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The most frustrating part of any project is having a vision for your project, yet little to no help in having it manifest into something beautiful. I have compiled some go-to resources to tackle any 2D design job. The following resources will help you to navigate the world of online design tools and allow you to make the last decision on if you want to learn how to do the work yourself or hire a freelancer for the job.
DIY: FOR THE MOTIVATED
I usually do the work on my own, having been self-taught, I always loved the trial and error of learning how to effectively complete design projects for myself and others. The following sites are great for students, artists and entrepreneurs who don't necessarily have the graphic design skills but still have a little time to practice design. These online web design tools come in handy when needing to create marketing materials or visuals for your blog. Most of them offer free plans and/or affordable premium plans.
Update (1/2022): Canva has been my go-to app for the past 6 months. It seems to have an endless amount of templates, which goes a long way for any graphic designer. I can spend hours (even days) just exploring all of the elements and design options Canva's premium plan has to offer. My favorite part is that you can select animations for your work and then save it as an mp4, png, jpeg, or even gif! You can also create as many pages as you want in one document. Picmonkey also has this feature, yet it does not seem as seamless as Canva.
I still recommend Picmonkey for quick photo edits plus I love the texture option, where you can add custom textures, patterns, and images to backgrounds, fonts, and other elements.
Adobe spark has finally added the option for you to make a copy of a design within the design area. You previously had to save a project, go back to the folder the project was in, and then make a copy, so this is a definite time-saver.
1. Picmonkey: Affordable Graphic Design Tool
Picmonkey has been my go-to app for online design for years. I have seen the tool evolve over the years and I am impressed by the ease of use, as well as its accessibility. Picmonkey makes for a great photo editor and design tool for budding artists. PicMonkey has greatly improved their template offerings over the years.
Cost:
Basic Plan: $7.99/month or $72/year
Pro Plan: $12.99/month or $99.99
Team Plan: $300
2. Adobe Spark: Professional Design Tool
Adobe Spark is a tool which can be used to design graphics, videos, and web pages. Adobe Spark is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud plan, or available for purchase as a stand-alone plan. Spark is a great app to use if you want to include cinematic motion in your projects. The tool also offers design elements that are great for more corporate looks and feels.
Cost:
$9.99/month or $99.99/year
3. Canva: Free Graphic Design
Canva is a popular graphic design platform used primarily for social media marketing, posters, presentations. It's easy-to-use drag-and-drop features are great for making quick business cards, logos, and brochures.
Cost:
Free: $0 per month
Canva For Work: $12.95/month, or $119.40/year
4. Pixlr: Free Photo Editing
Pixlr (formerly Pixlr Express) is a free online photo editing app. Effects, filters, overlays, simple to expert tools are available, as well as the ability to open almost any image format.
Cost:
Free: $0 per month
5. Infogram: Easy Infographic & Chart Maker
If you are a rising entrepreneur, a good infographic goes a long way. Whether you are designing for your blog or presentation, Infogram is a good tool to use for quick, clean, and colorful graphics.
Cost:
Basic Plan: Free
Pro Plan: $19/month, billed yearly
Business Plan: $67/month, billed yearly
Team Plan: $149/month, billed yearly
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