By now, you know that design plays a crucial role in your digital strategy. However, one doesn’t necessarily have to be a professional Graphic Designer to create a work of art. Below, we’ve covered 5 useful design software/platforms for beginners to get started.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is easily the most effective image-editing software for beginners and Graphic Design and Photography Professionals alike. It allows you to create artworks only limited by your imagination and you can transform a simple photo into an intriguing work of art. The user is able to create composite images using powerful tools.

There are many tutorials available online offered by Adobe and the creative community that can help you learn and get around the basics.

Adobe Indesign

Adobe InDesign is another powerful Graphic Design software. It specialises in the creation of layout designs, serving as an effective tool for those who specialise in desktop publishing and typesetting and can be used to create professional posters, magazines, and books, among many others. Adobe software is available on a monthly or yearly subscription basis and is favoured by industry professionals for its efficiency and power.

Canva

Canva is a free, online design platform that every creative beginner should be using. It offers an easy way for you to create beautiful imagery for your campaigns, boasts simple features for dragging and dropping, and has numerous fonts, layouts, shapes and icons available. You do have the option to upgrade to a paid version, which will give you access to a broader range of features.

Vectr

Vectr is easily accessible through downloading it to your desktop or using it on the website as an app with no charges. This tool best suits beginners in vector graphics by offering easily usable tools and editing options including filters as well as accessible platforms to share your work, enhancing collaboration.

DesignWizard

DesignWizard is similar to Canva, however, it offers all of its available tools in the free version. With more than 10,000 free templates, you can easily create beautiful designs to publish across your social media. You can also design print items such as gift certificates and sales posters.

The platform features a library of over 1.2 million images, videos, illustrations and graphics to use. You are also able to upload fonts, photos and logos, create custom colour palettes and resize according to your brand needs.