Learning visual compositions and ways to project your ideas with the use of illustration, typography, videography, photography, and other elements can change the entire outlook of your business. The skill is not only of value to those in the creative industry but to entrepreneurs and marketers alike. Just by having a grasp of the mere basics, professionals need not rely on others to develop and establish a compelling brand. While honing designs skills can take time, many resources can help you get the job done in no time. Now, if you are new to the design world then you may find yourself waddling aimlessly through a dizzying array of design software so to save you time, we at the Academy of Design, Arts & Media (A.D.A.M) curated a list of 13 communication design software that will help your business stand above the rest!
1. Dribble
Before you can decide what you would want your visual compositions to look like, you may require a little inspiration first. Dribble is a great website for those in need of a spark of ideation. The community-based website is a place for creative minds to showcase their work and boost their portfolio, Dribble also works as a resource for connecting with talented creators.
2. Canva
This multi-purpose graphic design platform allows you to create visual content effortlessly, from business cards to aesthetically pleasing designs for your social media pages. Canva offers a whopping 250,000 free templates to help you get started with any project. Canva is equipped with an impressive number of easy-to-learn features such as the drag and drop editing interface which gives you the ability to customise illustrations, photos, and videos to your desire.
3. FreeLogoDesign
The first step to take when you have embarked on a business idea is to create the brand. The logo and name of your company will always be its identity. FreeLogoDesign assists you in creating the perfect logo for free in a jiffy. Whether your cosmetic store requires a logo with a feminine touch or your self-employed freelance business lacks branding, FreeLogoDesign puts forward an outstanding variety of free templates to be the basis of your logo. Once you have found something that represents your brand, design it according to your liking with the icon and logo-editing feature.
4. Blush
If you want to impress your clients or customers, then blush is the perfect tool for you to add some pizzaz to your business through the help of illustrations. Blush is an online platform that gathers high-quality and customisable illustrations. Play around with this tool and make the illustrations align with your brand’s style.
5. Pexels
Finding the right photos and videos to use for your business can be tricky because of image plagiarism. To avoid the consequences of plagiarism, make sure the images and videos you take off the internet are royalty-free. Scanning the net for high-quality images and videos for free can be a daunting task so use Pexels instead! Make use of Pexels as the ideal communication design resource and save yourself the effort and time with free stock images and videos by the dozens.
6. Uppbeat
Looking to add a fun jingle or a gripping sound effect to your projects? Then Uppbeat is the solution to avoiding copyrighted tunes. Check out what’s trending and select from a list of songs, soundtracks and sound effects that will propel your business to greater heights. Music is a powerful retail tool that expresses the identity of the brand while portraying the business’ efforts in a creative aspect.
7. LightShot
It can be gruelling having to write down everything you will need to keep a record of, so why not just take a quick screenshot. Yes, the snipping tool is an exceptional tool to help record important information but if you’re looking to customise your screenshots, then have a go at LightShot. LightShot is a simple to use tool that works as a browser extension. Once you’ve taken the perfect screenshot, you’re given the option to leave it as it is or add arrows and lines to make your business presentations more informational.
7. Visme
Infographics display important data and other essential information in the form of easy-to-comprehend creative designs. Whether you prefer to exhibit facts and figures in the disposition of a graph or a fancy picture, Visme is amazing at transforming statistics into eye-catching shareable infographics. Visme has a tonne of templates for you to select from and even if you have no design experience, the templates are easy to customise to your preference.
9. Coolors
It may seem almost insignificant, but colours hold an effect on consumer behaviour, and it also sets brand presence. Picking the right colour scheme that goes together and ones that align with the personality of your brand can be tricky. Make your life easier with Coolors! Create and collect the right colour palette for just about any business. Coolors allow you to generate the perfect palette of matching colours in a few seconds.
10. Biteable
Elevated your website with professionally crafted animated videos with Biteable. Biteable lets you create creative animated videos from a broad library of animations and footage. You won’t have to worry about learning how to edit and put together these videos, Biteable does everything for you with its drag and drop editor feature.
11. Pixlr X
Sometimes, a basic photo editor doesn’t have enough features to turn your photos into striking images. Pixlr X is designed to make editing a quick and easy task. Pixlr X is integrated with Dropbox so you can save and send your edited photos using an accessible platform.
12. Mailchimp
If you’re running a business that requires promotion through crafty emails, then you would know what Electronic Direct Mail Marketing (EDM) is. For you to create an EDM, you will need to have a grasp on some design skills or better yet, use an application filled with easy-to-edit templates to help you out. Mailchimp is a marketing platform that guides you and helps you create email campaigns with ease.
13. Iconmonstr
Wondering how you can make your blogs or website much more awe-inspiring? The answer is icons! Icons can make texts far more memorable, reinforce website content and even break down language barriers. Find an extensive array of icons on iconmonstr to take your business up and notch.
With all these free online resources right at your fingertips, you can transform your website or visual compositions into a creative gateway to your brand. If you wish to learn and understand design software in detail, then have a look at our Communications Design Masterclass!