What are the best design tools to use in 2025?

A summary comparison of the design tools to favor in 2025 for web, mobile and branding projects: performances, collaboration and AI integration are the key criteria for selecting the right toolbox.

Comparison of the essential design tools in 2025

This panorama lays the foundation for choosing the right tool for each type of project: photo editing, vector drawing, prototyping, 3D, or AI-assisted generation. The guiding example of Atelier Nova, a fictitious digital services startup, illustrates how to combine multiple tools for a robust final product.

Atelier Nova often begins by defining the product scope: branding, UI mockups, marketing assets, and interactive prototypes. The tool selection evolves based on this scope. For example, for a multi-platform marketing campaign, Canva or Adobe Express allow for rapid deliverables, while for advanced art direction, Adobe and Affinity take over.

• Photo editing and image processing: Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom.
• Vector drawing and logos: Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, CorelDRAW.
• Prototyping and collaboration: Figma, Sketch, InVision.
• 3D and animation: Blender, Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D.
• Tablet illustration: Procreate.
• Cloud tools and mockups: Smartmockups, Mediamodifier.
• AI Generation: Image and voice generators, AI editing tools.

Category	Recommended tool	Main use
Photo editing	Adobe Lightroom / Photoshop	Colorimetry, detailed retouching
Vectoriel	Adobe Illustratoror / Affinity Designer	Logos, pictograms, illustrations
Prototyping	Figma / Sketch / InVision	Interactive models & collaboration
3D & animation	Blender / Cinema 4D	Modeling, rendering, motion design

Concrete examples: Atelier Nova designed a landing page for an e-commerce client using a combination of Figma for the prototype, Adobe for the photo assets, and Smartmockups for the product visuals. The team documented the workflow for reuse on other projects, which accelerated iterations and reduced back-and-forth.

For any company looking to outsource or optimize these processes, DualMedia can act as an expert to structure workflows, integrate Figma into development pipelines, and optimize the design-to-code transition. Resources like the article on Figma, the reference for web designers and developers present concrete good practices.

Quick selection criteria list:

• Project objective (print, web, mobile, 3D).
• Budget (subscription vs perpetual license).
• Interoperability with existing tools.
• Learning curve and documentation available.
• AI and automation features.

Criteria	Impact measurement
Interoperability	Helps speed up production and reduce costs
Cost	Direct impact on team margin and scale
AI Functions	Reduces time spent on repetitive tasks

Insight: A combination of specialized tools remains preferable to a single suite when the workflows are well orchestrés.

Tools for interface design and collaboration: Figma, Sketch, and InVision

Modern interfaces require short iteration cycles and synchronization between design and development. Figma is emerging as a standard for collaborative prototyping, with real-time features ideal for distributed teams.

Atelier Nova uses Figma for initial prototyping and handoff to developers. By integrating components, tokens, and design systems, the team reduced visual inconsistencies and made the product easier to maintain. DualMedia's article on Figma: the reference for web designers and developers explains how to automate the design-code transition.

• Figma: prototyping, shared libraries, plugins for CSS and React.
• Sketch: encore relevant for macOS studios, excellent for integrated vectorielle design.
• InVision: prototyping and user testing, integrations with project management tools.

Tool	Main asset	Limit
Figma	Collaboration in real time, cloud	Cloud dependency and paid plugins
Sketch	macOS Plugin Ecosystem	No native real-time collaboration
InVision	User tests and flows	Less focused on co-publishing

Use case: for a mobile MVP, Atelier Nova builds an interactive prototype in Figma, integrates components from a shared library and generates exportables assets for React NativeDevelopers receive CSS specifications and variables directly through plugins, reducing adjustment phases.

Best practices for effective integration:

1. Document tokens (colors, typography, spacing) in Figma.
2. Use reusable atomic components to avoid technical debt.
3. Set up weekly design-dev reviews to align priorities.
4. Automate asset export and guide generation via plugins.

For companies looking to outsource the implementation of a robust workflow Figma, DualMedia offers support and migration services, with case studies and testimonials on customer reviews. Using an expert agency allows workspace Figma to be adapted to technical constraints and business objectives.

Action	Expected result
Interoperate with development	Reduced delivery time and fewer returns
Implement a design system	Visual consistency and scalability

Insight: Figma facilitates collaboration but requires governance to avoid component and plugin explosion.

Graphic design, illustration and retouching: Adobe, Affinity, Procreate and CorelDRAW

For work requiring precision, the Adobe suite remains essential. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator remain the standard for advanced editing and complex vector drawing. Affinity offers a competitive, subscription-free alternative, ideal for teams on a budget.

Atelier Nova often entrusts the production of photographic visuals to Adobe Lightroom for the RAW workflow, then finalizes the retouching in Photoshop. Logos and vectorielles go through Illustrator or Affinity Designer depending on the client's preference and license.

• Adobe: Advanced features for print and web, Creative Cloud integration.
• Affinity: controlled costs, excellent alternative for desktop publishing and illustration.
• Procreate: A major tool for illustrators on iPad, with a natural pen flow.
• CorelDRAW: encore relevant for certain workflows print and specific industries.

Tool	Ideal for	License
Adobe Photoshop	Advanced photo editing, compositing	Subscription
Affinity Designer	Drawing vectoriel, alternative without subscription	One-time purchase
Procreate	iPad Illustration	One-time purchase (iOS)

Practical examples: For a complete graphic charter, Atelier Nova creates mood boards in Adobe, illustrations in Procreate, and then vectorise in Affinity Designer. This mixed workflow allows for the combination of expressiveness and scalability of assets.

Checklist for choosing between Adobe and alternatives:

1. Evaluate the need for advanced features (compositing, local retouching).
2. Consider the total cost over several years (subscription vs. perpetual license).
3. Take into account file compatibility and the production chain (printing, web).

Setting	Recommendation
Long-term budget	Affinity if on a tight budget, Adobe if you need advanced skills
Mobile work	Procreate for quick sketches

Insight: Combining traditional tools (Adobe) and cost-effective solutions (Affinity, Procreate) offers flexibility without sacrificing quality.

Animation, 3D and media: Blender, AI video generators and motion design tools

The production of animated and 3D assets has undergone a notable democratization. Blender has become the free and powerful tool for modeling, rendering, and animation, often replacing proprietary solutions for tight budgets. For fast content, AI video generators reduce production time on short films.

Atelier Nova integrated Blender to produce 3D elements for product pages and advertising campaigns. The photorealistic renderings are then composed using After Effects or cloud editing solutions. AI generators, where appropriate, allow for rapid creation of basic sequences and then refinement using a traditional pipeline.

• Blender: modeling, rigging, rendering and open source pipeline.
• After Effects / Cinema 4D: motion design, advanced compositing.
• AI Video Generators: Rapid prototyping of sequences and variations.
• Online editing tools: CapCut for social networks, professional solutions for spots.

Use	Tool	Advantage
3D modeling	Blender	Free, active community
Motion design	After Effects / Cinema 4D	Advanced Creative Control
Short editing	CapCut	Social Media Templates & AI

Case study: For a launch campaign, Atelier Nova generated 3D product thumbnails with Blender, then created short clips optimized for TikTok and Instagram using CapCut, including automatic subtitles. The result: a cohesive set of cross-platform assets ready for distribution.

Additional tools for the audio/video channel:

• Logic Pro / Audacity for audio editing.
• AI tools for voice: ElevenLabs, Murf AI for narration.
• Royalty-free music platform: Epidemic Sound, Artlist for sonore design.

Stage	Recommended tool
Modeling	Blender
Composition	After Effects
Export for networks	CapCut / Adobe Premiere

Insight: 3D and AI accelerate creativity but require orchestration to maintain visual consistency.

Production workflow, AI integration and choice strategy for businesses

At the strategic level, the choice of tools must meet scalability, maintenance, and performance objectives. The integration of AI into the design production chain profoundly changes repetitive tasks: image generation, automated clipping, and synthetic voices are no longer standardized steps.

Atelier Nova implemented a checklist to decide between internal autonomy and using an agency: project complexity, need for technical expertise, deadline, cost. For projects requiring advanced web/mobile integration, using DualMedia allows for faster production launch and the integration of responsive design and accessibility practices. Useful resources include the article on the impact of breakpoints and responsive design and offers on web and mobile development with AI.

• Automate clipping with Remove.bg for e-commerce.
• Centralize assets (icons, illustrations) via libraries (Icons8, Remix Icon).
• Use Smartmockups or Artboard Studio for quick previews.
• Evaluate the use of Gravit Designer for light vectoriel needs.

Strategic question	Evaluation criteria
Internalize or outsource?	Volume, skills, deadline
Subscription vs. License	Cost over 3 years and update frequency
AI for generation	Quality control and asset ownership

Among the resources to consult to define a technical and UX strategy, DualMedia offers guides and studies: optimization of landing pages (optimize landing page design 2025), common mistakes in website creation (website creation errors) and price guides for the mobile applications (cost of creating a mobile app in Paris).

Tool	Role in workflow
Figma	Prototype & design system
Adobe / Affinity	Final Assets and Retouching
Blender / AI	3D & asset generation

Final Pre-Launch Checklist:

• Quality control of assets (resolutions, formats).
• Responsive and accessibility testing (link to the DualMedia article on breakpoints).
• Validation of licenses and usage rights (music, AI images).
• Maintenance plan and evolution of the design system.

For companies looking to outsource design or optimize their processes, the web and mobile agency DualMedia positions itself as an expert partner capable of supporting the entire cycle: audit, tool recommendations (Adobe, Figma, Blender, Procreate), AI integration and development. Consult their offers and customer feedback on customer reviews and explain the concrete cases on Paris mobile startups and LIA and web design.

Our team of development and design experts is ready to transformer your ideas into reality. Contact us today for a quick and accurate estimate.