If you’ve ever needed to produce quality designs for an upcoming marketing campaign, then you’ll understand why having the right tools on hand is so important for achieving the professional finish you need, on a timeline that works for you.
Sometimes these graphics are the centerpiece of your project. Other times, they might be on a smaller scale - an Instagram post, the banner for an email - yet that doesn’t diminish their importance.
In fact, research studies have shown that our brains are wired to retain information better when it’s presented in visual form. That’s why filling your client’s online presence with high-quality visual content is critical. When done well, web visitors and followers will pause and commit what they’re seeing to memory. Those images then become the touchstones consumers recall when they’re feeling ready to buy or book.
With the right kind of production assistance, you can take charge of your client’s visuals and ensure they have that ‘wow’ impact. Whether you’re launching a full-scale web design project, or need to create a small graphic in a pinch, here are the 10 graphic design tools all marketing professionals should keep close by.
01. InVision
This product’s mission is to make the entire design process run smoothly on-screen. From the initial inspiration-gathering stages to wireframes, and from feedback collection to animating elements, it can all be done on this platform. Moving between various modes - like freehand, a visualization board, and a prototype - make that range of activity possible.
Use it for: When you need to complete an original design from start to finish. It’s particularly handy while working with a team due to comment opportunities, shared libraries for storing standardized elements, and a freehand draw option to ‘mark up’ colleagues’ proposals.
Pricing: The package with one prototype is available for free, while priced packaging Includes more prototypes.
Available as a mobile app? Yes.
02. Canva
A popular favorite for polished social media graphics, this website works on a drag-and-drop model. They have the images, filters, fonts, icons, and shapes already on-hand, ready for you to select and tailor to the look and feel of your client’s website or social channels.
Use it for: Graphs or photo editing. Search through a multitude of templates for the exact deliverable you need, whether that’s a meme or a Facebook cover photo. Hint: Web designers might also find graph templates, like their Site Maps or Gantt Chart, to be particularly helpful when assembling a contract-winning client proposal.
Pricing: Basic package is free. Access more advanced capabilities with priced packages, Canva for Work and Canva Enterprise.
Available as a mobile app? Yes.
03. Pixlr
Pixlr brings photo editing capabilities into your web browser, eliminating the need to download any software. Create an image from scratch, or import one from your computer or a URL, and then get to work applying filters, effects, overlays, and more to achieve the end result you want.
Use it for: Quick photo creation and touch-ups.
Pricing: Both free and paid versions, depending on the editing functionality you need.
Available as a mobile app? Yes.