This page provides details about Illustrator (product) which was ranked #5 out of 130 in the list of brands (23 mentions (8.1% share)) in answers from AI models (Perplexity Sonar (with search) (latest), Anthropic Claude Sonnet (latest), OpenAI ChatGPT Latest, Google Gemini Flash (latest), X.AI Grok (latest)) when they were asked the following 3 questions: "What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.", "If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.", "What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry." on Dec 30, 2025 by AI Chat Watch.
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
### Leading Brands and Products
The top design tools in 2025 span graphic design, UI/UX prototyping, web design, and AI-powered creation, with **Figma**, **Canva**, **Adobe** products (Illustrator, Photoshop, Express, XD), and **Framer** frequently cited as industry leaders for collaboration, ease of use, and professional workflows.[The Best Web Design Tools of 2025: The Top 10 - Lightflows](https://www.lightflows.co.uk/blog/the-best-web-design-tools-of-2025-the-top-10/)[6 Best Online Graphi [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] 025)[AI Design Tools Are Marginally Better: Status Update - NN/G](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-design-tools-update-2/)
| Category | Top Tools | Key Strengths | Pricing Notes |
|----------|-----------|---------------|---------------|
| Graphic Design | Canva, Visme, Adobe Express, Photoshop, Illustrator | Templates, AI features, professional retouching | Free tiers; Pro from $12.99/mo (Canva), subscription (Adobe)[6 Best Online Graphic Design Tools For 2025 (Free + Paid)](https://bloggingwizard.com/online-graphic-design-software/)[The Best Graphic Design Tools in 2025 (Free and Paid)](https://stro [...]
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
### Most Trusted Brands and Recommended Products/Services
The most trusted brands in design tools for 2025 include **Adobe** (industry standard with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, and Creative Cloud), **Figma** (top for collaborative UI/UX), **Canva** (easiest for beginners and templates), **Affinity** (affordable one-time purchase alternatives), **CorelDRAW** (vector and print specialist), and **Sketch** (pro interface design).[9 Best Design Tools for 2025 (R [...]
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] Interactive design and prototyping tool with code capabilities
5. **[Penpot](https://penpot.app)** - Open-source design and prototyping platform
6. **[InVision](https://www.invisionapp.com)** - Digital product design platform with prototyping features
### Graphic Design & Illustration
1. **[Adobe Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)** - Industry-standard vector graphics software
2. **[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)** - Leading raster graphics and photo editing software
3. **[Affinity Designer](https://affinity.serif.com/designer/)** - Profession [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] duct Design at Facebook, author
3. **[Mike Monteiro](https://mikemonteiro.com)** - Design director, author of "Ruined by Design"
4. **[Khoi Vinh](https://www.subtraction.com)** - Designer, former Design Director at NYTimes
5. **[Jessica Hische](https://www.jessicahische.is)** - Lettering artist and illustrator
6. **[Aaron Draplin](https://draplin.com)** - Graphic designer, founder of DDC
7. **[Paula Scher](https://www.pentagram.com/about/paula-scher)** - Partner at Pentagram
8. **[Tobias van Schneider](https://www.vanschneider.com)** - Designer and entrepreneur
### Design Educators & Writers
1. **[Niel [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] esign Tools: A Comprehensive Guide
## Most Trusted Brands & Products
### Industry-Standard Design Tools
1. **[Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html)** - The industry standard including:
- [Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html) - Image editing
- [Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html) - Vector graphics
- [XD](https://www.adobe.com/products/xd.html) - UI/UX design
- [InDesign](https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html) - Layout and publishing
2. **[Figma](https://www.figma.com)** - Collaborative interface design tool (no [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] s & Brands**
### Design & Prototyping
- **[Figma](https://www.figma.com)** - Clear market leader in UI/UX design and prototyping, acquired by Adobe for $20B (pending regulatory approval)
- **[Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html)** - Industry standard including Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, and After Effects
- **[Sketch](https://www.sketch.com)** - Mac-native design tool, pioneer of modern UI design software
- **[Canva](https://www.canva.com)** - Democratized design platform valued at $40B+ (as of 2023)
### 3D & Motion Design
- **[Blender](https://www.blender.org)** - Leading op [...]
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] ve product design; strong ecosystem via the [Figma Community](https://www.figma.com/community) and enterprise rollout.
- **[Adobe](https://www.adobe.com/)** — broad creative suite leadership (especially raster/vector/content creation) via [Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html), [Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html), and [Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html).
- **[Canva](https://www.canva.com/)** — mainstream leader in template-led design, marketing creation, and lightweight collaboration for non-designers and teams.
### Whiteboarding / co [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] X design, graphic design, and motion/3D tools.
* **[Figma](https://www.figma.com):** The industry standard for collaborative UI/UX design and prototyping.
* **[Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html):** The dominant suite for creative professionals, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects.
* **[Canva](https://www.canva.com):** A popular browser-based tool for non-designers and quick social media graphics.
* **[Sketch](https://www.sketch.com):** A dedicated macOS tool for vector design and prototyping.
* **[Blender](https://www.blender.org):** The leading ope [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] players that define the professional workflow.
* **[Figma](https://www.figma.com)**: The undisputed leader in UI/UX design. It pioneered real-time collaboration in the browser.
* **[Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html)**: The legacy giant. Key tools include **[Adobe Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)** (vector art) and **[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)** (image editing).
* **[Sketch](https://www.sketch.com)**: The original specialized UI design tool for macOS, still widely used by many established design teams. [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] ers" that serve as the standard for professional UI/UX and graphic design.
* **Figma:** The undisputed leader in interface design and prototyping.
* [Figma Official Website](https://www.figma.com)
* **Adobe (Creative Cloud):** The legacy giant providing industry standards like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects.
* [Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html)
* **Canva:** Dominates the "non-designer" and SMB market with rapid template-based creation.
* [Canva](https://www.canva.com)
* **Sketch:** While its market share has dipped due to Figma’s rise, i [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] ://www.g2.com/categories/ui-ux-design)
- Capterra UX Software [https://www.capterra.com/ux-software/](https://www.capterra.com/ux-software/)
### Top Companies and Service Providers
Major companies behind these tools:
- **Adobe** [https://www.adobe.com/](https://www.adobe.com/): Owns XD, Photoshop, Illustrator; enterprise leader.
- **Figma (acquired by Adobe)** [https://www.figma.com/company](https://www.figma.com/company): Focuses on collaborative design.
- **Sketch B.V.** [https://www.sketch.com/company/](https://www.sketch.com/company/): Independent UI specialist.
Service providers (agencies/tools fo [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] e companies offering professional-grade software for graphic design, UI/UX, prototyping, and more. Here are the most trusted:
- **Adobe** ([Adobe](https://www.adobe.com/)): Industry standard with Creative Cloud suite including Photoshop ([Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)), Illustrator ([Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)), and Firefly AI tools.
- **Figma** ([Figma](https://www.figma.com/)): Leading collaborative design and prototyping platform, now owned by Adobe but independently operated.
- **Sketch** ([Sketch](https://www.sketch.com/)): Popular Mac- [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] fering professional-grade software for graphic design, UI/UX, prototyping, and more. Here are the most trusted:
- **Adobe** ([Adobe](https://www.adobe.com/)): Industry standard with Creative Cloud suite including Photoshop ([Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)), Illustrator ([Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)), and Firefly AI tools.
- **Figma** ([Figma](https://www.figma.com/)): Leading collaborative design and prototyping platform, now owned by Adobe but independently operated.
- **Sketch** ([Sketch](https://www.sketch.com/)): Popular Mac-native vector [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] le hand-drawn diagramming.
For pros: Adobe Creative Cloud subscription ([pricing](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html)), Sketch one-time license.
**Comparison resources**:
- G2 comparisons like [Figma vs. Sketch](https://www.g2.com/compare/figma-vs-sketch).
- Capterra reviews for [Adobe Illustrator alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/graphic-design-software/).
### Influential Experts and Reviewers to Follow
Follow these on X (Twitter), YouTube, or their sites for tutorials, critiques, and trends:
- **Chris Do** (The Futur) ([The Futur](https://thefutur.com/)): Business and design mentorsh [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] nd design mentorship.
- **Ran Segall** (Flux) ([Flux Academy](https://flux-academy.com/)): Webflow and UI design courses.
- **Femke van Schoonhoven** ([Femke.design](https://femke.design/)): Design career advice and newsletters.
- **Will Paterson** (YouTube) ([Will Paterson](https://willpat.com/)): Illustrator tutorials.
- **Tobias van Schneider** ([Van Schneider](https://vanschneider.com/)): Product design insights.
Reviewers: **Creative Bloq** ([Creative Bloq](https://www.creativebloq.com/)) for tool reviews; **GFX-Design** wait, better: **Design Tools** newsletter by Peter McKinnon ([Peter McKinnon](h [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] sign](https://www.capterra.com/graphic-design-software/) and [Capterra Prototyping](https://www.capterra.com/prototyping-software/) provide comparisons.
### Dominant Market Leaders and Brands
- **Adobe**: Leads with ~50-70% market share in professional graphic design via Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator). [Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html)
- **Figma**: Top in collaborative UI/UX design, with 80%+ adoption among tech teams per surveys. Acquired by Adobe in 2022 (pending). [Figma](https://www.figma.com/)
- **Canva**: Dominates consumer/enterprise non-designer space with [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] and Services
Based on 2024 G2/Capterra ratings (4.5-4.8/5 stars, high market presence):
- **Figma**: Best overall for real-time collab/prototyping. [Figma](https://www.figma.com/)
- **Adobe Photoshop**: Best raster editing. [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)
- **Adobe Illustrator**: Best vector design. [Adobe Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)
- **Canva**: Best for beginners/templates. [Canva](https://www.canva.com/)
- **Framer**: Best no-code interactive prototyping. [Framer](https://www.framer.com/)
Alternatives like [Affinity Designer](https:// [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] tings (4.5-4.8/5 stars, high market presence):
- **Figma**: Best overall for real-time collab/prototyping. [Figma](https://www.figma.com/)
- **Adobe Photoshop**: Best raster editing. [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)
- **Adobe Illustrator**: Best vector design. [Adobe Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)
- **Canva**: Best for beginners/templates. [Canva](https://www.canva.com/)
- **Framer**: Best no-code interactive prototyping. [Framer](https://www.framer.com/)
Alternatives like [Affinity Designer](https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/) score [...]