Designers have more tools to choose from than ever before. But sometimes, the most powerful ones don’t get the spotlight. While the giants like Figma and Photoshop are great, there’s a whole world of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. These underrated design tools can speed up concept work, spark ideas, and simplify your creative process.
Table of Contents
TLDR:
If you’re a designer looking to speed things up or spark creativity, there are tools out there other than Figma and Adobe. Tools like Milanote, Spline, and Eagle might just become your new favorites. They help organize thoughts, build 3D quickly, and collect inspiration all in one place. Try them out for quicker, more enjoyable concept work!
1. Milanote: The Digital Mood Board You Didn’t Know You Needed
Milanote is like a blank whiteboard with superpowers. You can drop in images, notes, links, and to-do lists effortlessly. It’s perfect for creating:
- Mood boards
- Creative briefs
- User journey maps
- Storyboards
Designers love it because it feels like working in a sketchbook. It’s visual, intuitive, and helps you organize chaotic thoughts fast. If you’re pitching ideas or mapping out early design concepts, Milanote makes it fun and easy.
Why it’s underrated: It’s not just a mood board tool. It’s a full-blown creative project planner that keeps your process visual and flexible.
Best part: Collaborating with a team or client? Just send them a link to your board.
2. Vectary: 3D Design Without the Headache
Let’s be honest—3D tools can be intimidating. Vectary changes that. It’s a browser-based 3D design tool that’s actually easy to use. Think of it as the Canva of 3D.
With Vectary, you can:
- Drag and drop 3D elements
- Customize objects with textures and build scenes
- Create AR mockups
- Export for web or product demos
This tool is awesome for UI designers needing slick 3D UI mockups or packaging designers visualizing products in space.
Why it’s underrated: People think 3D is too technical. Vectary proves them wrong—no coding, no downloads, just your browser.
Bonus: It even has templates to speed things up.
3. Eagle: Collect and Organize Design Assets Like a Pro
You know that feeling when you’re searching through folders of random screenshots and images? Eagle fixes that. It’s a digital asset manager made for creatives.
With Eagle, you can:
- Drag and drop images, videos, and screenshots
- Label, tag, and categorize everything
- Search through your design collection instantly
It’s especially useful when you’re doing concept work and need visual inspiration organized in a flash.
Why it’s underrated: It’s your digital library, but better designed and meant for creative minds.
Fun feature: You can import whole folders of assets and tag them faster than you can say “inspiration overload.”
Image not found in postmeta4. Spline: Interactive 3D for Interface Designers
Want to add interactive 3D to your web design without touching code? Enter: Spline. It’s a real-time 3D tool where you can design, animate, and even add interactivity.
Here’s what you can do with Spline:
- Create animated 3D illustrations
- Build responsive scenes right in the browser
- Embed designs straight into websites
It’s a great playground to explore and prototype new ideas with movement and depth in mind. Forget static mockups — this lets your ideas breathe.
Why it’s underrated: People still think 3D animation is for developers or video pros. Spline shows how accessible and exciting it can be for any designer.
Tip: Use it for hero sections or fun product reveals. Your UI will never feel the same.
5. FlowMapp: Wireframes + User Flows in One Place
Designing a user journey? Sketching wireframes? FlowMapp combines both in a smart, simple tool. It focuses on UX, not just UI, which many tools ignore.
With FlowMapp, you can:
- Create sitemap diagrams
- Design user flows and personas
- Collaborate with developers and stakeholders
Everything is drag-and-drop, so putting together a website structure or app flow feels super smooth. If you’re presenting early concept work, this tool lays it all out clearly.
Why it’s underrated: It’s more than a flowchart tool. It makes planning and communication faster across your whole project team.
6. Khroma: AI-Powered Color Pairing Magic
Color theory might be fun for some, but for others… it’s a guessing game. Khroma uses AI to figure out color combinations you’ll actually like.
Here’s how it works:
- Pick a few of your favorite colors
- Khroma generates an entire palette library based on your taste
- Use it for websites, branding, or inspiration boards
It’s lightning fast and filled with endless possibilities. What takes some designers an hour, Khroma can do in seconds.
Why it’s underrated: It’s like having a color-savvy assistant who knows what your next great palette should be.
Hint: Use it in the concept phase for faster, more confident decisions on branding or UI colors.
Quick Recap: Your New Favorite Tools
If you’re feeling stuck with the same old tools, give these underrated champions a try:
- Milanote: Best for visual idea organization
- Vectary: Easy 3D concepting in the browser
- Eagle: Super-organized asset collection
- Spline: Interactive 3D design, no code needed
- FlowMapp: Plan user journeys and flows with ease
- Khroma: AI-made color palettes that sing
Final Thoughts
Great concept work doesn’t have to be slow or stressful. These tools help you work faster, stay inspired, and communicate your ideas better. They may not be as famous as Adobe Suite, but they’re just as powerful in the right hands.
Feeling curious? Try one or two of these this week. You might be surprised which one becomes your new favorite.
Remember: speed and creativity go hand in hand when you’re using the right tools. Happy designing!