Which software do brand designers prefer: Illustrator or Figma?

Hey everyone! I’m curious about the tools brand designers are using these days. I always thought Illustrator was the go-to software for branding work. But my colleague only uses Figma for everything - logos, icons, print stuff, and web designs. They used to work with Sketch before, which was a bit frustrating for me.

I get using Figma for web and UX projects, but I’m wondering if other designers are also moving to Figma for all their branding work. Or is my coworker just unique in their approach?

What’s your experience? Are you sticking with Illustrator or embracing Figma for all your design needs? I’d love to hear about your preferred tools and why you choose them for different projects!

As a brand designer with over a decade of experience, I’ve seen the shift from Illustrator to Figma firsthand. While Illustrator remains powerful for complex vector work, Figma has become my primary tool for most branding projects.

Figma’s collaborative features and cloud-based workflow have been game-changers for working with clients and teams. It’s also more intuitive for creating responsive designs that translate well to digital platforms.

That said, I still use Illustrator for intricate logo work or when I need advanced pathfinder operations. The key is knowing when to leverage each tool’s strengths. Ultimately, the software choice depends on your specific needs and workflow. Many designers, myself included, use a combination of both. The trend is definitely moving towards Figma, but Illustrator still has its place in a brand designer’s toolkit.

I’ve been in the branding game for years, and I’ve seen the landscape change dramatically. While Illustrator was once the undisputed champion, Figma has certainly made waves in recent times. Its collaborative features and versatility are hard to ignore.

That said, I still find myself reaching for Illustrator when I need to create complex vector artwork or when I’m working on projects destined for print. The precision and control it offers for these tasks are unmatched.

Ultimately, I believe the best approach is to be proficient in both. Each tool has its strengths, and being able to switch between them as needed gives you the flexibility to tackle any project that comes your way. It’s not about choosing one over the other, but rather knowing when to use each tool to its fullest potential.