What is Microsoft Designer? An introduction to the AI-driven graphic design app.

In October 2022, Microsoft announced several brand new creator tools. Chief among them was Microsoft Designer… and it caused a bit of a stir.

Microsoft Designer is a new AI-powered graphic design tool that helps you create stunning visuals in minutes. With an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, you can create everything from simple images to complex infographics.

In this article, we look at what Microsoft Designer is, how it works, and what you can use it for. We’ve also got some tips on how to get started with this exciting new app…

Ready? Let’s get started.

In this article:

1. What is Microsoft Designer?
2. How does Microsoft Designer work?
3. What can Microsoft Designer help with?
4. How are Microsoft Designer images created?
5. When will the full version be available?
6. Are there any similar apps?

1. What is Microsoft Designer?

Microsoft Designer is a web-based design tool that allows you to create graphics, illustrations, and any other visuals you can think of. It’s powered by artificial intelligence (AI), which means it can help you create professional-looking designs even if you have no design experience.

Essentially.

You come up with the concept, tell Microsoft Designer what you want… and let tech do the rest. Watch your ideas transform, then choose and edit your favourite design. That’s it!

Sounds good, right?

So, how exactly does it work?

2. How does Microsoft Designer work?

Microsoft Designer works by using artificial intelligence (based on the tech behind the popular “text-to-art” app DALL-E 2) to generate bespoke designs. You choose the option you like best and customise it to fit your needs.

To use Microsoft Designer.

Simply start by choosing a template. There are templates for everything from social media posts to presentations. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can begin adding your own text, images, and colours.

Microsoft Designer also includes several tools that let you create more complex designs.

For example.

You can use image placeholders, icons, charts and graphs, as well as the shape tool to create custom shapes and the text tool to add various fonts and styles. It’s really easy to add and remove content, and Microsoft also gives further suggestions for attention-grabbing designs as you go.

There are even collaboration features, the option to create “brand kits” and “quick-publish” to social media accounts, making it super easy for teams and small businesses to work on designs.

3. What can Microsoft Designer help with?

Microsoft Designer is handy for so many things. It’s really up to you!

You could use it for…

• Creating social media posts: generate custom graphics for use across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more…
• Designing presentations: Microsoft Designer offers a range of presentation templates and design elements such as charts and graphs, making it a great tool for creating engaging and visually appealing presentations.
• Creating infographics: Microsoft Designer offers a range of templates and design elements, specifically tailored to creating professional and engaging infographics.
• Creating marketing materials: such as flyers, brochures, posters and postcards – whatever you want!
• Newsletters and reports: Microsoft designer also offers a range of email newsletter templates as well as the ability to create reports and data visualisations so you can communicate information simply and effectively.
• Creating website banners and adverts: with the option to create a “brand kit”, you can consistently create designs for your organisation – all adhering to company guidelines on fonts, colours and design layouts.

As well as business-led purposes.

Microsoft Designer could also be used for party or wedding invitations, generating e-book covers or personal creative projects. It really is up to you…

If you’re getting started with Microsoft Designer, here are a few extra tips to bear in mind:

Use templates to get going.

templates are a fantastic way to get ideas and to see what’s possible with Microsoft Designer.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment: the best way to learn how to use Microsoft Designer is to experiment with the different tools and options.
• Use the community resources: there are a number of resources available, such as the Microsoft forum and tech community blogs, as well as YouTube tutorials showing you how to get started. These videos and discussion boards can help you trouble-shoot issues, learn to use Microsoft Designer and provide inspiration for your designs.
• Have fun: Microsoft Designer is a great tool for creating beautiful visuals. So relax, have fun, and let your creativity flow!

4. How are Microsoft Designer images created?

Microsoft Designer creates images through a combination of artificial intelligence and human design. The AI is used to generate different design options, and then a human designer (yep, that’s you!) chooses the best option and customises for their needs.

In a bit more detail.

Microsoft Designer uses a range of images, icons, and other design elements to create designs. These elements are typically “vector-based” which means they can be scaled up or down without losing quality or becoming pixelated.

Users can also upload their own images and graphics in a range of formats, including JPEG, PNG, and SVG.

Microsoft Designer also offers a range of filters and effects to create different looks and styles. These filters and effects include things like blur, transparency, and colour adjustments – to help you perfect your final design.

5. When will the full version be available?

Microsoft Designer is currently in beta preview mode. To gain access, simply login via the Designer homepage. 

At the time of writing, it’s unclear when Microsoft will officially launch the full version. It’s expected sometime in 2023, but Microsoft haven’t given a specific date.

6. Are there any similar apps to Microsoft Designer?

There are a number of similar apps available, such as Canva and Adobe Express (with both free and paid options). These tools are great for creating designs, with user-friendly interfaces and plenty of templates. Canva is a particularly great option for beginners, while Adobe products take a bit more getting used to.

However.

Microsoft Designer is unique in that it uses artificial intelligence to generate graphic design options.

We’ve already mentioned apps like DALL-E 2 that use AI to generate “text to art” images. Midjourney and Dream Studio also perform similar functions. These tools don’t come with built-in options to customise images and incorporate them into social media posts and marketing materials, however.

If you’re looking for a combination of AI-generated professional design and the ability to adapt and customise designs… then Microsoft Designer is the best option out there.

Given the current pace of AI-development and innovation, it probably won’t be long before competitor apps emerge, though. So watch this space, and in the meantime – happy designing!