Design Tools

AI vector design platform for generating, editing, and animating production-ready SVGs from text prompts or image input. a16z-backed with API access to their Arrow models.

SaaS UI inspiration library with 226,200+ real screenshots from 640+ apps, searchable by pattern and draggable straight into Figma.

A CSS-like declarative stylesheet language for binding sounds to UI events on the web. Write selectors and cascade rules for audio the same way you already do for visual styles.

Upload your logo symbol and instantly see how it performs at every scale — from favicon to billboard. Test readability, contrast, and visual weight in seconds before the world does.

A color tool and library for exploring painterly, RYB-inspired color mixing on the web. Experiment with gamut presets, palette generation, and color relationships that feel more like paint than pixels.

Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor that uses SVG as its native file format — not an export option, but the actual working file — making it the only major vector tool whose output is web-standard code. Its feature set now genuinely rivals Illustrator: bezier tools, boolean operations, bitmap tracing via Potrace, a Shape Builder tool (added in v1.3), and advanced typography. No subscription, no AI upsell, no file hostage-taking.

Professional design suite now free following Canva's acquisition. Combines Affinity Designer (vector), Photo (raster), and Publisher (page layout) into a single unified app with three studio modes. No subscription required — Canva AI features available as an optional paid add-on. Over one million new signups in its first four days as a free product.

Photopea is a browser-based photo and graphics editor built by a solo developer whose UI matches Photoshop closely enough that Adobe users can start immediately. It handles PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, and CDR formats, stores files locally rather than uploading them, and works offline after the initial load. Free with ads; $9/month removes ads and adds AI credits. No installation, no subscription required for core use.

Generative image platform for concept art, visual exploration, and design ideation. V8 (2025) brought a major quality jump — stronger prompt adherence, better photorealism, native web app. V8.1 (April 2026) added HD mode running 3x faster and 3x cheaper than before, standard resolution roughly 4x faster than V8, and an aesthetic closer to V7 with more consistent style references and better prompt retention.

GIMP is the leading free, open-source image editor — the practical alternative to Photoshop for anyone unwilling to pay subscription fees. Version 3.0 (released February 2025 after seven years) added non-destructive layer effects, multi-layer selection, improved CMYK support, and native Wayland support. The plugin ecosystem is large but some older plugins broke in the Python 2 to Python 3 migration.

The original modern UI design tool — a native macOS app that pioneered the design system era. 2026 updates include a local MCP server (connect Claude or Codex directly to your documents), a new eyedropper with colour variable support, selection colours, independent borders, and a revamped fonts panel with In Use / All Fonts tabs. Loyal community, faces headwinds from Figma, but keeps investing in craft and AI integration on its own terms.

AI design studio for generating production-quality vector and raster assets with brand consistency.