If you’re a UI designer, you probably know that inspiration can come from anywhere. That’s why it’s important that you can design at any time.
Thankfully, all you need is a mobile device to create great-looking designs whenever the mood strikes. These apps help you create stunning UI designs right from your iPhone or iPad.
1. Dribbble
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for (var i = 0; i “So… where do I start?” is a question many UI designers ask themselves when they sit down to work on a project. Dribbble has thousands of answers to that question: designers from all over the world submit their layouts for you to see and pull inspiration from.
Since everyone is welcome to submit their designs, you’ll see UIs from beginners and industry experts alike. This is great, because you can take proven tips from acclaimed artists while also keeping up with current trends from designs that were just posted.
You also have the option to follow other users so you can see their latest work. Want to reach out to them and ask about collaborating? Perhaps you just want a few tips from someone you find particularly talented. Dribbble has an easy-to-use messaging system to facilitate this communication.
Another feature we find particularly useful is the included job board under the More tab. These jobs are curated through Dribbble’s algorithm for a simple reason: to put UI/UX design jobs in front of UI/UX designers.
Download: Dribbble (Free)
2. InVision
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for (var i = 0; i Now that you’re inspired and ready to start creating, let InVision be your notebook. This app works best when paired with the InVision web app, but it’s an effective tool when used alone, too.
InVision’s “Freehands” are the star of the show here. This is a simple and intuitive space where you can quickly jot down wireframes and user journeys as they pop into your head.
You can create various shapes, sketch freehand, embed images and text boxes, and use sticky notes. That’s everything you need for a practical outline.
When paired with the desktop version, you have access to further functionality (including prototypes, boards, and specs) and useful resources (like common icons, button designs, and more).
Another huge advantage of InVision is its shareability. Put a Freehand in front of anyone you’re working with and they’ll immediately understand what you’re going for with your design.
Download: InVision (Free, subscription available)
3. Spark Post
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for (var i = 0; i Adobe Spark Post is an excellent app for creating graphics or logos to incorporate into your designs.
At the homepage, you’ll see thousands of user graphics and animations. You can sort through these using the toolbar, or search for specific keywords. This is a great way to see the different color palettes designers use, and think about what you want to use in your own project.
When you’re ready to work, select a background option and begin customizing. There are a number of preset ratios to choose from such as mobile phone, 16:9 widescreen, Instagram post, and others.
Choose from thousands of icons, animations, and stickers that are free to use; you can also embed your own images or videos. There are color palette suggestions in case you’re not sure what tones you want in the design.
Take advantage of multi-styled text for logos and hero text—Spark Post is a one-stop shop for graphic design.
Download: Spark Post (Free, subscription available)
4. Vectornator
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for (var i = 0; i Vectornator caught our eye for a few reasons, then ended up making this list for so many more. To start with, the functionality of Vectornator is astounding for a free app. You can also sync Figma with Vectornator and customize any designs you may have.
Select a canvas size from a list of presets and get to work. Once at your canvas, you’ll see a sidebar housing your main tools on the left, along with an arrow that populates a list of further customization options at the bottom. There’s also a “select/deselect all” button on the right that allows you to select all elements of a layer.
Vectornator sets itself apart from the other apps we’ve tested in this area in a couple ways: the News and Achievements pages. The News page features key updates to the app, tips and tricks to aid in your design with Vectornator, and topics like 2021 design trends.
Meanwhile, achievements are a fun way to discover the functionality of the app and a welcome break from the tired text-wall tutorials featured in other programs.
Download: Vectornator (Free)
5. uMake
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for (var i = 0; i uMake is as exciting as it is powerful. If you’re looking to add 3D graphics into your UI designs, uMake is a tool you should have in your kit. The possibilities here are limited only by your own imagination.
The For You page houses buttons for the latest updates and messages; it also shows you content like your own recent work and video-interactive tutorials. Speaking of tutorials, uMake does them right.
You can view the high-quality video tutorials in a mini player alongside your workspace, allowing you to design while you learn methods step-by-step.
The navbar at the top of the screen lets you swap over to Stories where you can read inspiring stories on 3D modeling and what’s new in the field.
The Designs tab will have some example graphics for you to play around with, as well as a button to create a new design.
A new design begins as a blank graph, ready for you to mold as you see fit with the tools at the top of your screen. You can then view your designs in augmented reality.
Head to the Learn page for a wealth of instructional videos, a forum that lets you ask the community for help if you have any questions, and a knowledge base (essentially a wiki) which houses all information the service has on various topics.
Download: uMake (Free trial, subscription required)
Boost UI Design With the Right Apps
With these apps, you can whip up some great-looking UI designs even when you’re not at your primary computer. Most of them are free, so you don’t even need to shell out to add them to your toolbox.