Figma

Figma has become the undisputed standard for agency design work, displacing Sketch and Adobe XD through its browser-based, real-time collaboration model. For agencies, the ability to have designers, developers, and clients all working in the same file simultaneously eliminates the version chaos that plagued earlier tools. A designer in Berlin and a client in Munich can review a homepage layout together, leaving comments and making adjustments in real time — no file exports or screen shares needed.

The component and design system features are where Figma truly shines for agencies managing multiple client brands. Each client can have their own shared library with brand colors, typography, icons, and component patterns. When a button style changes, it updates everywhere across all files that use that library. This consistency is critical for agencies that maintain ongoing design work across dozens of client brands, ensuring that junior designers can produce on-brand work without constant oversight.

Compared to Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma is purpose-built for interface and digital product design rather than print or illustration. Most agencies run both: Figma for UI/UX and web design, Adobe CC for everything else. The main criticism from agencies is that very large files with hundreds of frames can slow down, and the Dev Mode feature that developers love now requires separate paid seats — an added cost that larger agencies need to factor into their tool budgets.