Top AI-Powered Graphic Design Tools for Beginners
AI-powered graphic design tools democratize design by empowering non-designers and beginners to create professional-looking visuals. Let’s discuss four trending tools, their features, pricing, and more.
Graphic design has traditionally been an exclusive club, requiring artistic skills and the learning of specialized software. However, the emergence of artificial intelligence tools has transformed the landscape, allowing non-designers and beginners to create professional-looking designs and visuals. Gone are the days when a simple design required a new vocabulary or wrestling with intricate software. AI-powered graphic design tools allow users to articulate their vision in natural language to generate various layout options, color palettes, and content suggestions, whether it’s a vibrant social media post, a company logo, or an infographic.
In this article
Benefits of AI-Powered Graphic Design
- Boosting Efficiency: AI automates tedious tasks like image editing and formatting, freeing designers to focus on strategy and more significant ideas.
- Smarter Design Choices: AI analyzes trends and user data, offering valuable insights to inform design decisions and speed up the ideation process with rapid variations.
- Personalized Experiences: AI personalizes design solutions, tailoring marketing materials and user interfaces for individual preferences, leading to a more engaging experience.
- Breaking Creative Blocks: AI acts as a design assistant, suggesting layouts, colors, fonts, and elements based on user needs, which may spark new ideas and elevate your overall design quality.
- Unleashing Generative Art: AI’s generative capabilities create unique and complex designs, pushing creative boundaries and opening doors to entirely new artistic possibilities.
See More: 3 Ways AI Is Changing the Future of Work
Top 4 AI-Powered Graphic Design Tools for Beginners
1. Canva
Canva revolutionizes graphic design by making it accessible to all. This online platform empowers users to create professional-quality visuals for social media, blogs, and more without the complexities of traditional design software. Canva’s user-friendly approach combines a drag-and-drop interface with a vast library of pre-built templates that removes most technical hurdles, allowing users to concentrate on their core message and brand identity.
Canva’s integration of AI in the Magic Design feature streamlines the creative process. Users upload existing media or use natural language to describe an image they’d like, and Magic Design crafts a professional image. The user can generate visuals in minutes without any knowledge of coding or advanced design skills. From captivating blog headers and eye-catching logos to informative infographics and attention-grabbing YouTube thumbnails, Canva’s AI caters to a wide range of design needs.
Regardless of prior design experience, anyone can leverage Canva’s AI features to elevate their content and establish a strong brand presence.
Rating on G2: 4.7 out of 5
Pros:
- Canva is beginner-friendly, with drag-and-drop design and AI-powered quick, custom graphics tools.
- A massive library of templates, photos, and icons fuels your creativity.
- The free plan offers surprising value for casual users.
- Dedicated brand management features keep your designs consistent.
- Seamlessly repurpose graphics across platforms with the Magic Switch tool.
- The mobile app is powerful and convenient for on-the-go design.
Cons:
- Limited export formats compared to professional design software.
- Requires an internet connection for most functionalities.
- Currently lacks a built-in project backup system.
- No phone support is available for troubleshooting.
- Offers a limited range of third-party app integrations.
Price:
- Canva Free: 5GB of storage and limited access to templates, stock photos and AI tools.
- Canva Pro: 1TB of storage and unlimited access to premium content and design tools. Starts at $12.99 per user per month.
- Canva for Teams: 1TB of storage, everything in Pro, collaboration and approval tools, and reporting. Starts at $36 per user per month.
2. Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly isn’t just a standalone product per se; it is a collection of innovative generative AI models that are integrated into many Adobe products. The standalone web application firefly.adobe.com allows users to experiment with generative AI to conjure new graphics, explore limitless color palettes, seamlessly fill or expand existing images, and craft captivating text effects. Adobe’s two-pronged approach to design ensures that Firefly’s generative AI tools seamlessly integrate into existing workflows, regardless of whether the image was created with the dedicated web app or embedded functionality within Adobe products.
Rating on G2: 4.6 out of 5
Pros:
- Creates images in a wide variety of artistic styles.
- Allows for adjustments to refine the generated image.
- Delivers images quickly.
Cons:
- Struggles to produce photorealistic images.
- Can have difficulty depicting elements touching or interacting within the image.
- Works best with clear and straightforward descriptions.
Price:
- Firefly Free: 25 monthly credits to create with generative AI
- Firefly Premium: 100 monthly credits for $4.99 per month
- Single App: Up to 500 monthly credits when purchased as part of a monthly app subscription. Starts at $9.99 per month.
- Creative Cloud: Includes up to 1000 monthly credits as part of the Creative Cloud subscription. Starts at $59.99 per month.
See More: Meet Your New Intern: The Rise of AI-Powered Digital Workers
3. Fotor
Fotor is a user-friendly online photo editor to tackle everyday challenges, from on-the-go editing to generating product catalogs. On the surface, it may appear to be a basic photo editor, but it includes a treasure trove of photo effects, fonts, pre-made templates, and customizable layouts, which makes it ideal for beginners looking to create high-quality designs. Users save time on content creation using Fotor’s extensive library of pre-designed elements.
Fotor also includes an AI image generator that empowers anyone, regardless of design experience, to create stunning artwork in seconds. Users simply describe their vision using everyday language, and the AI tool can conjure anime characters, logos, backgrounds, and 3D portraits. Those results can then be fine-tuned with additional iterations.
Rating on G2: 4.2 out of 5
Pros:
- Packed with features: lasso color adjustments, background remover, photo enhancer, and more.
- Easy-to-use AI editing for professional-looking photos.
- Web-based tool works on any device.
- Encourages creativity with features like color sliders and text overlays.
Cons:
- The user interface can be challenging to learn and lacks modern design.
- Performance issues like slow loading and lag can be frustrating.
Price:
- Fotor Basic (Free): Basic editing and design features, restricted AI use, and limited access to templates, fonts and resources.
- Fotor Pro: Includes access to advanced editing features, AI tools, more than 100,000 templates, HD and transparent file formats, and 100 AI credits. Starts at $3.99/month if paid yearly.
- Fotor Pro+: All features of Pro, plus access to HD stock photos with commercial rights, and 300 AI credits. Starts at $7.49/month if paid yearly.
- Fotor also offers two credit-based plans for access to AI image generation: pay-as-you-go or a monthly subscription. Credits start at .10.
4. Visme
Visme streamlines graphic design for businesses with its innovative AI features, taking the guesswork out of the process. Thanks to Visme’s user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of pre-designed templates, anyone can create professional-looking visuals even without design experience.
The all-in-one platform goes beyond simple graphics, allowing non-designers to craft stunning infographics, charts, diagrams, and more—all within the same space. Visme was designed for business use, so the collaboration features allow for real-time client feedback and seamless project editing. Smart color suggestions and automated layout adjustments make it easier for the user to focus on creating impactful content and messaging.
Rating on G2: 4.6 out of 5
Pros:
- Great value for the features offered.
- Easy to use without design experience.
- Beautiful, high-quality stock photos are included.
- Pre-made infographic layouts and templates save time
- Data visualization tools for creating clear and informative charts and graphs.
Cons:
- May occasionally experience minor technical issues while using the tool.
- Some users might find it slightly less intuitive, and the software has a learning curve.
Price:
- Basic (Free): Limited access to templates and design elements.
- Starter: Includes access to all premium assets and additional templates. Download in multiple file formats. Starts at $12.25 per month.
- Pro: Access to team collaboration and brand management features, as well as reporting Starts at $24.75 per user per month.
- Enterprise: Contact Visme for a custom plan for your organization, which includes personalized onboarding and single sign-on capabilities.
In conclusion
AI-powered graphic design tools represent a paradigm shift. Generating professional-looking visuals without extensive design training empowers a new class of creative minds. These tools streamline workflows, eliminate technical hurdles, and provide intelligent design suggestions. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated tools that further democratize design and unlock the creative potential within us all.
Image Source: Shutterstock/Delook Creative
Have you ever used any of the above AI-powered graphic design tools before? Share your experiences on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. We would love to hear from you!
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