5 answers
Taylor
Student
Roseau, Minnesota
3
Questions
Asked
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When it comes to pursuing a career in graphic design, what software should I use or that I need to use?
I plan on eventually pursuing a career in graphic design in the future, but with how fast technology is advancing and changing it's hard for me to keep up with what resources or technology I should use. Not to mention some businesses or colleges want a specific technology or website to be used. So what software or website should I use for such a career?
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5 answers
Taylor LaBouef, MBA
Marketing Analyst
10
Answers
Oxford, Massachusetts
Updated
Taylor’s Answer
Great question! For a career in graphic design, Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry standard; programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are essential for most design jobs. Learning these will give you a strong foundation. Additionally, tools like Figma and Canva are becoming popular for web and collaborative design. To stay ahead of technology, focus on mastering design principles (like typography, color theory, and layout) because those skills transfer across any software. Many colleges and businesses provide access to the tools they require, so being adaptable and open to learning new platforms will also serve you well in this fast-changing field!
I totally agree with what you have said
Briggs Emmanuel
Kim Matthews
Graphic Production Designer and Sculptor
136
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Taylor,
As the others have said, Adobe is the gold standard--especially for print. But I think it's less important in this ever-changing environment to get too concerned with specific software. If you can get student access to Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva for free, I'd start trying those out now. You can count on software changing, but what changes less are the underlying principles of how each program works, and I expect those principles to be pretty stable. For example, for many years Quark Xpress was industry standard for print publications--books, newspapers, catalogs, and so on. But then Adobe introduced InDesign, which works seamlessly with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. When I worked as a catalog designer, I migrated our catalog from Quark to InDesign, and because the primary purpose and user interface were so similar, it was pretty easy to learn.
That's just one example. Then there are the more basic word processing programs that have come and gone. But if you know how to use MS Word, you'll be able to navigate other programs, and so on...
But as Taylor says, fundamental principles like 2D design and color theory are critical no matter what tools you use. You could try getting a copy of Albers' famous book Interaction of Color, which has a really cool digital version now, including exercises. While this course is almost 100 years old now, it's still useful, and the exercises are fun and really interesting. Maybe your school library has it.
Hope this helps!
As the others have said, Adobe is the gold standard--especially for print. But I think it's less important in this ever-changing environment to get too concerned with specific software. If you can get student access to Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva for free, I'd start trying those out now. You can count on software changing, but what changes less are the underlying principles of how each program works, and I expect those principles to be pretty stable. For example, for many years Quark Xpress was industry standard for print publications--books, newspapers, catalogs, and so on. But then Adobe introduced InDesign, which works seamlessly with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. When I worked as a catalog designer, I migrated our catalog from Quark to InDesign, and because the primary purpose and user interface were so similar, it was pretty easy to learn.
That's just one example. Then there are the more basic word processing programs that have come and gone. But if you know how to use MS Word, you'll be able to navigate other programs, and so on...
But as Taylor says, fundamental principles like 2D design and color theory are critical no matter what tools you use. You could try getting a copy of Albers' famous book Interaction of Color, which has a really cool digital version now, including exercises. While this course is almost 100 years old now, it's still useful, and the exercises are fun and really interesting. Maybe your school library has it.
Hope this helps!
Paige Eckhart, MBA
Social Media Analyst
2
Answers
Edmond, Oklahoma
Updated
Paige’s Answer
Graphic design has a lot of software options, but you don't need to know all of them — just a few key ones depending on what you want to create.
A great place to start is Canva. It's beginner-friendly, affordable, and lets you build real design skills without a steep learning curve. Once you're ready to go deeper, the Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry standard — it's around $10/month and gives you access to tools like Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and Adobe Express, covering everything from static images to video. If you're thinking about working at an agency or studio down the line, Adobe proficiency — especially Photoshop and Illustrator — is pretty much what most employers expect to see.
The good news? Once you get comfortable in one program, picking up others gets much easier — a lot of them share the same logic and features under the hood.
Start with a personal project. Canva has a free tier, so there's no reason to wait. Pick something small — a poster, a social graphic, anything — and use it as a reason to learn. You'll retain way more than just following tutorials.
Use YouTube to learn Adobe for free. Before committing to a subscription, search "Photoshop for beginners" or check out channels like Bring Your Own Laptop. There's a ton of free, high-quality instruction out there.
Start building a portfolio early. Employers want to see how you think visually, not just what software you know. Personal and student projects count — don't wait until you feel "ready" to start saving your work.
A great place to start is Canva. It's beginner-friendly, affordable, and lets you build real design skills without a steep learning curve. Once you're ready to go deeper, the Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry standard — it's around $10/month and gives you access to tools like Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and Adobe Express, covering everything from static images to video. If you're thinking about working at an agency or studio down the line, Adobe proficiency — especially Photoshop and Illustrator — is pretty much what most employers expect to see.
The good news? Once you get comfortable in one program, picking up others gets much easier — a lot of them share the same logic and features under the hood.
Paige recommends the following next steps:
Alexa B.
Marketing and Graphic Design
22
Answers
Mexico
Updated
Alexa’s Answer
Great question, Taylor!
When I studied graphic design, we weren’t taught specific software, so I had to learn on my own — back then tools like CorelDRAW were still around 😄. Things have changed a lot since then!
Today, the most important professional tools are part of Adobe Creative Cloud, especially Photoshop and Illustrator. These are widely used by colleges and companies, so they’re a great place to start.
If you’re interested in UX/UI design, I highly recommend Figma — it’s easy to learn and very popular right now.
And don’t ignore tools like Canva or social media editors. They’re great for quick projects and real‑world situations.
Tools will keep changing, but learning design basics and staying curious is what really matters. You’re on the right track!
When I studied graphic design, we weren’t taught specific software, so I had to learn on my own — back then tools like CorelDRAW were still around 😄. Things have changed a lot since then!
Today, the most important professional tools are part of Adobe Creative Cloud, especially Photoshop and Illustrator. These are widely used by colleges and companies, so they’re a great place to start.
If you’re interested in UX/UI design, I highly recommend Figma — it’s easy to learn and very popular right now.
And don’t ignore tools like Canva or social media editors. They’re great for quick projects and real‑world situations.
Tools will keep changing, but learning design basics and staying curious is what really matters. You’re on the right track!
Briggs Emmanuel
Mechanical engineer
1
Answer
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Briggs’s Answer
Well, Taylor, everyone has said really wonderful things and I just want to add a few advices.
As a beginner “YouTube” would teach you a lot, also follow creatives (graphic designers) on Instagram. There’s also “Affinity” tool that you could learn, it’s free at the moment. I believe in you ❤️
As a beginner “YouTube” would teach you a lot, also follow creatives (graphic designers) on Instagram. There’s also “Affinity” tool that you could learn, it’s free at the moment. I believe in you ❤️