No matter how talented you are as a graphic designer, good software is essential for a fast workflow and the daily creation of modern graphics.

An intuitive UI, as well as diverse features, make good graphic design software. As a creative graphic designer, you also have to be flexible and you need to be able to handle different tasks, which also place different requirements on the respective software. So which graphic design software is best for what kind of work? This is our selection of the best graphic design software in 2022.

The best professional graphic design software.

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is clearly the number one tool when it comes to vector graphics. It is definitely a program for professional designers and it takes some time to fully learn this multifunctional tool. For newbies or career changers, there are useful online courses that will make it easier to learn Adobe Illustrator. If you want to take a course, you will find some for all levels here.

Using Adobe Illustrator, you can create distinctive logos, complex graphics, illustrations, typography, symbols, or simple sketches. The possibilities seem endless.

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a fully functional graphic design software available for desktops and iPad. Since its launch, it has been steadily improving. The developers of Affinity Designer paid a lot of attention to usability. It comes with most of the tools you really need (no bloat, no unnecessary gimmicks). With a single click, you can switch between vector or raster workspaces. This software gives you all the creative freedom you ever dreamed of. Its iPad version comes with all the functions you get on the desktop version.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is not only the most popular image editing and graphic design software but also the most versatile. Basic functions of digital image processing can be learned quickly. To dive much deeper into Photoshop’s inexhaustible functionality, we once again recommend taking online courses that make it easier for beginners to learn the software.

From simple image editing to more complicated raster designs, with Adobe Photoshop you can do it all.

Sketch

We recommend using Sketch particularly for web, app, and interface designs. This vector-based program is also ideal for beginners. Designers can also create interactive prototypes that developers can preview by tapping or scrolling to see what they will look like in the end. Sketch has one downside though, it’s only available for Mac users.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a top-notch interface design tool and simply perfect for prototyping. The easy-to-use interface lets you create designs for websites, mobile apps, voice interfaces, games, etc. The platform fully integrates with all the other tools from the Adobe Creative Cloud. This way, you can easily import assets from Photoshop or Illustrator into your Adobe XD projects.

Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is the standard and a must-have in the publishing industry and for all designers working on print products such as magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc. InDesign is quite easy to learn and a good option also for beginners that want to learn how to combine text and graphics the right way.

The best free graphic design software.

GIMP

GIMP is probably the best-known free, open-source graphic design software for simple raster designs. While it’s not as nicely laid out as Photoshop, for example, you still get the same advanced features like photo retouching, drawing, and cropping that you’ll find in more popular programs.

Canva

It’s no secret that Canva caters to hobbyists and casual creators. It’s the go-to tool for anyone who doesn’t know anything about graphic design and those who just want to create something quickly and easily. This drag-and-drop design editor offers a wide variety of templates, fonts, and images. You can choose from existing templates or create your own designs from scratch. Canva is a great alternative for absolute beginners. Please note that Canva uses a so-called freemium model, where you have to upgrade to the Pro version to be able to use additional premium features.


That was our selection of the best graphic design software in 2022. Of course, there are others but we wanted to focus on a handful of notable tools for both professionals and beginners. Header image by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.

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