What tools are commonly used by design teams in 2026?
Design tools evolve fast, but teams tend to rely on a mix of platforms that support UI/UX, prototyping, collaboration, and version control.
Popular Design Tools by Category
UI/UX & Interface Design
- Figma – Collaborative design tool for UI/UX and wireframing (by far the most popular in 2025 and remains popular in 2026).
- Sketch – Still used by some Mac-based teams.
- Adobe XD – Preferred in teams that already use Adobe Creative Cloud.
Prototyping & Testing
- Figma Prototypes – Integrated into Figma for seamless handoffs.
- Maze or UserTesting – For user testing and research validation.
Graphic Design & Branding
- Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop – Industry standards for branding, visuals, and complex design work.
- Canva – Used for quick mockups, social assets.
Design Systems & Version Control
- Zeroheight – Used to build and document design systems.
- Abstract – For version control (used with Sketch).
- Storybook – Often used by devs and designers in component-driven teams.
Developer Handoff & Collaboration
- Zeplin – For some teams that want pixel-perfect specs.
- Figma Inspect Mode – Increasingly used in place of Zeplin or handoff tools.
- Notion, Jira, Slack – Popular for cross-functional collaboration.
Do most teams use the same tools?
Not always – tools vary depending on team size, workflow, and whether the company is more visual/branding-focused or product-focused.
