Adobe XD
Adobe's interface design tool - replaced by Figma for most teams.
What it is
Adobe XD was Adobe's answer to Sketch - a dedicated interface design and prototyping tool launched in 2016. It introduced auto-animate for prototype transitions, a component system similar to Figma's, and tight integration with the rest of the Adobe Creative Suite. For a few years it was a serious contender in the UI design space.
In 2023, Adobe announced it was discontinuing new feature development on XD after their proposed acquisition of Figma was blocked by regulators. Existing files remain accessible, but XD is no longer actively maintained.
How I use it
Experience with XD is useful for working with existing design files from projects started before Figma became the default, and for clients whose design teams are still using it. The concepts translate directly - components, artboards, prototyping, developer handoff all work the same way across both tools.
For any new work, Figma is the better choice. But understanding XD means existing XD design systems can be referenced, assets extracted, and work continued or migrated without starting from scratch.
Why this over the alternatives
Figma won the UI design tool competition largely because of its real-time collaboration and browser-based nature, which made sharing and reviewing designs with clients and developers genuinely easier. XD required desktop installation and file sharing was more cumbersome. The network effects of the whole industry moving to Figma sealed it.
What it means for your site
- Files compatible with the broader Adobe ecosystem (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Familiar interface for existing Adobe Creative Suite users
- Prototype animations that export cleanly for motion reference
- Useful knowledge base for working with existing client design files
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