App design is a lucrative and growing niche. With the proliferation of courses – online and offline – and resources relating to app design, practically anyone can learn to become an app designer. If you’ve got the eye, the desire, and the determination, you can become an excellent iOS app designer in no time.
To optimize your learning process, no matter what level you’re at, take advantage of the resources available. So you don’t drown – as we said, there is a LOT – take a look at our selection of some of the most useful tools for iOS app designers.
5 Must-Have Tools for iOS App Designers
1. Sketch
Lightweight and easy to use, Sketch is a UI/UX design tool of choice for iOS app designers. It’s MacBook-based, so you’re all set. It is like Photoshop but focuses more on wireframing and app prototyping. It is sleek and fast, and you buy the license annually.
2. WhatFontIs
What Font Is can be used to identify any font, from any medium (print, live text on a web page or from an image) in 40 seconds or even less. WhatFontIs identifies both free and commercial fonts. There is a catalogue of 450k fonts (commercial and free); the best font finder AI we have seen on the market and a very helpful feature that will show you over 60 fonts (commercial and free) for every image you have uploaded.
What Font Is is free, but if needed, you can go premium and have even more powerful features at your disposal. You can switch to a premium account anytime. Becoming a Premium Member costs $29.9USD per year (first 7 days free*).
3. Mockplus RP
3. Adobe Experience Design (XD)
Adobe XD enables you to design and prototype mobile apps, websites, and even voice interactions. Adobe is touting the service as the future of experience design. With its advanced features and intuitive interface, XD is a boon to designers. You can quickly create wireframes and then convert them into hi-fi designs with ease. It also allows fast switching between design and prototype mode. With plugins, UI kits, and other freebies, XD should be in your arsenal.
4. Proto.io
If you use Sketch, then you’re going to need Proto.io. It’s a perfect complement to the UI/UX design tool with its vast collection of templates (design and prototype) since you can seamlessly import UI elements from Sketch (and Photoshop). You don’t even need to code to use it, so it’s great for beginners.
5. PANTONE Studio
PANTONE Studio is a nifty app that designers of all ages and backgrounds need. We can’t emphasize hard enough the role colors play in design. And when it comes to colors, PANTONE is king. With this app, you can “build and create palettes to test on 3D-rendered materials & designs, and share PANTONE Colors with your Creative Cloud® account, clients, and social networks.”
If you subscriber, you have access to all PANTONE Colors (more than 10,000 standardized hues). Subscription options:
- Monthly – $4.99/month with 1-week free trial
- Annual – $29.99/year with 1-month free trial
