Helpful Tools for UI Designers

The term user interface (UI) design encompasses the steps of creating the interface of the software, mobile applications, and other digital devices. UI Designers focus on the interactions between humans and these interfaces to ensure there is a positive user experience and interactivity.

With technology and creative design careers advancing at a rapid rate, it’s important for UI Designers to stay current in their practices and continue building their skills throughout their careers. Just a few years ago, applications like Sketch were the main tools used in this type of design career. Today, there is a wide range of mobile applications and software that UI Designers use to ensure their interfaces are user-friendly. This includes ease of switching through pages, using drop-down menus, and other points of visual interaction.

This article will cover some of the most helpful tools for both new UI Designers and those who have experience working in the field. These tools are some of the most prominent in the industry and important for any UI Designer to master, whether traditionally employed or working as a freelancer. Since UI Design and other creative careers are anticipated to grow by 3% through 2030, it’s important for designers to find their niche and become comfortable with these tools that help make the process quicker and more efficient.

Interface Design

When UI Designers are crafting the interface design, they focus on the overall aesthetics and other essential elements, including input controls, navigation components, information components, and containers. It’s important to note that interface design and the work completed by UI Designers are solely digital and do not branch out to cover additional areas like products or physical appearances. Some of the most helpful tools that professional UI Designers use in their daily careers include:

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is another vector-based tool UI Designers use for interface design and prototyping. Available on both Windows and Mac, Adobe XD is one of the most popular design applications within the Creative Cloud. There is a limited free version for users to try, though the paid subscription provides users with over 200 plugins. It’s a great choice for both beginners and more advanced designers, with an interface that is simple to master and comparable to other Adobe applications.

Sketch

One of the most popular tools UI Designers use for interface design is Sketch. First released in 2010, this vector-based editing tool is great for interface design, wireframing, and prototyping. The software is only available for Mac systems and does require initial purchase/licensing costs each year to take advantage of updates. Many designers still use Sketch for interface design due to the instant mobile preview option and the Symbols feature.

InVision

InVision is a web-based tool that is commonly used by both UI and UX Designers. UI Designers use InVision to help with code inspection, prototyping, and interface design, with the added ability to communicate with others in real-time. One of the most helpful areas of the InVision platform is the Freehand tool that functions as a virtual whiteboard. This tool is best for beginners or those looking for a simple web-based tool, as there are both free and paid options available for users.

Figma

Considered an all-in-one UI design tool, Figma is used to help with designing, prototyping, and testing designs for research purposes. One major benefit to using Figma is the wide range of apps, with options for Windows, Mac, web, iOS, and Android. It is described as a collaborative tool, meaning it is great for multiple users that are working on a project. One of the more important factors to recognize is that there are limited vector tools and the free plan is quite limited.

Wireframing

Essentially, wireframing is the process of developing a digital platform at the structural level and is often referred to as the “skeleton” of the user interface. These wireframes are considered a visual guide or blueprint for future websites or applications and are a vital part of the design process. These helpful tools for wireframing can not only provide a guide for visualizing future applications but can also show how users will interact on the platform and provide options for usability testing. Some of the most helpful wireframing tools include:

Balsamiq

Considered one of the best tools for rapid wireframing, Balsamiq provides users the ability to create low-fidelity wireframes that can be transformed at later stages of the design process. It is an excellent option for UI Designers working on a team where collaboration and multiple users are a must. There is a large user interface library for users featuring different elements that can be added to a design through a simple drag and drop method.

Mockflow

Mockflow is an excellent tool for beginner UI Designers or those looking to create basic wireframes. The tool is available for Windows, Mac, and web functions while offering a trial period for those who purchase a paid subscription. The free plan is great for designers that need to get an idea out quickly before moving it to a more advanced design tool in later stages of development. Paid subscriptions offer an added bonus for multiple users and collaboration tools.

Adobe Comp

One of the more unique tools, Adobe Comp is great for designers that have a Creative Cloud subscription and want to develop ideas while on the go using a mobile device or tablet. The tool is available on iOS and Android and does offer a free plan for anyone who has an Adobe ID. Paid subscriptions through the Creative Cloud provide even more perks like fonts, brushes, and graphics.

UXPin

UXPin is a versatile tool that is used for many different functions including prototyping, wireframing, designing, creating mockups, and collaborating. UXPin does require a paid subscription to access the tool but provides users with excellent UI components and elements. It is popular due to the fast-paced wireframe creation ability and is often used by large teams that need to collaborate on project elements.

UI Designers looking to simplify their creative process and boost their productivity should consider learning any of these tools they are unfamiliar with. There is a wide range of graphic design classes available from providers like Noble Desktop that cover essential design principles and industry-standard UI/UX software. There are also live online graphic design bootcamps for students that prefer to learn virtually from their homes.

If you currently work as a UI Designer and want to refresh your skill set, consider signing up for classes like the Sketch Bootcamp or Photoshop for Web Design & UI. These types of courses have a more focused curriculum designed to help ensure all students are up to date with the latest industry practices and software updates. If you are ready to get started with signing up for classes, try searching for graphic design bootcamps in your area to see what options are available.