I’m a Designer – Here Are Some Tools I Use Daily (and a Few Cool Ones You Should Know About)

Last updated: 16 October 2024

As a designer, I’ve come across so many tools that help streamline my workflow and inspire creativity.

I’m excited to share a collection of tools I use daily, along with some hidden gems that I think deserve a shoutout.

Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, I think there's something for everyone.

Let’s dive in!

Mockups & Visuals:

1. Shots
   Shots is a fantastic platform for creating stunning mockups effortlessly. With its intuitive interface, you can showcase your designs in realistic environments, making it perfect for presenting your work to clients or on your portfolio. Placing this at number one, because as fantastic as it is, I cannot believe it's FREE.
2. SVG Doodles
   This site offers a delightful collection of SVG doodles that can add a playful touch to your designs. Whether you need some decorative elements or backgrounds, these doodles are easy to customise and integrate into your projects.
3. Reshot
   Reshot is a treasure trove of free images, perfect for enhancing your design projects without the hassle of licensing issues. With a wide variety of high-quality visuals, you can find the right image to complement your work.
4. Streamline HQ Freebies
   Streamline HQ offers a selection of free design resources, including icons and illustrations. Their extensive library is great for finding cohesive design elements that elevate your projects.
5. Shapefest
   Not a fan of 3D objects? Shapefest allows you to create simple vector shapes easily. It’s a handy resource when you need basic geometric shapes for your designs without the complexity of 3D modeling.
6. Haikei
   Haikei is a tool for generating unique shapes and backgrounds, making it perfect for adding interest to your designs. Whether you’re looking for patterns or abstract elements, this tool can help spark your creativity.
7. Draw
   This simple SVG drawing tool is perfect for quick sketches and outlines. It’s a great alternative to more complex illustration software when you need to create SVG-based graphics on the fly.

Icons:

8. icones.js
   This extensive library of web-friendly icons allows you to find the perfect icon for your project. The best part? You can copy the SVG snippet directly into Figma, making it incredibly convenient for designers.
9. Iconoir
   Iconoir features a comprehensive collection of free icons that can be easily integrated into your designs. Its clean, modern style ensures that your designs will have a polished look.
10. CSS.gg
    Another excellent source for icons, CSS.gg provides a wide variety of free icons suitable for web applications. These icons are also available on icones.js, making them easy to access and use.
11. Tabler Icons
    Tabler Icons is a simple yet effective icon library that provides beautifully designed icons perfect for dashboards and UI design. With a consistent style, these icons can help unify your design aesthetic.

Fonts:

12. Font Pair
    Finding the right font pair can be challenging, but Font Pair simplifies the process. This tool helps you discover complementary font combinations, making your typography choices more effective and visually appealing.
13. Colletttivo
    Colletttivo is a unique resource for discovering creative and unconventional fonts. It’s a great place to find distinctive typefaces that can make your designs stand out.
14. Future Fonts
    Future Fonts showcases emerging type designers and their work. It’s an exciting platform to explore new fonts before they hit the mainstream, giving your designs a fresh edge.

Color:

15. Khroma
    Khroma uses AI to generate unique color palettes based on your preferences. By selecting 50 colors you like, it creates combinations, gradients, and more, making color selection a breeze.
16. CSS Gradients
    This site offers a plethora of beautiful CSS gradients that can enhance your web designs. With easy-to-use code snippets, you can implement stunning gradients in no time.

Organisation & Research:

17. Notion
    While not strictly a design tool, Notion is invaluable for staying organised. Whether you’re taking notes, collecting research, or managing projects, it provides a flexible workspace that adapts to your needs.

Additional Resources:

• Saferules - A collection of great articles that offer insights and inspiration for designers.
• VaveBG - Explore AI-generated image assets to enhance your design projects.

I hope you find these tools as helpful as I do.

There's an amazing abundance of tools out there to help you in your role, and I hope I've highlighted some of the best for you.

If you have any favourites of your own, I’d love to hear about them.