engaging websites. But with so many tools available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to 25 of the most indispensable web design tools you need to know. We’ll cover everything from design platforms, to prototyping tools, to icon libraries and more. For each tool, we’ll provide an overview of its capabilities, highlight its pros and cons, and let you know whether it’s free, paid, or has a trial version.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in and explore the tools that every web designer must know!
1.Figma: Figma is a collaborative design platform that allows teams to work on the same design files in real-time. It’s a game-changer for web designers who want to speed up the design process and improve collaboration with their team. Figma offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $12 per month with a free trial available for 14 days. Figma’s free plan offers unlimited design projects, basic version history, and basic collaboration features. The paid plans start at $12 per user per month and offer advanced version history, advanced collaboration features, and the ability to use plugins.
2.Brandmark: Brandmark is a logo maker that uses AI to help you create a unique and professional logo in minutes. It’s a great tool for startups and small businesses who want to establish their brand identity quickly and easily. Brandmark offers a free trial for 14 days and paid plans starting at $20 per month.
3.Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor that’s specifically designed for web and mobile designers. It’s known for its clean and intuitive interface, and it’s a great tool for designing wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. Sketch is a paid tool with a free trial available for 30 days and pricing starting at $99 per year. Sketch’s free trial lasts 30 days. The paid plans start at $99 per year and offer a wider range of features and plugins, as well as the ability to use Sketch on multiple devices.
4.Adobe XD: Adobe XD is a user experience design software developed by Adobe. It’s a great tool for creating wireframes, prototypes, and user flows, and it integrates seamlessly with other Adobe Creative Cloud tools. Adobe XD is available with a free trial for 7 days and is included in the Creative Cloud All Apps plan, starting at $52.99 per month. Adobe XD offers a free trial that lasts 7 days. The paid plans start at $9.99 per month and offer advanced design and prototyping features, as well as the ability to integrate with other Adobe products.
5.Canva: Canva is a graphic design tool that allows you to create stunning designs without any prior design experience. It’s a great tool for creating social media graphics, flyers, and other marketing materials. Canva offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $12.95 per month with a free trial available for 30 days.
6.Unsplash: Unsplash is a website that offers free, high-resolution photos for commercial and personal use. It’s a great resource for web designers who need eye-catching visuals for their designs. Unsplash is completely free to use.
7.Adobe font: is a library of over 700 high-quality fonts that you can use on your website. It’s a great tool for designers who want to add personality to their designs through typography. Adobe font is available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud, starting at $52.99 per month.
8.Google Fonts: Google Fonts is a library of free, open-source fonts that you can use on your website. It’s a great resource for designers who want to add personality to their designs without spending a fortune on premium fonts. Google Fonts is completely free to use.
9.Airtable: Airtable is a cloud-based database that allows you to store, organize, and visualize data in a flexible and intuitive way. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to create custom databases for their clients. Airtable offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $10 per month with a free trial available for 14 days.
10.InVision: InVision is a digital product design platform that allows you to create interactive prototypes and animations. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to bring their designs to life and test user interactions. InVision offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $15 per month with a free trial available for 14 days, InVision offers a free trial that lasts 14 days. The paid plans start at $15 per month and offer advanced collaboration and prototyping features, as well as the ability to integrate with other tools.
11.Flaticon: Flaticon is a database of over 3 million icons that you can use in your designs. It’s a great resource for designers who want to add visual interest to theirdesigns without having to create icons from scratch. Flaticon offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $9.99 per month with a free trial available for 7 days.
12.ColorZilla: ColorZilla is a browser extension that allows you to easily pick colors from any website and use them in your designs. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to ensure consistency in their color choices. ColorZilla is free to use.
13.Zeplin: Zeplin is a collaboration tool for designers and developers. It allows designers to share design files and styles with developers, who can then easily extract and use the information they need to build the website. Zeplin offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $24 per month with a free trial available for 14 days.
14.BrowserStack: BrowserStack is a cloud-based platform that allows you to test your website on a variety of browsers and devices. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to ensure their designs look good and work well on all devices. BrowserStack offers a free trial for 14 days and paid plans starting at $29 per month.
15.Slack: Slack is a collaboration tool that allows teams to communicate and share files in real-time. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to stay connected with their team and stay on top of project updates. Slack offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $6.67 per user per month with a free trial available for 14 days.
16.Trello: Trello is a project management tool that allows you to organize tasks and projects into boards. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to keep track of their progress and stay on top of their to-do list. Trello offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $9.99 per user per month with a free trial available for 14 days.
17.Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track website traffic and user behavior. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to understand how people are using their website and make data-driven decisions. Google Analytics is completely free to use.
18.Hotjar: Hotjar is a user behavior analytics tool that allows you to see how people are interacting with your website. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to understand user behavior and make data-driven design decisions. Hotjar offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $29 per month with a free trial available for 15 days.
19.GIMP: GIMP is a free and open-source image editing software that’s similar to Adobe Photoshop. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to edit images without spending a fortune on premium software. GIMP is completely free to use.
20.Gatsby: Gatsby is a free and open-source framework for building fast and modern websites. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to create websites that load quickly and look great on all devices. Gatsby is completely free to use.
21.Bootstrap: Bootstrap is a free and open-source framework for building responsive and mobile-friendly websites. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to create websites that look good on all devices and screen sizes. Bootstrap is completely free to use.
22.Foundation: Foundation is a responsive front-end framework that allows you to build fast and accessible websites. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to create websites that look good on all devices and meet accessibility standards. Foundation is free to use with a commercial licensing option starting at $5,000 per year.
23.Material Design: Material Design is a design system created by Google for building beautiful and intuitive user interfaces. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to create websites that follow a consistent design language and provide a great user experience. Material Design is free to use and has a wealth of resources available on the Google Design website.
24.A/B Testing Tools: A/B testing tools like Optimizely and VWO allow you to test different variations of your website to see which one performs best. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to make data-driven design decisions and improve their website’s performance. Both Optimizely and VWO offer free trials and paid plans starting at $19 per month.
25.Typography Tools: Typography tools like Google Fonts and Typekit allow you to easily find and use great looking fonts for your website. It’s a great tool for web designers who want to make sure their website has a unique and consistent typographic style. Google Fonts is completely free to use, while Typekit offers a free trial and paid plans starting at $50 per year.
In conclusion, these 25 tools have the power to revolutionize the way we approach web design, UX, Figma, and branding. As a young web designer, I know how important it is to stay ahead of the curve and have access to the latest and greatest tools. And I can tell you first-hand, these tools do not disappoint!
One of my personal favorites is Sketch. It has completely changed the way I approach wireframing and prototyping. The ability to quickly and easily create high-fidelity designs has been a game-changer for me. And the fact that it integrates seamlessly with Figma only adds to its appeal.
But it’s not just about having access to the latest tools. It’s about finding the tools that work best for you and your workflow. And that’s why I love these 25 tools so much. They offer a wide range of options, from free to paid, so you can find the perfect fit for your needs.
So, whether you’re just starting out in the web design world or are a seasoned pro, I highly recommend giving these tools a try. And who knows, you may just discover your new favorite tool that helps you work more efficiently, creatively, and with a smile on your face.
So, go ahead and explore these tools, have some fun, and always remember to keep learning and growing as a web designer. The sky’s the limit! And let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in web design.
So, stay tuned for my next article where I’ll be diving into even more tools and tips to help you take your web design skills to the next level. And who knows, maybe we’ll even have a little fun along the way!
Until then, I leave you with a few thought-provoking questions: Have you tried any of these tools before? Which ones are your favorites? And most importantly, what new tools do you want to see in the next article?
So, grab a XXL cup of coffee (or your favorite beverage), sit back, and let’s continue this design journey together! And remember, the only thing better than discovering a new tool is discovering a new tool that makes you laugh.
Happy designing!
❤
