Navigating the New Wave of Tools
There is a lot of change happening in the creative industry right now. From the new tools coming out to big updates from existing tools and acquisitions. It’s an exciting time, but can also feel overwhelming. Especially since we’re become used to honing in on a certain tool and claiming it as the best. It’s also not encouraging to hear these new announcements come with a death sentence from people online. “This app will kill that app.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m over the extremism!
I’d advise not spending time to become an expert in every new tools/feature. You don’t need to keep up with what people are saying on the internet. Build a solid foundation on the tools that make sense for the type of work you do, then explore from there.
I’ll admit, I am loyal to my tool stack, but I also enjoy experimenting with the new tools or features that are coming out to find if it has a place in my tool stack. Is there something another tool can do that my current tools are lacking in?
In this issue, I’m breaking down the tools that make up my current design toolkit. The ones I rely on every day and the ones I’m experimenting with. Hopefully, it gives you a starting point for your own setup, and a reminder that curiosity doesn’t have to mean chaos!
Design Toolkit
Current Tools
Figma: My main design tool. I start almost everything here because I can move fast, explore freely, and stay organized. The newer features (background removal, image upscaling) have been huge for my workflow.
Illustrator: My go-to for high-quality exports, vectors, and anything destined for print or sharp web output. I have not experimenting with their AI features because I don’t spend a lot of time in this tool. Only when needed.
Currently Exploring
Affinity: A more modern alternative to Adobe with no subscription pressure. I have not spent a lot of time in this tool so the verdict is still out. So far, I do appreciate how modern and customized it is. I also like that it connects with Canva’s AI, which I already dip into for quick, Photoshop-style edits without opening up the full Adobe universe.
Motion Toolkit
Current Tools
Jitter: My primary motion tool. It’s fast, flexible, and perfect for the type of motion work I do for clients. I have pushed the boundaries of this tool many times!
LottieLabs: My choice for lightweight, web-friendly animations. Even if I start a motion project in Jitter, I’ll download the JSON file, upload into LottieLabs and use their live link feature to hand off to web developers. I cover that process in the article “How to use Jitter to communicate with developers”.
💡Coming next issue: If you’re interested in which of these two tools is best for different types of motion work, stay tuned for the next issue!
AI Toolkit
Current Tools
GPT: My support system for clearer writing, grammar help, cutting down detail-heavy rambling, and navigating dyslexia. I also use it for creative unblocking, interpreting tricky client feedback, and making sense of technical science content/imagery/graphs at Wizardly so I can shape stronger storylines. I use it as my collaborator, not a replacement.
You can read more about my preference on how creatives use AI in the article “Why Transparency Is the Missing Piece in AI + Human Creativity”
Midjourney: Strong for visual exploration, style development, and quick concepting. They have a few different features that make experimenting fun and rewarding. I also use it to add motion to my creations, even if I originally built the image elsewhere. For me, the motion feature is the selling point.
💡Tip: If you use Midjourney to create image or video generation for clients, I’d recommend paying for the pro Plan at $60/monthly tier. This allows you to turn on stealth mode generation. If you’re not aware, anything you create on Midjourney will live on the community gallery for all to see and use.
GPT Image Gen: I typically start with GPT. I have found a process that works well for me, although it does go rouge at times. If it’s causing me to much trouble, I’ll at least use it to generate prompts.
Currently Exploring
Figma Weave (coming soon): Figma’s acquisition of Weavy opens up node-based image and video generation directly inside Figma. I’m excited about this because node systems give you far more control over the creative process, and more tools are moving in this direction.
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