Top 8 Online Applications for Designers
Author: Todd Austin
Being a designer, running my own design studio, I find that I am increasingly turning to the web to help me run my business. There are, it seems, eleventy billion web based applications out that do just about everything. From billing, to banking, to collaboration on projects, to even online office productivity.
I’ve made a list of the top online applications I use on a daily basis. Which ones do you use? I know with the multitude of applications out there, I must be missing some. If so, what are they, and what are their pros and cons?
1. Basecamp - Basecamp is a web-based tool that lets you manage and track projects (or simply ideas) and quickly create client/project extranets.

2. Concept Share - ConceptShare allows you to easily share designs inside Workspaces that contain designs related to a certain topic or project. It’s easy to invite people into a workspace. Invite team members, managers, clients, and consultants to add and reply to comments, chat and markup designs.

3. DropSend - Email large files easily and securely. This comes in handy for sending large print designs over the web. Have you ever tried to send a 300mb file to someone?

4. Picnik - online photo editor. Edit photos online from your browser. I tend to use this if I am away from my office to edit photos. My wife uses it quite often and loves it.

5. Kuler - Adobe’s online color scheme generator

6. BlinkSale - The easiest way to send invoices online. I do send invoices straight from PayPal from time to time, for certain clients.

7. CrazyEgg - Crazyegg is a site tool which tracks what your visitors click on. It gives you an inside look at where you visitors click and where they click the most. Lucky LP peeps get this software free!

8. Google Apps - Google’s “powerful communication and collaboration tools for your organization”. I use gmail and Google Docs the most out of their suite of applications.

November 27th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Todd this is good stuff. Thanks for providing us with this resource!
November 27th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I love all of these tools, Todd. I’ve been using DropSend and BaseCamp for a while and they’re just great.
November 27th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
All my clients are using CrazyEgg and they love it - I’m always glad when LP hands out more free stuff though sometimes I gotta wonder how you do it.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I am currently using FreshBooks for billing and Blinksale looks similar but with a better pricing structure for my situation, I may have to switch. Thanks!
I find BaseCamp to be a little pricey and restrictive for small companies and startups. Even though the server requirements are particular I find activeCollab to be a valid alternative to BaseCamp.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I will certainly try DropSend. Thanks Todd. First time I hear of this application.
December 8th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Which CrazyEgg plan do we get for free as LP customers and how do we get it? This is the first time I’ve heard about this.
December 10th, 2007 at 9:00 am
@Iron Spider: When you log into your account, the information is on the specials tab.
December 11th, 2007 at 5:44 am
Oh.. okay.. Thanks! I’ll check that out. :o)
December 16th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Thanks Todd for your input; I hope that there is a way to re-refer to this article.