Discover the Hottest UX/UI Tools of the Year: 3D AR, AI Design Generation & More!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Spline Tool: The Ultimate 3D Design Tool for UI Designers
   • 2.1 What's New: Introducing Particles in 3D Designs
   • 2.2 Native Support for iOS and Mac
   • 2.3 Creating Interactive User Interfaces in Spline
3. FreePik Introduces Picasso: AI-powered Design Generation
   • 3.1 Drawing and Converting Sketches with AI
   • 3.2 Generating Custom Icons and Illustrations
   • 3.3 Writing Prompts and Getting Results
4. Figma's First Physical Keyboard: The Figma Creator Micro
   • 4.1 A Keyboard Designed for Figma Shortcuts
   • 4.2 The Controversy Behind the Price
5. UI Score: The Ultimate Website Format for Discovering Design Tools
   • 5.1 A Comprehensive Library of Creative and Developer Tools
   • 5.2 Stay Updated with the UI Score Newsletter
6. Solo Beta by Mudzilla: An AI-powered Tool for Solo Entrepreneurs
   • 6.1 Refining and Improving Existing Websites
   • 6.2 Creating Responsive Designs with Ease
   • 6.3 All-in-One Business Tools for Digital Presence
7. OpSource UI: The Ultimate Collection of UI Elements
   • 7.1 Thousands of Resources for Designers and Developers
   • 7.2 Copy Figma Files or Get HTML and CSS Code
   • 7.3 Neatly Organized UI Patterns and Design Elements
8. Pika: The Leading AI Tool for Video Creation
   • 8.1 Creating Stunning Video Scenes with AI
   • 8.2 Sign Up and Get AI-powered Video Results
9. Design Buddy: The Figma Plugin for Design Evaluation
   • 9.1 Get Visual and Accessibility Scores for Your Designs
   • 9.2 Improve Your Designs with Real-Time Feedback
10. Stee: The Ultimate Plugin for Icon Replacement in Figma
    • 10.1 Revamp Your UI Designs with New Icons
    • 10.2 Instantly Replace Icons in Figma with Hundreds of Alternatives
11. Feedback Wizard: Your Personal Designer for Design Feedback
    • 11.1 Detailed Feedback on Design Elements and UX/UI
    • 11.2 Customize Feedback Based on Specific Design Aspects
12. Design Trends of the Year: Exploring the Latest Design Trends
    • 12.1 Discovering and Trying Out Design Trends with Resources
13. Conclusion

Spline Tool: The Ultimate 3D Design Tool for UI Designers

In the ever-evolving landscape of design tools, Spline stands out as a Game-changer for UI designers. With its latest major update, Spline has introduced a groundbreaking feature: particles in 3D designs. Now, designers have the ability to include and animate particles, creating captivating effects that can elevate their designs to the next level. These dynamic elements can be textured and lit to perfection, resulting in visually stunning output. From websites to portfolios and UI designs, Spline allows designers to seamlessly embed these 3D creations.

In addition to particles, Spline has also announced native support for iOS and Mac. This means that iOS developers can now easily integrate 3D designs created in Spline directly into their applications. With this exciting development, designers can unlock a whole new realm of possibilities for AR/VR experiences using Spline. As Apple's Vision Pro is on the horizon, Spline is already preparing to enable the development of immersive 3D experiences on this upcoming platform.

But that's not all. Spline has another trick up its sleeve—UI designs. With this new feature, designers can now create interactive user interfaces within Spline itself. Gone are the days of the tedious workflow involving multiple tools like Figma and Spline. Instead, designers can design UI elements seamlessly within Spline and make them interact with 3D environments. This innovative approach streamlines the design process and opens up endless possibilities for creating immersive user experiences.

Spline Tool Pros:

• Ability to include and animate particles in 3D designs
• Native support for iOS and Mac
• Seamless creation of interactive UI designs within Spline

Spline Tool Cons:

• Potential complexity for new users unfamiliar with 3D design concepts
• Limited customization options for particle effects

Now, let's explore some other exciting design tools and resources that have made waves in the industry.

FreePik Introduces Picasso: AI-powered Design Generation

Every designer has encountered the need for custom icons, illustrations, or even a quick design sketch. FreePik seeks to address this with their latest innovation, Picasso. This AI-powered tool allows designers to draw anything, whether it be a rough sketch on paper or directly within the tool itself. Using the power of AI, Picasso converts these sketches into final designs based on the desired style requirements.

With Picasso, designers can effortlessly create custom icons or illustrations. Simply sketch out the desired design, and Picasso will generate a high-quality, editable final product in various formats such as SVG. The tool's AI capabilities also extend to recognizing and generating basic shapes, making it even more versatile. Whether it's converting a HAND-drawn sketch or recognizing shapes, Picasso offers a convenient solution for designers to bring their ideas to life.

In addition to its design generation features, Picasso also includes writing prompts. If you're in need of creative inspiration or looking to overcome a creative block, Picasso can provide writing prompts to help boost your productivity. This added functionality makes Picasso a comprehensive tool for designers seeking both design solutions and Creative Writing aid.

FreePik Picasso Pros:

• AI-powered design generation based on sketches
• Recognition and generation of custom icons and illustrations
• Writing prompts for creative inspiration

FreePik Picasso Cons:

• Limited customization options for final designs
• AI-generated designs may lack the unique touch of human creativity

Next up, we have an interesting development within the popular design tool, Figma.

Figma's First Physical Keyboard: The Figma Creator Micro

Figma, known for its innovative features and user-friendly interface, recently made waves with the introduction of its first physical keyboard—the Figma Creator Micro. Created through a partnership with WorkLouder, this keyboard is designed specifically for Figma shortcuts and streamlining the design workflow.

The Figma Creator Micro is a compact keyboard with a few keys tailored to Figma's shortcuts. Simply plug it into your computer, and with a single keystroke, you can perform various actions within the Figma platform. The entire keyboard is customizable, allowing you to program it for any software, not just Figma.

While the Figma Creator Micro gained attention and went viral, it also spurred some controversy. The keyboard, priced at $139, raised eyebrows as similar keyboards from WorkLouder without the Figma theming cost $10 to $20 less. This led some to question whether the Figma-themed keyboard was simply a cash grab by Figma, taking advantage of its dedicated fan base. The pricing issue sparked debates among designers, with opinions divided on whether the unique Figma branding justifies the higher price tag.

Figma Creator Micro Pros:

• Tailored for Figma shortcuts, improving workflow efficiency
• Customizable keys for use with various software applications
• Sleek design and integration with the Figma ecosystem

Figma Creator Micro Cons:

• Controversial pricing compared to similar keyboards from WorkLouder
• Limited availability and potential exclusivity for Figma enthusiasts