Free Design Tools

As designers, we’re always looking for ways to simplify and streamline our creative process so we can get down to the heart of the work – creating a compelling user interface mixed with beautiful visual designs and an overall effective user experience. In this space, I will be posting free design tools that I hope you will enjoy using in your development and design processes. I will continue to add more neat design templates so check back soon!

Blueprint 960 Grid with Firefox browser chrome (.zip – 932KB)
Here are two Photoshop (CS4) templates you can use to get right down to work on your next web designs. As an avid user of the popular Blueprint grid, a 960 pixel wide framework, I merged it with the Firefox browser to create a solid template that I use in my day to day work to help me create quick designs that I can present to my clients and developers alike. One template is for 1280 x 800 layouts, and the other is for 1440 x 900 layouts.

NeatOSheetO Wireframe Components
I’m a big Illustrator-lover and sometimes I like to make my own graphics for wireframing. For those designers or UX folks who dabble in Illustrator, here’s the first of several sheets of free sketch-style graphics you can use when you make your own mock-ups or wireframes from scratch. I like that handmade, rough feel that you get with my trusty Sharpie marker. Here’s one tool that can help you bring a little of that into your designs. Check back later for more of my free sketches.