My go-to tools: How I craft user experiences with a little help from my friends

As a designer, I always seek tools to help me work smarter, not harder. Over the years, I've experimented with many different software and found some gems I can't live without. Here are my go-to tools:

🤝 Miro

Miro is a must-have for me when it comes to collaboration. I use it for everything from brainstorming sessions to consolidating insights from user research. Plus, it's just plain fun to use. Have you tried Miro AI 🪄?

👉 Check out these Miro templates

🎨 Figma

🎨 Figma is my go-to design tool for designing and building prototypes and animations. It's versatile and collaborative and I just love the headline! I can't wait to see what they introduce next, especially if it includes some AI features that could be a game-changer for designers. 😎

👉 Get started with Figma (in case you haven’t already? 😅)

🪄 Open AI

Open AI is a game-changer when writing. It's like having a super-smart writing assistant, especially when creating design documentation, enhancing case studies with contextual information and summarising research insights.

👉 Get started with Open AI

✍️ Notion

Notion is my go-to for organizing my life. I use it to keep track of my ideas, projects, and personal achievements 🎉. It's like a digital diary that helps me stay on top of everything and feel fulfilled. Notion also has new AI features that can assist you with writing.

👉 Get started with Notion

🔥 Hotjar

Hotjar allows me to gain confidence in my decisions through quantitative data and understand how and why users interact with the website in a particular way. Its features, including survey templates such as preference tests, users’ satisfaction and tree testing, and the Engage tool to do moderated user interviews.

👉 Get started with Hotjar

📹 Loom

Loom is a lifesaver when it comes to sharing designs with developers. I can record my screen and show them exactly how the interaction should work, which saves me a ton of time.

👉 Get started with Loom

👩‍🚀 Maze and UserTesting

Maze is great for unmoderated testing. I especially like the clear reports and the integration to import Figma prototypes. It can reach a wider audience when combined with Hotjar's survey templates. UserTesting is effective for recruiting specific demographics, like those with disabilities. Both tools offer unique advantages and can be used to understand user experience comprehensively.

📈 Mixpanel

Mixpanel is a powerhouse for understanding user behaviour and making data-driven decisions. With Mixpanel and Google Analytics, I can measure UX metrics, monitor user flows and get a clear picture of how the designs perform.

👉 Get started with Mixpanel

🎨 Colorbox, Coolors & Adobe Color

Colorbox is still one of my top tools for quickly obtaining shades from a hex value, and I especially love its accessibility features. When I need to generate new color palettes or check quick color combinations, I turn to Coolors. And if I need to create a color palette from an image, I rely on Adobe Color. But why settle for just one? I recommend trying all three and choosing the best tool that suits your needs!

💬 Speechify

Speechify is a productivity game-changer, especially when working remotely. Its text-to-speech feature allows me to listen to articles, emails, and other text-based content while on the move. I love that I can stand up and reduce my time sitting, improving my health and overall well-being.

👉 Get started with Speechify

🎧 Spotify

I can't emphasize enough how important music is to my workflow. Spotify is my go-to for discovering new tunes. The Discover Weekly playlist has introduced me to some fantastic artists who have helped me through even the most demanding design challenges. Music is a powerful mood and energy booster that can make all the difference in getting into the workflow. This song, which has been stuck in my head lately and is so fitting with the article headline, is actually originally from The Beatles 🎧

📷 Unsplash

Unsplash is a designer's best friend when finding high-quality, royalty-free images. I use it for all of my design projects. I love the variety of high-quality photos available and its powerful search feature that makes it easy to find the perfect image for any project.

These tools help me work smarter, not harder. Each one serves a unique purpose in my workflow, and I couldn't imagine doing my job without them. If you want to level up your design game, I highly recommend trying these tools.

Thanks a bunch for reading!

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