8 Best AI Tools for Designers | ImagineArt

AI in the design industry epitomizes a digital renaissance — amplifying talent, democratizing creativity, and consolidating design principles. The AI-powered design tools are expanding possibilities for designers, artists, and creative professionals. Such creative tools for designers and professionals allow them to automate workflows, improve quality, and generate visuals simultaneously.

Though AI-driven design solutions have innovated the design industry, finding the right tool that can generate quality results can be a tough task. In this blog, we will cover a list of eight creative tools for designers that can satisfy different user needs.

• Adobe Creative Cloud (with Firefly and Sensei)
• ImagineArt Creative Suite
• Canva Visual Suite
• Freepik AI Creative Suite
• Leonardo AI
• Google AI Studio
• ChatGPT
• Figma AI

Top 8 AI Tools for Designers

AI design software and tools are available in abundance online, but we have picked out (and tested) eight such tools to help you make an informed selection. Here’s a breakdown of AI design automation tools:

1. Adobe Creative Cloud (with Firefly and Sensei)

Adobe remains the leading platform for designers and creators alike. From the industry-old Photoshop to the recently introduced Firefly and Sensei tools, Adobe has set unprecedented benchmarks. The Adobe Creative Cloud includes its core AI design software and tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Express, Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Lightroom. Such amalgamation of AI-powered design tools presents creative workflows for image-based design automation, video generation, marketing materials, and user experience design.

Key Features:

• Adobe Firefly utilizes generative AI in design to produce 3D images, text, video content, style transfer, generative fill, and video extension. It supports text-based prompt input, making it easier to edit and generate high-resolution visuals.
• Adobe Sensei works as a design automation tool, leveraging machine learning to automate design tasks. It allows for color correction, cropping, resizing, background removal, content-aware changes, video transcription, scene detection, and masking.
• It features an expansive ecosystem supporting motion graphics, video content, photography, document design and formatting, website design, and multi-format images.
• It offers well-integrated tools and cloud libraries, making collaboration and asset syncing easier and faster for co-creation and real-time editing.

Limitations:

Using Adobe Creative Cloud requires a high-performing GPU and hardware upgrades for seamless and faster image and video creation. Also, AI tool for designers has a steep learning curve to fully understand and use the advanced features.

Pricing:

Adobe Creative Cloud is available at $69.9/month with access to 20+ applications and premium AI features for image, video, and audio creation.

2. ImagineArt Creative Suite

ImagineArt Creative Suite is web-based AI-native design tool for designers and professionals of all levels and skillsets. It includes comprehensive tools for AI video generation, video editing, image editing, and AI image generation for designers and professionals. It supports text-based and image-based prompts for precise and high-quality AI image and video generation. Unlike other suites, ImagineArt doesn’t require heavy hardware or plug-ins. The user-friendly interface supports faster AI image and video generation with minimal effort.

ImagineArt Image Generation Tools

Key Features:

• The ImagineArt AI image generator features 57+ AI image generation models, allowing you to experiment and try different models on one platform. The image generator also includes a wide range of styles and customization to help you create your desired output. It supports both image and text prompts.
• The ImagineArt AI video generator features 15+ AI video generation models, along with options to customize aspect ratio and add effects. It also supports image and text prompts for high-definition AI video generation.
• ImagineArt AI image editor features AI image upscaling tool, background removal, restyle, crop and resize, add filters, and enhance images.
• ImagineArt AI video editor features video trimming, video splitting, and adding music, voiceover, text, images, filters, and effects.

Limitations:

ImagineArt Creative Suite is web-based and needs a stable internet to generate and edit images and videos. Each AI image and video generation model has a different credit consumption.

Pricing:

ImagineArt Creative Suite is available at $10/month, including 18,000 credits/year. The Pro plan is available at $41/month with 180k credits/year.

Tool Testing:

After logging into ImagineArt account, head to AI image generator. I selected “Ideogram v3’ as my model, given Ideogram AI incredible text rendering capabilities and set the aspect ratio to 16:9. I wanted to test how well the model understood the prompt and how quickly it generated the results. It took ImagineArt less than 30-seconds to generate this result via Ideogram AI.

My prompt was: A high-end product campaign poster for a new wireless earbud launch. The earbuds are displayed in the center on a glossy pedestal with soft spotlighting. Sleek, minimalist background in gradient shades of midnight blue and silver. Futuristic glow and subtle digital waves or sound visualizations surrounding the product. Large, bold campaign slogan integrated into the image: 'Sound Evolved.' Modern sans-serif font, clean and balanced layout, white or light silver text. Composition designed for social media and print — stylish, premium, tech-forward look.

Generated on ImagineArt using Ideogram AI

You can check out more Ideogram AI features on ImagineArt blog.

3. Canva Visual Suite

Canva Visual Suite has automated design workflows with all-in-one platform featuring whiteboard presentations, spreadsheets, websites, and more templates. This innovation allows seamless collaboration without navigating to different design collaboration tools or AI design software.

Key Features:

• Canva Magic Studio features AI content creation with tools like Magic Write to help improve your writing samples, Magic Resize and Expand to alter the image dimensions, and AI image and video generation tools. The Magic Studio provides a comprehensive AI-driven design solutions.
• Canva AI is one of the innovative voice-enabled AI design assistants with features to generate and edit images, videos, and designs.
• Canva Code allows you to create landing pages, teaching material, presentations, websites, and more, all through simple text-based prompts.
• Canva photo and image editor allows you to adjust and edit images, including background removal tools, filters and effects, object repositioning, and animating images.
• The platform also features AI video generation supporting text prompts. It also includes multiple AI video generation models, along with caption generator and video editing tools.

Generated on Canva Background Removal Tool

Limitations:

Since Canva Visual Suite is entirely cloud-based, it requires a stable internet connection. Most features are only available to paid users.

Pricing:

Free plan is available with restricted access and limited features. The pro plan starts at $120/year for single-person usage with access to 25+ AI tools. The teams plan starts at $100 with a minimum 3-person usage and added AI admin control.

4. Freepik AI Creative Suite

Freepik AI Creative Suite is designed for faster and higher-resolution multimedia content creation and editing. This AI-powered design tool features an extensive stock media library with background removal tools, image and video generators, music and voice generators, and an AI image upscaling tool. It supports text-based prompts and offers different image styles and customization options.

Key Features:

• The AI image and video generators allow you to create high-quality images and videos through a single prompt.
• Freepik Designer allows you to create custom designs using mock-ups, stock assets, and edit and use templates.
• It also features a video and image editor to boost resolution while maintaining the image and video details.
• With video extender and upscaler, you can add a few more seconds to your video while improving video resolution up to 4K.

Limitations:

Freepik AI Creative Suite is also a web-based AI design tool requiring a good internet connection. It works on a credit-based system, and more advanced features require higher-tier subscription plan.

Pricing:

The free plan is available with limited AI image and video generation. The essential plan is available at $9/month with 84,000 yearly AI generative credits. The premium plan is available at $20/month with 216,000 yearly AI generative credits. The pro plan is available at $250/month with 3,600,000 yearly AI generative credits.

5. Leonardo AI

Leonardo AI is targeted at professionals and designers looking for consistency, rapid iterations, and multi-style generation. The platform supports text-based prompts with a focus on incredibly detailed, well-customized, photorealistic, and artistic AI images. Leonardo AI allows for custom model training and real-time editing, featuring a user-friendly interface. It is one of the most preferred creative tools for designers, game developers, artists, and marketing professionals.

Key Features:

• Leonardo AI features a built-in AI video generator helping you transform your static images into short videos for marketing campaigns, social media, product promotion, and more.
• It features an AI image upscaling tool to improve image quality and details. You can also apply various styles to your images using the style transfer feature.
• Leonardo AI suite includes different AI tools designed for specific needs, such as AI architecture tools for improved architectural workflow, AI interior design to improve your ideas, AI marketing tools for improved marketing campaigns, and more.
• The AI Canvas allows you to make edits in real-time as it works as an interactive sketching and drawing tool for iterative editing and designing.

Limitations:

Some of the advanced AI design features might require some practice to excel at. Since it is an online platform, internet stability and connection are a must-have.

Pricing:

The free plan is available with 150 fast tokens and basic-quality generation. The Apprentice plan is available at $10/month with 8,500 monthly fast tokens. The teams plan is perfect for bigger organizations, businesses, brands, and marketing agencies with a shared pool of fast tokens, unlimited generation, collaborative workspace, and streamlined workflow.

6. Google AI Studio

Google AI Studio was launched by Google as an online integrated development environment (IDE) built on a large language model and image generation model. Featuring Google Gemini and Imagen, it features multi-model capabilities and a user-friendly interface. With AI image and video generation features, Google AI Studio is ideal for AI-driven prototyping, AI social media designs, marketing campaigns, designers, professionals, and casual users.

Key Features:

• Google AI Studio allows access to Gemini 1.5 pro and different models that can process text and produce summaries and images through a single prompt.
• It features the newly introduced Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image) model to edit and refine images through text-based prompts.
• The Imagen tool allows you to generate high-quality images using Google Imagen 4.
• It also features integration of Google Veo for incredible and faster video generation.
• The Lyria RealTime tool allows you to create and control real-time music generation.
• It also has native speech generation that can produce clear and crisp audio from entered text.

Limitations:

Mastering Google AI Studio might require understanding prompt engineering for better results. To access Google AI Studio, you need a stable internet connection and a Google account.

Pricing:

Google AI Studio is available for free usage to experiment with Imagen and Gemini models. It is available with a pay-per-use model when used through Google Vertex AI.

Tool Testing:

Go to Google AI Studio and log into your Google account. Next, I selected ‘generate media’ option and navigated to ‘Imagen.’ Google AI Studio uses Imagen 4 to produce high-quality images. I wanted to create a social media ad for a basic smartwatch. My goal was to create an image with a clean look and not overcrowded with feature highlights or text. Here’s what Google AI Studio produced:

Generated on Google AI Studio using Imagen 4

My prompt was: A visually striking social media ad showcasing a sleek, modern tech product (like a smartwatch or smartphone) held in hand or displayed on a minimal pedestal. Clean, gradient background in electric blue and soft neon hues. Bold product lighting, sharp shadows, and glossy reflections. Includes subtle floating UI icons, digital waveforms, or holographic elements around the product to suggest innovation and connectivity. Trendy, minimalist, high-tech aesthetic — professional commercial photography style.

You can learn more about Imagen 4 features on ImagineArt blog.

7. ChatGPT for Graphic Design

Known as a simple chatbot, ChatGPT has emerged as one of advanced AI design assistant tools. Powered by OpenAI, this platform can help you with design concept generation, AI image generation, and automating creative workflows. With its simple-to-use chat-based interface, ChatGPT is ideal for generating AI social media graphics, AI-driven prototyping and ideation, copywriting, and more.

Key Features:

• ChatGPT features GPT-4o, enabling it to generate high-quality images through a single text prompt.
• With its chat-like interface, this platform helps you brainstorm, research, edit, and expand on your ideas with suggested improvements.
• It can generate images with text integration, making it easier for marketers and designers to create logos and other branding materials.
• The GPT-4o can even edit the images based on your prompt and can also offer suggestions to improve the input design or visual.

Limitations:

ChatGPT for graphic design might struggle with creating incredibly intricate images and complex elements. For higher-quality results, you might need an understanding of prompt engineering.

Pricing:

ChatGPT for graphic design has free access, but limited image generation. ChatGPT plus is available at $20/month with advanced image generation. ChatGPT pro is available at $200/month with higher-quality image generation and priority access.

Tool Testing:

ChatGPT is great for generating design concepts. So, I went to my writing partner, GPT, and politely asked it to generate a design concept for a landing page. I wanted the combination of coral, purple, and orange (exquisite colors) and minimal layout. Here’s what ChatGPT generated:

Generated on ChatGPT using GPT-4o

My prompt was: A modern graphic design composition for a creative agency landing page. Abstract geometric shapes layered over a gradient background (sunset orange to deep purple). Minimalist layout with clean lines, overlapping translucent elements, and dynamic motion-inspired patterns. Includes placeholder text elements (e.g. 'Creative Solutions', 'Design that Moves'), styled in bold sans-serif typography. Futuristic and tech-savvy feel, using a color palette of coral, navy, and white. High-resolution, perfect for web and branding use.

Learn more about ChatGPT-4o features on ImagineArt blog.

8. Figma AI

Figma is one of the leading AI tools for UI/UX design, now integrated with AI design assistant tools and features. With its AI-driven prototyping and design collaboration tools, Figma AI can now generate images, perform design concept generation, and provide content suggestions.

Key Features:

• With Figma Make, you can now enter prompts to convert descriptions into AI prototypes and code components.
• With Figma Buzz, you can create AI social media graphics, branding materials, digital ads, and more using customizable templates.
• Figma AI now allows you to generate, refine, and edit illustrations, graphic elements, and images within the design. It also suggests edits and improvements.
• With Figma Draw, you can draw, illustrate, sketch, and manipulate vector graphics.

Limitations:

Figma AI has a steep learning curve, as the AI-powered design tools might need an understanding of prompting. Some of the AI design tools and features are available only to paid users.

Pricing:

The free plan is available with unlimited drafts and limited AI credits. The professional plan costs around $3 - $16 per month with 3000 monthly credits.

Comparison Table: Best AI Image Tools for Designers

Collaboration, Not Replacement:

AI has improved the overall design and creation process with its innovative capabilities. The key here is to improve and evolve with these AI design software and tools. AI is just an advanced toolkit; the creativity lies in how we use it to explore new possibilities in design.

Related reading:

Best AI Image Generators for Marketers