Surprises and trends from this year’s Design Tools Survey results

Design Tools Survey 2021: Key Insights

1. AI Adoption

• AI adoption is high among both individual contributors (77.6%) and design leadership roles (85.2%).
• Adobe tools continue to have a strong user base, with Adobe XD usage remaining high despite the end of support.

2. Design Tools Usage

• Figma remains popular, especially in corporate environments with a usage rate of 93.1%.
• Balsamiq received a top rating for wireframing, indicating its value in design projects.

3. Prototyping Tools

• Figma leads in prototyping tool usage (71.4%), followed by ProtoPie and Adobe XD.
• Framer is gaining traction for higher-fidelity designs, hinting at a shift towards code-based solutions.

4. Design Systems

• Figma+Storybook is the preferred combination for design systems, with challenges in transitioning from Adobe XD.

5. User Testing Tools

• Maze has risen to the top spot for user testing, reflecting its effectiveness in user research.
• UserTesting leads in research participant recruitment, highlighting the importance of quality participants.

6. Future Trends

• Designers show interest in code-based tools like Framer for product development.
• Resistance to change in corporate environments may impact the adoption of new tools like Figma Sites.

Overall, the design tools landscape is evolving, with a focus on AI integration, code-based design solutions, and user-centered research methodologies.