Top Software Picks for Designers

Every designer has their bags of tricks.  Today I’m sharing a few of mine with you when it comes to software and graphic sources.  There are so many handy tools out there available for designers to use to make elements of their business run more smoothly.  What you’ll find here is just of few of my current favorites. Be on the lookout for a follow up post to this with even more resources.  But for now let’s did into this list that I’ve broken down into categories.

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DESIGN / DOCUMENT:

• AutoCAD LT – There are a few different versions of CAD out there that each serve a different purpose. I use the LT version of AutoCAD for creating noted & dimensioned floor plans & lighting plans. The LT version works just fine for me because I do all my 3D work in SketchUp (along with exterior/interior elevations & building sections).
• SketchUp (Pro) – Create 3D models of your projects. Design and build custom furniture and light fixtures. Create model as simple or as complex as you want. Pair your 3D models with LayOut (included with Pro version) to turn your models into 2D plans, elevations, and sections. Perfect for designing, documenting, and presenting your projects.
• DesignFiles – All-in-one platform for both full service design & e-design. Create project questionnaires, design boards/presentations, product tear sheets, invoices & purchase orders. Source products & build your own resource library. Communicate with clients and get their feedback on the projects. Create & market your own custom design packages. And more…

PRODUCTIVITY / BUSINESS:

• Evernote – Think of this as your digital filing cabinet. Use this to keep up with basically anything and everything. There’s an app for your phone as well as a web version. You can store all your Notes into digital Notebooks depending on how organized you want to be. Example: Create a Notebook for an individual project to store all your related notes. Or create a Stack of Notebooks to further organize – by year, month, project type, resource type, etc. Be as basically organized or as OCD organized as you need. Use the web clipper to save websites and sources. Attach files and photos. I suggest the Premium version for extra storage and history backup (That has saved me many times through the years!)

MARKETING / GRAPHICS / ASSETS / WEBSITE:

• Planoly – This handy tool helps you visually plan out your social media posts. There is a free version and a few levels of paid versions. I recommend the Solo plan (only $7/month).  For a single social profile, you can plan and schedule your Instagram grid, Instagram stories, Pinterest, and share to Facebook. We’re talking photos, videos, and gifs. Get analytics. Find out the best time to post. Everything! The feature difference from the Free version to the Solo plan is beyond worth the small price. 
• Canva Pro – Quickly & so easily create virtually any graphic you need. Perfect for creating blog images, social media posts/stories, presentations, logos, flyers, moodboards, and on and on and on. So many templates to choose from. When you go with the pro version instead of the free one, you can create custom sizes designs, png images with transparent backgrounds, organize designs and photos into folders, create a brand kit with your preferred fonts and colors, resize your designs, and so much more. Most of my graphics are created with Canva.
• Envato Elements – A great source for ready to use photos, templates, fonts, and other graphic & website assets with unlimited downloads for a small monthly fee. Everything from presentations, WordPress themes & plugins, stock photos, video templates, stock videos, music tracks, sound effects and more. (Looking to buy just one or two things? Try Envato Market instead.)
• Envato Market – A great source for ready to use photos, templates, fonts, and other graphic & website assets. Everything from presentations, WordPress themes & plugins, stock photos, video templates, stock videos, music tracks, sound effects and more. Buy only the individual assets you need as you need them. (This is similar to Envato Elements only without the subscription. ) Prices of individual items vary depending on purchase and seller.
• SiteLock – Website security & protection. Protects your site code and web applications from malicious cyber threats. Different packages available for different needs.

SCREEN RECORD & CAPTURE / VIDEO EDITING:

• Camtasia (TechSmith) – This is a great program for recording your screen and even editing the videos. Even has simple drag & drop effects to take things to the next level. Want examples? Use this to record a walk-through of a 3D model you created to share with your client. Create a time-lapse video of how a design comes together. Create a training video for your staff to explain procedures. So many options.
• Snag It (TechSmith) – Capture images of your screen to share with your clients or your staff. Create simple screen recordings. Use this to add visuals to your documentation or presentation. 

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Hopefully there’s something here that will help you out.  If you have any software and resources you want to share with the community, leave a comment or send me a message.  Don’t forget to share this post with your business besties to help them out too. Stop by the Designer Resources section of my CDS Warehouse for even more helpful goodies.

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.  All that means is that if you love the products sourced in this post so much that you end up purchasing something from the source site, I’ll receive a small commission for referring you.  Don’t worry this is at no extra expense to you.