Every single one of my college design projects were built on Adobe products. I used Adobe products at past jobs and even in my current one. For the longest time, I had it on my own computer, but upon further research, I discovered the Affinity Suite by Serif. These programs have the same functionality of my fav Adobe products, but with a quarter of the price.
I am a big believer in rooting for the underdog, and here, Affinity Suite is just as powerful as it is underappreciated. If you’re a nonprofit trying to keep up in the creative world and need the power of Adobe prices, but don’t want to pay the price, Affinity Suite is where it’s at.
When I’m not using Affinity for more involved branding projects, I’m designing on Canva. It’s a great platform to use when keeping up with design trends and social media image dimensions. There’s no guesswork when working in Canva. I’m able to customize brand content how I please and it’s easy to schedule. I can develop a whole month’s worth of content in just a few hours and not worry about posting for the rest of the month.
Canva has so many options for you to create quality work in half the time. From photo effects to mockups for swag, Canva has you covered. Plus, with a HUGE library of graphics and photos, you can make stunning work, super fast. You can use it for free, but the Pro plan is well worth the price. Nonprofits get a discount!
I find all of my stock imagery on Pexels. The images are all stunning and original and shot by professional photographers. I love the variety and options that this site provides. Plus, there are some awesomely diverse photos to represent your organization’s audience. It’s easy to search for whatever you need too!
The site is free to use and download, but make sure you credit the artist!
I love Mailchimp for so many reasons. They make email marketing fool proof. With Mailchimp’s ability to keep ethical guidelines for email sending, it’s a no-brainer for a nonprofit looking to market themselves. I love how easy it is to design emails and make templates to keep your branding consistent. The platform also provides great analytics and tips at every step of the sending process.
There are free options for organizations, but again, if you’re looking to do some heavy lifting for your email marketing, investing in a plan is the best way to go. You get a lot with your money!
I love using vector art. I was an artist well before I was a designer and I can always appreciate digital art when I see it. Vecteezy is great for digital art, elements, mockups, icons, and more. I use these vectors in my design processes a lot and highly recommend using this site. For those that are a little more capable in customizing vector elements, this site is perfect! For those that just need a variety of imagery for their brand, this site is also great for use too.
The site is free to use and download, but make sure you credit the artist!
If you’re curious about what other software or programs I use, feel free to contact me. I’m always available for a free consultation!