25 Graphic Design Tools That Will Transform Your Work [2024]

Introduction

In today's digital era, graphic design is a cornerstone for vision communication, branding, and storytelling. Designers need powerful software tools in this competitive environment to enhance creativity and efficiency. In this article, we bring you a carefully selected list of 25 graphic designer tools that will change your workflow and get higher quality to your output. These tools range from leading software applications to web platforms with innovative features and functions, and they all cater to the needs of modern design projects. With these at your disposal, get ready for a complete change in how you think about graphic design.  

Role of Graphic Design in Today's World

In recent decades, visual communication has emerged as one of the most important means of transmitting messages. As technology advances, creating more striking messages with a design that attracts attention and creates original content is a primary need for brands, public figures, and all media types. In this visual world, it is essential to have graphic design professionals as part of your digital marketing strategy.

Main Functions of a Graphic Designer

A graphic designer holds expertise in the best practices of visual communication. Graphic design is responsible for creating visual content that conveys clear messages to the audience. This content can be in the form of sketches, drawings, documents, advertisements, or books. The main goal of graphic design is to transmit ideas and messages into reality, using specific guidelines to ensure that the message reaches the recipient accurately and effectively. 

Graphic designers work in various areas, such as branding, campaigns, art direction, and production management. They combine art and technology to create eye-catching visual content for different media, including digital media, magazines, banners, and more. 

Graphic design plays a crucial role in business marketing, as it helps in creating brand identity and connecting with the target audience. Designers need to stay updated with trends and new tools in the industry to create appropriate messages, regardless of the audience. They must collaborate with colleagues and clients to ensure that each product aligns with the brand's vision. 

In short, graphic design is a profession that requires creativity, attention to detail, and communication skills. It aims to create visual content that accurately represents a brand's message and identity.

Top 25 Graphic Design Tools

If you are an enthusiast of graphic design software and programs, you know the importance of having the right tools for graphic designers to create impressive projects. Technology advances by leaps and bounds, and new programs and software emerge yearly to revolutionize the industry. Additionally, obtaining a UI/UX design certification can further enhance your skillset and career prospects.

Below, we present the top 25 current graphic design programs so you can try the most powerful applications and take your work to the next level. 

Let's start by exploring the best graphic design tools essential for content creators. 

1. Adobe Photoshop 

With Adobe Photoshop, you can retouch and create amazing images because that is its specialty. You can find this graphic designing tool in the Adobe Creative Cloud, which has been on the market for over 20 years and is constantly updated. Its powerful features include custom layers, adjustments, and brushes. It is the ticket for experts and buffs in a similar way.

2. Adobe Illustrator

Another complementary graphic design program is Illustrator, with which you can create precise and detailed drawings perfect for printing or publishing online. In its user interface, you have access to different color tools, shadows, brushes, and special effects to create posters, invitations, brand designs, clothing designs, greeting cards, birthday letters, an impressive infographic, and everything else you can imagine.

3. Figma

When design collaboration is crucial, Figma becomes the ace up your sleeve that makes the difference. Designed with a focus on collaboration, its interface is based on the fluidity of drag and drop.

 Here you can create interactive prototypes and get real-time feedback, a key advantage for designers and developers working as a team. Figma transcends the concept of a common graphic design tool; it is a collaborative work environment that unleashes creativity and efficiency.

4. Inkscape

Are you passionate about the vector graphic design program and looking for a powerful, free option? Inkscape is what you need. This open-source tool puts powerful illustration and editing functions at your fingertips. 

Its friendly interface is full of easy-to-use graphic design tools, making it the ideal option for creating graphics, logos, and splendid vector art. If you are a designer or artist, we assure you that she will become your trusted companion. 

5. Gimp

Forget expensive photo editors. GIMP is a free alternative that will allow you to edit your photos at a professional level. This open-source software allows you to resize your images, add special effects, vary colors, draw pictures, and much more. 

But that's not all; GIMP also allows you to work with layers, so you can add a variety of elements to your image and then merge and modify them individually. Its friendly and easy-to-use interface will make you feel like an expert from the first use.

6. ClipStudio

If illustration and comic creation is your thing, Clip Studio is your ideal workspace. With realistic brushes and advanced drawing tools, this excellent application will give you the wings to create digital art and dazzle everyone.

You can create anything from a simple illustration to a complete comic; nothing is out of your creative reach. The tool is not free, but it offers different licensing models, and some Wacom graphics tablets offer free months.

7. Krita

Krita is a gem in the world of digital illustration and animation. What makes it truly special is its focus on creativity and accessibility. As a free graphic design tool and open-source software, she proves that quality digital art doesn't have to be expensive.

From detailed illustrations to captivating animation pieces, Krita offers various brushes and tools to suit multiple emotions and creative needs. Whether you are a novice artist or a seasoned professional, you'll find options to sculpt your ideas with precision and style.

8. Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is your solution if you are looking for an online option. This free vector design tool will impress you with its ease of use and comprehensive features.

Whether you are an experienced designer or a beginner lover, Gravit Designer will be of great help in your projects.

9. Paint Shop Pro

Do you want a good image editing package that combines power and accessibility? Then, you must try Paint Shop Pro.

Whether you are a photography enthusiast or a professional with demanding editing demands, we assure you that this suite will meet and exceed your expectations.

10. Procreate

For lovers of digital art on iPad, we have Procreate. This drawing and painting application stands out for its intuitive interface and high-quality brushes.

It will allow you to make everything from quick sketches to detailed masterpieces. It's certainly a popular choice among digital artists you will want to take advantage of.

Procreate offers a wide range of creative tools and provides a vibrant and active community that shares tips, tricks, and tutorials.

11. Corel Draw 

Corel Draw is a complete graphic design tool. Perfect for designers working on complex illustrations and graphics.

 Designed to address a wide range of graphic needs, from illustrations to logo creation, Corel Draw is the perfect companion for designers who demand the best. 

12. Vectr

Vectr is a free graphic design application that can be used online and offline. This tool lets you easily create graphics, designs, and vectors. It is beneficial if you are starting in a graphic design program and need more experience.

You can edit shapes, use different sizes, colors and styles, add text to one of your designs, work with layers and export your projects to other formats.

13. Pixlr

If photo editing is your thing, you'll love Pixlr. It is an online photo editor that allows you to do many different things with your photos, such as resizing, cropping, adjusting brightness, saturation, and contrast, adding text and effects, and much more.

It is easy to use and does not require downloading additional software. Everything is done online. To use Pixlr, upload your photo and start editing it. This is a valuable and fun tool to start editing your photos.

14. Canvas 

Canva offers templates to build on your past best design programs and an extensive library of images and graphics. In addition, it allows online collaboration so you can generate designs with the people you want.

 You'll have access to thousands of graphic resources, custom color palettes, and base designs to innovate anywhere.

 Its free version offers a lot, but Canva Pro takes your designs to the next level. 

15. Piktochart

Piktochart is your ally in creating eye-catching and visually attractive infographics. Even non-graphic designers can create informative and engaging content with an intuitive interface and customizable templates.

 It's a great option for educators, marketing professionals, and anyone who wants to present information effectively.

16. Easel.ly 

Easel.ly makes designing infographics a breeze. With various templates and simple tools, you can visualize complex data clearly and attractively. This tool is perfect for educators, students, and professionals who want to convey information effectively.

17. Piktochart

Piktochart is your ally in creating eye-catching and visually attractive infographics. Even non-graphic designers can create informative and engaging content with an intuitive interface and customizable templates.

It's a great option for educators, marketing professionals, and anyone who wants to present information effectively.

18. PicMonkey 

If you want to bring your photos to life online, PicMonkey is your solution. Edit and enhance images easily, whether for social media, blogs or presentations. Its editing and layout features are friendly to beginners and enthusiasts alike.

19. Visme

Visme is a versatile tool for creating infographics, presentations, and interactive charts. With features to add animations and interactive elements, it is perfect for marketers, educators, and content creators who want to convey information dynamically.

20. VistaCreate

If you need a template to create stunning designs in minutes, VistaCreate is an excellent option among all these applications. Its customizable templates and easy-to-use tools are ideal for entrepreneurs and busy professionals. From social media posts to business cards, you can bring your ideas to life in no time.

21. Designrr 

Designrr allows you to turn your content into professional eBooks and eBooks. With features to import from blogs and websites, you can easily create digital posts. 

It is a valuable tool for authors, content creators, and entrepreneurs who want to present their content attractively.

22. Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is software for designing magazines, books, brochures, and other types of publications. With InDesign, you can transform a story you've written into a real book and do much more.

With InDesign, you can add and organize text, photos, and drawings on a page. You can change the size and style of the text and add different fonts to make it look friendly and easy to read. Also, you can adjust the color and size of the images to fit the page. Create professional, quality publications, greeting cards, and much more.

23. QuarkXPress

If you need to layout documents, QuarkXPress is your tool. Perfect for print, website and digital publications. Its advanced features make it popular among editorial graphic design software professionals.

24. Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is heaven for photographers and photo editing enthusiasts. With its powerful developing and organizing capabilities, you can transform ordinary images into visual masterpieces. From basic adjustments to advanced editing, Lightroom is essential for anyone looking to enhance their photographs. 

25. Behance

Behance is the perfect setting to showcase your visual creations to the world. Whether you are a free graphic design designer, Illustrator, or photographer, this platform allows you to show your work and connect with other creatives. It is an endless source of inspiration and networking opportunities.

How to Build a Career in Graphic Designing?

As in any other profession, a successful career in graphic design requires acquiring certain knowledge and developing a set of skills. In the development of the profession, these tips can lead you to have a successful graphic design career: 

Evaluate if You Have a Vocation for this Profession

Vocation is the interest and inclination that a person shows for a specific way of life, job or profession, and is necessary to be successful in any career. 

Your passion for graphic design will make you want to learn more about this artistic branch and will allow you to improve your work constantly. Likewise, it will make you enjoy your daily life as a designer. 

Develop Your Style

Developing your own style requires a lot of practice, but it is what will allow you to make a difference compared to other professionals. There may even come a day when someone sees a design and recognizes that it was created by you.

Your design style can be reflected in how you express your ideas, the mix of colors you use, the layout of lines, the fonts you choose, and several other characteristics. Your style is recommended to adapt to current trends and constantly evolve to stay relevant. 

Be Professional and Responsible

Your professionalism will be reflected not only in the quality of your work but also in your level of responsibility and your ability to meet deadlines established by clients.

To do this, be honest with both the client and yourself. Do not accept projects with deadlines you know you cannot meet or commit to impossible delivery dates. 

Train Yourself Constantly

Whether you have taken an online course or studied graphic design, continuing to train during your career development will keep you up to date with new trends.

In a world as changing as ours today, constant training will help you learn new techniques or use tools that will make your work more effective, thus enhancing your ability as a professional to adapt to the demands of the market.

The options to continue training are endless: from taking new courses, seminars and master's degrees to reading books related to graphic design. 

Learn to Receive Feedback

Just because you like your job or become an excellent graphic design professional doesn't mean you won't receive criticism from your clients (or your bosses if you work for an agency).

For this reason, handling feedback correctly is very important. You have to understand that receiving criticism is not always a bad thing. In some cases, it can be an opportunity to improve your work, while in others, it will only be related to a mismatch between your tastes and someone else's.

You must also be humble enough to accept the design advice that other professionals can give you and that can help you in your career.

Learn to Get Paid for What You Do

If you love your profession, it is normal that you sometimes want to do work for free. However, this is not sustainable in the long term since you need to generate income to maintain your expenses and, of course, indulge yourself as well.

Therefore, it is essential that you acquire the ability to argue the price of your work during your training and career development. This way, you can convey to your clients the value of what you do and charge an appropriate price for your services.

Average Graphic Designer Salary

The graphic design industry in India is on a growth path, with more industries seeking the aid of creative professionals. As a result, India's average graphic designer salary has increased significantly. According to recent surveys, the average annual salary for graphic designers in India ranges from Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 6 lakhs. The pay scale can vary quite a bit based on several important factors such as experience, skill set, industry, location, and Company size.

An entry-level graphic designer can expect to earn approximately Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 3 lakhs per annum. Those with 5-10 years of experience and beyond can expect an average annual salary ranging from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 8 lakhs. Freelance graphic designers, on the other hand, make a higher rate, too, which largely varies based on their expertise and the number of clients that they have.

In general, the graphic design profession promises a gratifying career for those with a passion for creativity and the drive to seek to improve upon themselves continuously.

Graphic Designer Job Outlook

Graphic design jobs require determination and commitment. They can also be very competitive, and inexperienced designers often work long hours on assignments they are not passionate about.

According to a reliable report, many wannabes feel disappointed and give up their graphic design jobs in the first few years. Get the hang of the graphic design job description to see what your responsibilities will be and plan to pay your dues.

Being a successful graphic designer only happens after a few years. Building your career takes time, but your hard work will pay off if you're serious about graphic design jobs.

Should You Be Self-Employed?

Of course, there are many upsides to working for yourself. You can set your hours, choose your jobs, and never deal with rush hour traffic again. A graphic design job or operating your own business could be a great fit if you work well alone and don't need a supervisor to keep you on target.

On the other hand, working for a graphic design firm is also an ideal worth considering. Their responsibilities include maintaining your work environment, purchasing all the equipment and software you'll need, as well as creating and maintaining a client base for you. Working for a fixed number of hours per week and going home with a paycheck every other Friday is pretty good, too. If you feel that working for your boss is not for you, try an internship there or take a class in college and decide for yourself.

The Future of Graphic Designing

We live in a visual world; every day we see mobile, computer, tablet and television screens countless times, and the trend does not stop increasing. Human beings love to be in contact with other people and look at their photographs, inform themselves of the latest news with graphic and dynamic infographics, express themselves with funny gifs, shop online, watch YouTube videos, play video games with textures and realistic effects. , watch series with extraordinary headings, etc. Companies and media know that a professional and careful image is essential, with good graphic and visual design being the key to attracting attention, facilitating information and access to users and differentiating themselves from the competition. Now, it is unimaginable to think of a company that needs visualization on the Internet. Hence, the profession of graphic and visual design continues to be incredibly in demand and essential for any business, personal or institutional brand that wants to make itself known.

Times changed, and the graphic and visual design concept was born in the Industrial Revolution. Online companies are the basis of this era; new products, apps, software, virtual reality, video games, etc., make promotions through brochures and posters seem distant. However, graphic design is more than impressions; it is comprehensive visual communication.

Likewise, many people choose this option given the future possibilities of studying graphic design, so the competition is vast. That said, if you want to dedicate yourself professionally to this industry, you must constantly update and adapt to new technologies and trends to remain in a competitive position and be interested in the job.

Conclusion

As graphic design continually evolves alongside emerging technologies, designers have the opportunity to unleash boundless creativity. Exploring a curated selection of 25 graphic design tools for vector illustration, photo manipulation, and UI/UX design empowers professionals at all stages of their journey. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just beginning, investing in these tools, alongside pursuits like an Advanced Certification in UI UX Design, promises to elevate your craft and keep you ahead in the dynamic design landscape

FAQS

1. What are the eight types of graphic design?

The common types of graphic design are branding, marketing, publication, packaging, UI/UX, motion, environmental, and illustration design.

2. What is the difference between vector and raster graphics?

Vectors use mathematical equations, whereas raster graphics consist of pixels.

3. Which tool is best for web design for beginners? 

Adobe XD is the best tool for beginner web designers.

4. Are there any quality free graphic design tools available?

Yes, quality free tools like Canva and GIMP are available.

5. How do motion graphics differ from traditional animation?

Motion graphics use text and graphics, whereas traditional animation involves frame-by-frame drawings.