Apple’s computers have long been a favorite for designers, even after the PC/Windows world caught up in terms of WYSIWYG applications with applications like WordPerfect for DOS (version 6.0 was a DOS masterpiece for graphic layout and publishing) and Microsoft’s Office suite. While many of the popular applications for desktop publishing (Wikipedia) were still Mac-only due to their innovations with the Apple LaserWriter, Aldus PageMaker and PostScript, very high quality programs like Ventura Publisher for MS-DOS (based in GEM) and even home publishing tools for inexpensive home computers like the Amiga and Atari ST closed the gap quite quickly.
Now that many of us (bloggers, professional developers, graphic designers and artists) are on the go, we demand more and more in terms of portability and power than ever before. We want applications that can do the heavy lifting of a desktop computer with an expensive graphics tablet right on our laptops and tablets. Luckily, there are great options for us!
When compiling this list of options, I’ve stuck strictly to the applications that I’ve tried and believe are useful tools. I’m sure there are many excellent options outside of these, but I highly suggest that consumers take advantage of the reviews in the app store (and your favorite search engine) before purchasing anything, whether I’ve recommended it or you see it reviewed positively somewhere else. Some apps offer ad-supported or “lite” versions in the app store. You should always try them before buying, especially since some of these offerings are expensive, at least for something in the iOS app store. Also, remember the website http://appshopper.com is a great place to put apps on a wish list and receive notifications in the event that app is discounted.
My favorite apps are listed below. Please post your favorites in the comments section. |
iDraw is a unique offering in that it is available for iOS and Mac OS X. This makes design on the go easy to continue and integrated cloud storage options simplify the process. Best of all, this application ($8.99 as of this writing for iPads) is powerful. Think Adobe Illustrator on an iPad and you’re picturing what this app can do. Here is the website detailing the features that iDraw offers. I list it first because I think it is the best deal for vector graphics on tablets right now. |
A fun one is 123D Creature by Autodesk. This app lets you build a 3D monster with a skeleton and export in a variety of formats. |
iMockups is a powerful app I use for website and application design (and layout). The only downside to this app is that it doesn’t seem to get updated very frequently. That being said, it’s still easy to use and the ability to export mockups to BMML means you can use tons of Balsamiq tools, including many open source and free ones to generate actual code from your mockups. Check out those tools here. |
AppCooker and AppTaster are even greater tools for iOS app design and testing. You really have to check out the website to see all of the benefits of these apps, but they are great prototyping tools that really speed application design for iOS devices. A great review can be found here written by Tammy Coron. I will definitely be following her in the future as I like the depth of her analysis and her to-the-point writing style! |
HTML has many tags and features, so it is only natural to want a handy reference guide. If you develop on a desktop or laptop like I do, consider getting a handy reference like this one from Evolonix. It’s certainly helpful if you develop your websites using a text editor like my favorite, Espresso. |
Do you have suggestions for apps that are helpful to designers, whether they are app developers, website coders or artists? Please share your ideas!
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