Design Tools for Marketers: Canva, Adobe Express, Figma, and Beyond

Design Tools for Marketers: Canva, Adobe Express, Figma, and Beyond

In 2025, visual content is no longer optional it’s a requirement. Whether you’re creating a social media post, a pitch deck, or a lead magnet, great design helps your content stand out and convert. But not every marketer is a trained designer and thankfully, you don’t have to be.

Today’s design tools are more accessible than ever, allowing marketers of all skill levels to produce high-quality visuals. In this post, we’ll explore the top design tools marketers should know—from the beginner-friendly Canva to collaborative giants like Figma, and beyond.

🎨 1. Canva: The Swiss Army Knife for Non-Designers

Best For: Social media graphics, presentations, quick designs

Why Marketers Love It:

• Easy drag-and-drop interface

• Massive template library

• Brand kits and content planner

• One-click resize for different platforms (Pro)

• Collaborate with teams in real time

Pros:

• No design experience needed

• Affordable and scalable

• Frequent updates with new templates and assets

Cons:

• Limited customization for advanced designers

• May feel “template-y” if not personalized

Pricing: Free version available; Pro starts at $12.99/month

✏️ 2. Adobe Express (formerly Spark): Lightweight Power from a Design Giant

Best For: Quick branded content, mobile-friendly creation

Why Marketers Use It:

• Simplified Adobe experience

• Auto-generated content suggestions

• Integrated with Adobe Stock, Fonts, and Libraries

• Video and animation capabilities

Pros:

• Polished results with minimal effort

• Clean and responsive templates

• Works well with other Adobe tools

Cons:

• Not as intuitive as Canva for some users

• Features behind paywall for full access

Pricing: Free with limited features; Premium starts at $9.99/month

💻 3. Figma: Collaborative Design for Teams

Best For: Website UI/UX, landing pages, design systems

Why It’s Loved in Marketing Circles:

• Browser-based design and prototyping

• Live team collaboration (like Google Docs for design)

• Developer handoff with CSS export

• Plugins for content, wireframes, icons, and more

Pros:

• Perfect for cross-functional teams (marketing, design, dev)

• Extremely flexible for web and app design

• Real-time feedback and version control

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve for beginners

• Overkill for simple graphic tasks

Pricing: Free for individuals; Pro starts at $12/editor/month

📸 4. Beyond the Big Three: Other Noteworthy Tools

VistaCreate

• Canva alternative with unique templates and animated graphics

• Strong for social content and ads

• Great for freelancers and SMBs

Stencil

• Ultra-simple tool for quick social graphics

• Limited templates, but very fast and light

Piktochart

• Best for infographics, reports, and visual storytelling

• Great for turning data into branded content

Visme

• Presentation and infographic tool with animation features

• Good for lead magnets and webinars

📦 Picking the Right Tool for the Job

✨ Pro Tips for Marketers Using Design Tools

• Create a brand kit (colors, fonts, logos) in your tool of choice to ensure consistency.

• Use templates as a starting point, but always tweak for originality.

• Don’t ignore accessibility: use readable fonts, good contrast, and alt text.

• Learn the basics of design (hierarchy, spacing, alignment). It makes a huge difference.

• Collaborate with your team early—design feedback is easier before publishing.

🎯 Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a graphic designer to create professional-looking content. With tools like Canva, Adobe Express, and Figma, marketers now have more power than ever to bring their ideas to life—fast, affordably, and at scale.

Choose the right tool based on your goals, team size, and content needs—and don’t be afraid to mix and match as you grow.