In becoming an experienced UI/ UX designer, a large part of your journey is learning different industry tools. These could range from collaborative and communication apps, to animating and illustrating software, the latest trends, and the most important are UI/UX design tools.
UI and UX are two important aspects of web design. They are different but linked to one another. The core of UI is the design interface, focusing on the looks, while UX fixates on the user’s experience or what they feel as they use the product or service. A prime example is a website that is beautifully designed but is hard to use and navigate. This is great UI but poor UX.
The definition of each sounds easy enough but it’s actually a whole load of work. But with the right UI/UX design tools, product development has become easier and more powerful. And the good news is there are dozens of them all over the market, ready at your disposal.
Over time, you’ll find the perfect tool that works best for you but while you’re still learning, here are our top picks for the best UI/UX design tools that you can play around with it.
How to Choose the Right Design Tool?
There’s no single design tool that will perfectly have everything a UI designer needs. There will always be certain functions or elements that can be found on other tools. This is why it’s important for UI designers to tackle what they need.
Here are some guide questions to bear in mind when looking for the perfect UI/UX design tool:
- How usable is this tool?
- How fast can I learn this tool?
- Is this tool affordable for our company?
- Does this tool allow collaboration with other team members?
- Does it smoothly integrate with other UI/UX design tools?
- What operating system can it run on?
The Best UI/UX Design Tools for Designers
Both start-ups and colossal enterprises heavily rely on UI/UX design tools for product development. These tools are essentials to help structure information architecture, establish the flow of experience, conceptualize and paint a bigger picture of the product.
In this article, we’ve listed the most popular UI/UX design tools in the industry.
Sketch
If you’ve been around the UI/UX design industry, we are sure you’ve heard of Sketch and why it’s one of the most popular design tools in the field.
One of its well-appreciated feature is allowing designers to make universal changes, including their library of symbols, layer and text style, or smooth resizing and alignment features. This saves designers loads of time and also allows consistent prototypes.
Sketch also allows third-party plugins to integrate without a fuss. This means there is a multitude of tools that can be used with this design tool.
InVision Studio
InVision has an excellent range of applications that designers love to the bone. Its suite has all the UI design tools that a designer needs to fully conceptualize and make functional prototypes.
It is filled with easy-to-use UI design tools and also contains collaborative features that allow a team of developers and designers to share their work, receive feedback, and make documented changes. In addition, it has a digital whiteboard that allows members to interact and share their ideas.
Proto.io
Proto.io claims that their UI design software makes “Prototypes that feel real.” And they sure live up to that. Proto.io gives designers the power to create, organize, integrate, and test accurate prototypes. It makes collaboration and communication easier as it includes features that allow comments and video feedback.
It also smoothly integrates with known testing products like Lookback, Userlytics, and Validately.
Adobe XD
When it comes to design software, it’s hard not to include any Adobe products on the list. Adobe XD is an excellent vector-based user interface tool that is superb for creating prototypes and mockups. The interface is similar to other Adobe products so it might be easier to learn and use for longtime Adobe users. In addition, it has real-time collaboration which teams of designers appreciate.
Adobe XD has many advanced tools for UI designers but it is also filled with basic elements that can be used in creating prototypes and mockups. It is an excellent design platform that can do whatever you want it to and has everything you need.
Figma
Figma allows UI designers to build dynamic prototypes, test them, and sync up all of the progress. It has a real-time collaboration feature that supports multiple people at the same time, similar to Google Docs, it also allows you to see who’s working on what.
Figma is browser-based, which makes it convenient and instantly accessible to everyone. It’s free for individual use and is perfect if you’re making a quick change online.
Framer X
We love character development and this is why we love Framer X too! Starting as a code-only prototyping application, Framer X evolved into a platform with excellent design tools for creating functional prototypes and testing for usability. It works with React, which makes it fitting for designers who are thirsty for the latest web design innovations.
Framer X has multitudes of plugins that UI designers would love, such as UI kits for integrating social media channels, embedding media, grids, and other useful components. This is a perfect start if you are a beginner due to its easy-to-use interface.
Webflow
If you are not a fan of coding, your perfect UI design tool is Webflow. Webflow allows you to design without knowledge of HTML and CSS. It has a drag and drop feature and an intuitive interface that allows you to create until your heart’s content.
For building prototypes, Webflow gives you an actual website with actual generated HTML and CSS codes and even Javascripts for micro-interactions. It also has templates for you to use if you don’t want to start from scratch.
Marvel
Marvel is an all-rounder design tool that functionalities for design, wireframing, prototyping, and even user testing. It is extremely easy to use with its simple but effective user interface. It is also perfect for quick projects.
Marvel has tools for each step of the design process but the software focuses on prototyping where users can carry out gestures, import design, add screen elements, and basically everything a UI/UX designers need to quickly create a functioning prototype.
It’s not as advanced as the others on the list but it is ideal for beginner designers and developers who are looking to create something quick but functional.