The day I switched from Photoshop to Adobe Xd
The day I opened Xd I started with the tutorial going through all the basics of the software, and at this moment I realised the learning curve with this software is literally inexistent; everything is really intuitive and easy to work with. Xd is not rocket science!
Why did I decide to have a go at Xd?
Well, I had the need to evolve and try something new that could help me with my workflow, but also something straightforward and easy to share between the client and the agency. Clearly, Xd was a strong contender! I used to only work on Photoshop, (I already can hear the Sketch fanboys booing me) which is 1000% reliable and extremely powerful, but maybe a bit too complex and detailed when looking back.
Xd Beta is design/prototype orientated; a clear and clean interface with a back-to-basic feeling. There is no faffing here; all the tools are almost rudimentary (compared to the overwhelming Photoshop interface) but cleverly selected from Adobe. All you need to do is start and build some amazing designs, no bling or mega complex tools, just simplicity. Xd is vector based which is a good thing, it makes everything lighter and sharper, no more pixelisation and heavy files draining your internet connection. It enables you to enjoy this high-quality feeling when you create something, it’s so satisfying and rewarding at the same time!
Xd is built with some amazing tools such as the Grid feature, I love this tool! It makes your life much easier! No mental breakdown when you draw an example item. Drag out the grid handles to add rows and columns, you can even drag & drop some images and they will load automatically in the right area!
The transition between design and prototype couldn’t be easier, you can have a desktop preview or mobile preview and easily share it with your colleagues and clients. Prototyping User Flow? Yes you can! Transition effects? Of course you can! (At this point it is like Christmas for me). There’s no third party tool required to preview anything, everything is embedded in the software (what a time to be alive!).
However, not everything is good and shiny, there are functionalities that aren’t available. For example, when you want to edit text and include different settings into the spacing, well ... the whole text box will have one unique setting, so you have to duplicate your text box and enter the new value to achieve the final look you want. As Xd is still at the Beta stage, importing/exporting can be somewhat challenging. Let’s wait and see what changes there are in the near future.
Will I keep working on Xd?
Yes definitely, but some updates are needed to add the missing tools to make it perfect. I have not betrayed Photoshop by any means, they complement each other and where one lacks a certain something the other one will do the job. Xd is not made to edit images, or to do the heavy duty work, Xd's purpose is to make the UI and the UX process simple, as well as simplifying your workflow.
