My Design Toolbox

The tools I use as a designer are consistently shifting and expanding but here are my favorites that I’ve used the longest and know like the back of my hand!

1. Canva

I can’t deny that I have the more experience with Canva than the Adobe Creative Cloud. I tend to work most efficiently in Canva since I’m most familiar with all the tools and resources it has available. I enjoy the simplicity of Canva compared to Adobe products, the premade graphics, array of fonts and options. I tend to use Canva for simple projects like social media post and simple posters. It has also come in handy for video creation!

2. Unsplash

In a world where stock photos can feel inauthentic and are often hidden by a paywall, Unsplash shines through with its high-quality, aesthetically pleasing photos that are free! While Unsplash is shifting to a more premium model, it is still my go-to!

3.Procreate

When it comes to custom illustrations, nothing comes close to Procreate! With it’s simple yet multi-layered interface and variety of tools, Procreate is my favorite for digital illustration.

4. Pinterest

My first step in the ideation process is always to make a Pinterest board or do a quick search! After that I might explore other sites for more niche designs, but Pinterest gets me excited about the possibilities of a project and provides a visual reference. It’s fun to try different combinations of ideas I see!

5. Chatgpt

Chatgpt is a game changer for generating copy for an event poster, a website page or just to get ideas! Instead of using filler text, prompting chatgpt can provide specifics to give a better idea of how the final design will look and feel. This greatly accelerates the design process and helps prototypes or class projects feel more real!

That’s it! I hope these resources are helpful and you gained insight into my design process.