Five Graphic Design Tools Every Public Relations Student Needs to Know
By: Maya Malekian, Account Supervisor
We’re hearing more and more these days how successful public relations practitioners wear many hats as skilled communicators, marketers, advertisers, business people, graphic designers and more.
Graphic design has become a staple skill for novice public relations practitioners, especially with tight budgets and deadlines at the beginning of their careers.
Additionally, recruiters are finding graphic design an attractive skill within these aspiring professionals toolkit during the hiring process.
To help set yourself up for success as an applicant and to become a practitioner of many trades, we’ve compiled a list of what we view as essential applications and websites for any public relations student looking to develop their graphic design portfolio.
Price: Free (contains in-app purchases)
App available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Canva is the ideal, simplified graphic design tool for those getting started with hundreds of templates for all sorts of graphics including flyers, social media posts, invitations, presentations and more.
Price: Free (with BU student subscription)
App available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Download Adobe Suite on Macs and Windows computer for access
Has a client ever asked you to create a quick social post when crisis breaks out? Need to create a graphic within a moment’s notice? Create social media graphics, web pages, and short videos with Adobe Spark. The app is a lifesaver for around-the-clock practitioners on the job wherever they go.
Price: Free (contains in-app purchases)
Find the perfect icon or symbol uploaded by graphic designers from around the world.
Price: Free (contains in-app purchases)
Create your next infographics, charts, and other data visualizations on the site with user-friendly templates for a wide range of projects and presentations.
Price: Free
Download high-quality images submitted by professional photographers for your next project at no cost. These sites are easy to use and accessible for those at any level of experience. We suggest bookmarking these websites on your desktop and/or downloading the applications on your mobile device for quick access to get started on your designs and projects whenever and wherever.