My Favourite Design Tools and Why I Use Them Over some of the Alternatives
“ There is no single best design tool, just the right ones for how you like to work. “
As a designer, illustrator, and mockup creator, I have tested my fair share of tools over the years. Some have been game-changers, while others I have abandoned in frustration. These are the ones I use every day because they actually make my work better, faster, or more enjoyable.
Here is what I swear by and why.
Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is where my mockups go to become fully customisable, high-quality files. It is the only software that gives me complete control over layers, textures, and effects.
Why Photoshop?
Smart objects make swapping designs seamless
Advanced layers let me fine-tune every little detail
High-resolution output ensures everything stays crisp and professional
Why Not Canva?
I still get asked if my mockups work in Canva, and the answer is always no. Canva does not support smart objects or advanced layers, so it just is not built for professional mockups, and doesn’t provide the finishing touches like lighting and shadows in the same way.
MidJourney
MidJourney has found a solid place in my workflow, I use it as a creative tool to refine my ideas and speed up certain processes, but it doesn’t replace my own illustrative and collage work, I still use Procreate and Photoshop to make final pieces.
How I Use MidJourney for Mockups
I generate base mockup scenes with the right aesthetic and composition
I bring them into Photoshop, add smart objects, adjust textures, and refine them until they are fully functional
How I Use It for Illustration
I upload my own artwork to guide towards my own style
I use it to explore different references, compositions and lighting before sketching
The final illustration is always done from scratch in Procreate, with Midjourneys output acting only as a reference
How I Use It for Collage Work
When I find myself overusing the same Unsplash images, I generate new "photos" in MidJourney to keep my work fresh and unique. Clients have also requested new photo style imagery generated for work based around collage.
Why Not Completely Generating Artwork?
MidJourney is not about replacing creativity. It is about getting a fresh perspective before diving into the real work. Completely generating a whole piece of art takes away from the fun of creating.
Procreate
When it comes to illustration, nothing beats drawing by hand, even if it is digital. Procreate makes that process feel natural while giving me all the flexibility of digital art.
Why Procreate?
The Apple Pencil makes drawing feel effortless
Custom brushes let me create unique textures and effects
It is easy to export to Photoshop for final touches
Why Not Adobe Fresco?
Fresco has some nice live brushes, but Procreate is just smoother, faster, and more intuitive. Procreate is the main reason I own an iPad, Fresco can sometimes be buggy from my own experience.
Illustrator
Illustrator is the only tool I trust when I need clean, scalable designs.
Why Illustrator?
Vectors keep designs sharp at any size
The shape builder and pathfinder tools make logo work easier
It integrates well with Photoshop, so I can move between the two seamlessly
Image Trace is my favourite tool! I can easily bring in sketches, and transform them into smooth usable vector files.
Why Not Affinity Designer?
Affinity Designer is a great alternative, but Illustrator still has more features and is the industry standard.
Unblast
Sometimes I do not have the time to present my work in my own mockups, so I head to Unblast for high-quality freebies.
Why Unblast?
It has a great selection of free mockups that actually look professional
The files are well-made and easy to use
It saves me time when I just need a quick presentation
There is no single best design tool, just the right ones for how you like to work. My setup blends traditional design software, Midjourney assistance, and illustration tools to create work that is both professional and creatively fulfilling.
What are your go-to design tools? Let’s talk in the comments!
