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A Digital Creator's Perspective

Writer's picture: Diego TorresDiego Torres

Creativity has evolved

The life of an artist is very different today than twenty years ago. Artistry was reserved for crafting ideas and expression in the real world, the physical world, and the world outside the screen.

Artistry takes on a new meaning today as creations are made for a digital landscape. You can repaint one of Rembrandt's works on an infinite canvas with nothing more than an iPad and an Apple Pencil. You can design an entire website with intense animations, shadows, and color gradients. You can create logos for businesses, flyers for campaigns, and even stunning 3D models with immense depth and immersion, all with a computer, a tablet, and even a phone. The smallest form factors handle extremely complex designs.


Designer works on a computer with colorful graphics. Papers and tablet on desk in a modern office setting. Focused and creative atmosphere.

Even more impressive (and perhaps concerning) is the rise of AI tools, which have created profoundly complex art, images, and videos in seconds with nothing more than a text description.

All this progress in such a short time begs the question: "How do you keep up with all the content design software available today?"


Keeping up with today’s tools requires a balance of exploration, adaptation, and learning. If you're a solopreneur or a member of a team visiting SaaS Quest, you'll find yourself in a sea of creative design suites and tools that promise you to make your design workflow easier with out-of-the-box functions and AI-infused features. So, the most important thing to do is to identify your use case and use it as the foundation for your search.


Identify your purpose

First, recognize that you don’t need to master every tool. I'm familiar with Wix and Webflow experts, designers who are pros with Adobe Illustrator, and others who are pros with the Affinity Suite. Some people prefer to create website mockups in Framer, and others like to prototype them in Figma first. So, no matter what you create, you have to lead with purpose. Your go-to solution should always revolve around your use case, and you should never frame your use case around a product.


If you're looking for video creation and editing software, you don't have to become an expert with pro-level tools like Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. You could master Camtasia or Wondershare DemoCreator if you work with less resource-intensive video production projects like tutorials or streaming your games to YouTube. Start by getting specific about what you need to do first. For instance, saying you need to create and edit videos isn't enough. Ask yourself, what kind of videos? What kind of devices are you shooting with? What resolution do you need your videos to be in (FHD or 4K) or screen sharing? Are you filming real-world content or screen sharing for a tutorial or game? In the same way, you'll have to interview yourself for other types of software like content design apps. Are you creating logos with vector art? If so, you'll want to consider Adobe, Affinity, or Linearity. Digital painting? You can check out ProCreate or Sketchbook. Presentations, flyers, and other online media content? Apple Pages, Canva, and Adobe Express can handle those.


Here are some examples of popular design apps we feature on our catalog.



Focus on how software will align with your creative goals and artistic vision. Don't ever try fitting your goals and vision into the box of a SaaS tool because you'll end up limiting yourself to a single product that may not scale with your needs over time. Whether you specialize in graphic design, 3D modeling, or digital painting, narrowing your focus prevents you from feeling overwhelmed and allows for deeper skill development.


Here's a breakdown of the different use cases we've identified digital creators often need software for:

Use Case

Popular Apps

Graphic Design

  • Adobe Illustrator

  • Affinity Designer

  • Linerarity

Website Builders

  • Webflow

  • Framer

  • Wix

UI/UX Design

  • Figma

  • InVision

  • Adobe XD

Digital Content Design

  • Canva

  • Adobe Express

  • Placeit by Envato

Photo Editing

  • Adobe Lightroom

  • Affinity Photo

  • Pixelmator

Brand Identity

  • BrandFetch

  • Looka

Desktop Publishing (Print & Merchandise)

  • Adobe InDesign

  • Affinity Publisher


The power of experimentation

Don't underestimate the power of experimentation. Creativity thrives on exploration, so it's important that you spend ample time testing different software to understand their capabilities and limitations. Practicing your designs and testing your use case hands-on with apps you're exploring is the best approach to maximizing your understanding of the software, and doing so often reveals unique considerations for each tool that will expand your horizons.


Our SaaS Infoboards can quickly indicate whether a tool you're interested in has a free trial or freemium version so you can test the waters before making a purchase decision. In fact, we prioritize showcasing tools on our catalog is that have a free option because of how important it is for people to test drive apps before paying a subscription.

Lastly, look deeply into how design tools are leveraging AI to assist designer workflows. Whether you're creating a logo, editing a photo, or creating a complex website, some companies are just jumping on the AI bandwagon without providing much value. You should ensure that the app you're interested in is using AI in a way that's scalable and compliments your workflow to make your life easier.


While the tools available to us may have changed, the essence of artistry remains the same: the ability to tell stories, evoke emotions, and inspire others. The digital world has expanded the canvas, but the heart of the artist continues to be the defining factor. As you navigate through our catalog of apps, remember to let your creativity lead the way.


Dive into design tools

Not sure where to start? Visit our Creator's Hub to explore vetted apps catered to designers and digital creators like you.


Want consistent updates on news, creative trends, and innovate features? Join our Weekly SaaS Report and filter by role.

Choosing new productivity software doesn't have to be difficult

Kickstart your next product hunt with our exclusive Product Selection Guide: a downloadable eBook with seven steps you can take to effectively choose a new SaaS product for your business.

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