The 9th-gen iPad is on sale via Amazon for only $200. Thats a fairly substantial discount of 39 percent, as the regular price for this model is $330. The deal applies to both the dark gray and silver colorways. This is a tablet Apple first released back in 2021, so its getting a bit long in the tooth. However, its still a fantastic machine, particularly for the price. We called it a nice upgrade in our official review. The battery life is on point, the screen is crisp and the performance is snappy. Its an iPad. This is a relatively ancient tablet with an equally ancient A13 Bionic chip. This isnt the best iPad to buy for those looking for raw power. However, its the perfect tablet for those who want a media consumption machine on the cheap. Netflix in bed? Sign me up. This sale is for the 64GB model and doesnt apply to the 256GB version. The 9th-gen tablet is being discontinued, so its highly likely this is the last chance to pick one up at this price. Once the stock is gone, its all over. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deals-include-the-9th-gen-ipad-for-a-record-low-of-200-161404147.html?src=rss

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How often do you come in contact with a conspiracy theory?Maybe on occasion, when you flip through TV channels and land on an episode of Ancient Aliens. Or perhaps when a friend from high school shares a questionable meme on Facebook.How confident are you in your ability to tell fact from fiction?If youre a teen, you could be exposed to conspiracy theories and a host of other pieces of misinformation as frequently as every day while scrolling through your social media feeds.Thats according to a new study by the News Literacy Project, which also found that teens struggle with identifying false information online. This comes at a time when media literacy education isnt available to most students, the report finds, and their ability to distinguish between objective and biased information sources is weak. The findings are based on responses from more than 1,000 teens ages 13 to 18.News literacy is fundamental to preparing students to become active, critically thinking members of our civic life which should be one of the primary goals of a public education, Kim Bowman, News Literacy Project senior research manager and author of the report, said in an email interview. If we dont teach young people the skills they need to evaluate information, they will be left at a civic and personal disadvantage their entire lives. News literacy instruction is as important as core subjects like reading and math.Telling Fact from FictionAbout 80% of teens who use social media say they see content about conspiracy theories in their online feeds, with 20 percent seeing conspiracy content every day.They include narratives such as the Earth being flat, the 2020 election being rigged or stolen, and COVID-19 vaccines being dangerous, the News Literacy Projects report found.While teens dont believe every conspiracy theory they see, 81 percent who see such content online said they believe one or more.Bowman noted, As dangerous or harmful as they can be, these narratives are designed to be engaging and satisfy deep psychological needs, such as the need for community and understanding. Being a conspiracy theorist or believing in a conspiracy theory can become a part of someones identity. Its not necessarily a label an individual is going to shy away from sharing with others.At the same time, the report found that the bar for offering media literacy is low. Just six states have guidelines for how to teach media literacy, and only three make it a requirement in public schools.Less than 40% of teens surveyed reported having any media literacy instruction during the 2023-24 school year, according to the analysis.Credible SourcesAs part of gathering data for the report, teens were asked to try their hand at distinguishing between different types of information they might encounter online. They were also challenged to identify real or fake photos and judge whether an information source is credible.The study asked participants to identify a series of articles as advertisements, opinion or news pieces.More than half of teens failed to identify branded content a newsy-looking piece on plant-based meat in the Washington Post news app as an advertisement. About the same amount didnt realize that an article with commentary in the headline was about the authors opinion.They did better at recognizing Googles sponsored results as ads, but about 40 percent of teens said they thought it meant those results were popular or of high quality. Only 8 percent of teens correctly categorized the information in all three examples.In another exercise, teens were asked to identify which of two pieces of content about Coca-Colas plastic waste was more credible: a press release from Coca-Cola or an article from Reuters. The results were too close for comfort for the report, with only 56 percent of teens choosing the Reuters article as more trustworthy.Brand recognition could have played a role in teens decision to choose Coca-Cola over Reuters, Bowman says, a feeling that a more-recognizable company was more credible.Whatever the reason, I do think news organizations engaging young people on social media and building up trust and recognition there could have the potential to move the needle on a question like this in the future, Bowman said.Checking the FactsWhere teens did feel confident spotting hoaxes was with visuals.Two-thirds of study participants said they could do a reverse Google image search to find the original source of an image. About 70 percent of teens could correctly distinguish between an AI-generated image and a real photograph.To test teens ability to spot misinformation, they were asked whether a social media photo of a melting traffic light was strong evidence that hot temperatures in Texas melted traffic lights in July 2023.Most teens answered correctly, but about one-third still believed the photo alone was strong evidence that the claim about melting traffic lights was true.Bowman said that the fact that there was no difference in students performance when results were analyzed by their age leaves her wondering if teens of all ages have received the message that they cant always believe their eyes when it comes to the images they see online.Their radars seem to be up when it comes to identifying manipulated, misrepresented, or completely fabricated images, Bowman continued. Especially with the recent advancements and availability of generative AI technologies, I wonder if it may be harder to convince them of the authenticity of a photo that is actually real and verified than to convince them that an image is false in some way.When it came to sharing on social media, teens expressed a strong desire to make sure their posts contained correct information. So how are they fact-checking themselves, given a minority of teens actively follow news or have taken media literacy classes?Among teens who said they verify news before sharing, Bowman said theyre engaged in lateral reading, which she described as a quick internet search to investigate the posts source and a method employed by professional fact-checkers.Given a random group of teens, Bowman posited they would most likely use much less effective ways of judging a sources credibility, based on factors like a websites design or URL.In other words, previous research shows that young people tend to rely on outdated techniques or surface-level criteria to determine a sources credibility, Bowman explained. If schools across the country implemented high-quality news literacy instruction, I am confident we can debunk old notions of how to determine credibility that are no longer effective in todays information landscape and, instead, teach young people research-backed verification techniques that we know work.Actively Staying InformedWhile conspiracy theories surface commonly for teens, theyre not necessarily arming themselves with information to stave them off.Teens are split on whether they trust the news. Just over half of teens said that journalists do more to protect society than to harm it. Nearly 70 percent said news organizations are biased, and 80 percent believe news organizations are either more biased or about the same as other online content creators.A minority of teens just 15 percent actively seek out news to stay informed.The study also asked teens to list news sources they trusted to provide accurate and fair information.CNN and Fox News received the most endorsements, with 178 and 133 mentions respectively. TMZ, NPR and the Associated Press were equally matched with 12 mentions each.Local TV news was the most trusted news medium, followed by TikTok.Teens agree on at least one thing: A whopping 94 percent said schools should be required to offer some degree of media literacy.Young people know better than anyone how much they are expected to learn before graduation so, for so many teens to say they would welcome yet another requirement to their already overfull plate, is a huge deal and a big endorsement for the importance of a media literacy education, Bowman said.Throughout the study, students who had any amount of media literacy education did better on the studys test questions than their peers. They were more likely to be active news seekers, trust news outlets and feel more confident in their ability to fact-check what they see online.And, in a strange twist, students who get media literacy in school report seeing more conspiracy theories on social media perhaps precisely because they have sharper media literacy skills.Teens with at least some media literacy instruction, who keep up with news, and who have hightrust in news media are all more likely to report seeing conspiracy theory posts on social media at least once a week, according to the report. These differences could indicate that teens in these subgroups are more adept at spotting these kinds of posts or that their social media algorithms are more likely to serve them these kinds of posts, or both.This article was syndicated from EdSurge. EdSurge is a nonprofit newsroom that covers education through original journalism and research. Sign up for their newsletters.

As we approach the holiday season, your calendar is probably filling up. And undoubtedly your to-do list is as well.If youre nearing the point of overwhelm, it might be time for a to-do list refresh. Here are some creative ways to build a list that works better for you:Make a to-do list based on your energy levelWriter Stephanie Vozza recently had the opportunity to interview author Rebecca Arnold, who coaches Harvard University faculty members about productivity and leadership. Arnold shared her strategy of creating three different lists, based on your energy level at any given moment, which she names: rock star, so-so, and blah.The idea is that you can maximize your productivity at a given time. When youre feeling great, thats the time you want to do your most challenging, biggest-picture thinking. After lunch, when your energy is low, thats the time to do something simple, like catching up on emails.At the beginning of a work block, ask yourself, Wheres my energy at right now? Arnold tells Vozza. Then youll know exactly what to tackle based on that. You dont lose a lot of time thinking, What should I work on? Its all there.Write a might-do listFormer Google executive John Zeratsky keeps a might-do list, where he puts minor tasks like scheduling appointments or submitting expenses, writes Amanda Imber, founder of the behavior change consultancy Inventium and host of the How I Work podcast.This strategy helps Zeratsky by preventing small tasks from cannibalizing too much space on his actual to-do list and making him feel unnecessarily overwhelmed. When enough of these minor projects pile up, he can then make time to do them all at once, maximizing efficiency.The might-do list strategy has several benefits, Imber writes. It removes the psychological weight of obligation from minor tasks, increasing your motivation and sense of freedom. Psychologists find we get more satisfaction from picking tasks ourselves versus being mandated to do them.Get honest about letting goWriter Rachel Kramer Bussel asked organizational experts to review her to-do lists with the hope they could help her feel less like keeping up with these lists was a job in and of itself. One of the hardest lessons she learned was that there are timesespecially when youve been putting off something for a whilethat you need to be honest and remove that task from your list for good. Maybe youve changed course in your career goals since you initially wrote down the task or other, more urgent work has crossed your desk, Rashelle Isip, author of How to Be More Organized Right Now, explained to Kramer Bussel.If certain responsibilities are truly vital to your work or well-being, youll find a way to get them done, Isip added. So, if you havent, figuring out why can help you move past itand get to the next item on your list.

Google bad bosses, and most of what pops up are survival guides for employeeslike how to survive a bad boss, as if bad leadership is just another natural disaster we need to ride out. We shouldnt have to survive our day jobs. Leaders shouldnt be someone we brace for every morning. A boss should bring out your bestnot send your stress levels through the roof.But heres the paradox: Reforming bad bosses is tough, because they usually dont know theyre the problem. If they think theyre doing great while their team is quietly crumbling, how can we expect them to change?Why its hard to change a bad bossA theory called the Dunning-Kruger effect can help explain why its so hard to change a bad boss. The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive blind spot where people with low ability overestimate their competence. The theory has its critics, but three decades of qualitative data and observations in hundreds of organizations back this up: The worst bosses often believe theyre crushing it, while employees are silently unraveling. Its not usually out of malice; its a lack of self-awareness. Honest feedback gets lost in the shuffle because people are too afraid to say whats really on their minds. Instead, they tell their boss what they think will keep them in their good gracesor out of their crosshairswhich only reinforces the bosss belief that theyre a rockstar leader.The impact of power Ed Catmull, the former President and co-founder of Pixar often said, The higher up you go, the more distorted the truth. Megan Reitzs research on speaking truth to power backs this up with something called advantage blindnessa phenomenon where people in power become oblivious to how their status intimidates others. When youre at the top, you stop noticing the subtle ways people treat you differently. You dont see how your words weigh more, or how your presence alone makes people hesitate to push back or offer real feedback.Then theres the disinhibiting effect of power. Studies from Dacher Keltner show that power can flip a switch in people, lowering their empathy and making them act more selfishly. This isnt about people suddenly becoming villainsits more like power brings out a version of themselves that isnt held back by social filters. Keltners research adds that if you marinate in power long enough, those disinhibiting effects can become permanent, eroding empathy over time.Bad leadership isnt always intentionalits often about blind spots and unchecked power. The question is, how do we start holding up the mirror and breaking the cycle? Because the only way to reform bad bosses is to help them see what theyve been missing.Check your assumptions with this QuizEven if you think youre doing great, here are a few ways to check your assumptions:Do you know what your direct reports are struggling with?What lights a fire under your teamdo you know what really motivates them?Whens the last time someone went toe-to-toe with you on something you feel strongly about?What do your people wish youd stopor startdoing?Make a list of the people at work who you mentor, lean on for advice, or trust with your secrets. Is this group of people diverse in terms of age, tenure, ethnicity, gender, function?Whens the last time you admitted to your team that you made a mistake?If you answered no or I dont know or dont recall to any of these, its a clear sign that theres room for improvementand thats where real leadership begins.Action you can takeGet to know your teamTake the time to truly understand your team. Good leadership isnt some cookie-cutter approach; its personal. Its about digging deep to find out what your people care about and what challenges theyre facing. So, roll up your sleeves and get to know thembecause when you invest in your team as individuals, youre setting the stage for genuine connection and collaboration.Invite disagreementIf no one is pushing back, thats not leadership. Thats a red flag. Youre either fostering fear or groupthink. Innovation thrives on disagreement, so encourage itlet people feel safe to challenge you. [examples]Get (real) feedback Assessing your own leadership effectiveness is harder than it seems. The higher you climb, the more filtered your feedback becomes. Leaders need to recognize that the more authority they have, the more likely people are distorting their perception of the truth. Those at the top are often insulated from real feedback, making it difficult to gauge whether theyre truly effective or simply surrounded by an echo chamber. Its easy to surround yourself with people who agree with youit feels good! But real growth happens when you step out of that comfort zone. Build a challenge network insteada group of people who will give you real, honest feedback, even when it stings.Get out of your echo chamber Bad bosses naturally favor people who look, think, and act like them. Whats the result? An echo chamber of agreement and reassurance. This isnt just detrimental to diversity and inclusion; its a recipe for stagnation. When no one around you challenges your ideas, you start to believe youre always right. When your view of reality is distorted, your competence takes a hit. You cant make sound decisions when youre surrounded by yes-people, and thats how the cycle of bad leadership keeps churning, unchecked.Admit MistakesOwning your mistakes doesnt make you weakit makes you credible. In fact, sharing your missteps builds psychological safety within your team, creating an environment where others feel comfortable doing the same. Research shows that leaders who admit when theyre wrong are seen as more competent. You cant grow if you cant face where youve slipped up, and fostering an open dialogue about errors encourages learning and improvement for everyone involved.We cant eradicate bad bosses entirely, but we can mitigate the damage by raising awareness of the science behind it. Bad bosses arent just an organizational nuisancetheyre a public health problem. The human toll is too great to ignore, and the bottom-line impact is too costly to dismiss.

In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a house in Melbourne with a curved roof and textured concrete wallsdesigned by LLDS Architects. Called Northcote House, the home is slotted into the site of a former car park, with bespoke elements including the irregularly shaped plywood roof structure created using computer numerically controlled (CNC) robotics.LLDS Architects tops self-designed home in Melbourne with curved plywood roof"Love the context/juxtaposition of this fancy new archi-object with next door's Biffa bins!"Commenters had mixed reviews. "Inspiring projects are so rare to come by these days this is a welcome project!" applauded Chris. "Love it, never heard of LLDS, but I have now," they wrote."Can't decide if it's out of place or fittingly random," pondered I M Slei. "Love the context/juxtaposition of this fancy new archi-object with next door's Biffa bins!"Design Junkie deemed Northcote House "a wildly experimental home"."I kinda like it," said Souji. "It does look like a failure in function and comfort, but it's quirky sometimes quirky is enough," they determined.Gothic Gargoyle was on the fence, musing "not sure how I feel about this one", adding "The interiors look interesting but there's nowhere to sit back, relax and enjoy that curving roof".For Chauncey Mabe there was "an interesting idea or two, but overall it's overdone, inside and out, and the interior is creepy". Then they went further, stating "I predict a horror movie will be shot inside this structure before long".Quirky or creepy? Join the discussion Bathtope is a foldable bathtub that mimics origami"Bathsack"Another story that piqued readers' interest this week was a fold-away bathtub by Japanese product design group LIXIL showcased at Designart Tokyo, cut from a single piece of waterproof textile that can be hung up like a hammock or stowed away."I kinda love the idea of this but would definitely prefer to try it before buying it," concluded Henry.They went on to raise that "with a regular bath, you tend to use the solid sides to leverage yourself as you get out could see that experience being very different (and potentially wobbly and awkward) with this version!"Meanwhile, Devin du Plessis simply branded it "bathsack"."Foldable bathtub, foldable toilets, foldable phones, sometimes I wish I was foldable," quipped Robin518.What do you reckon? Join the discussion Open Architecture designs conical Sun Tower as "giant sundial""Looks like an unfinished nuclear plant cooling tower"Another project splitting opinions in the comments section this week was the 50-metre-tall Sun Tower designed by Open Architecture in northeast China, with a conical concrete form designed to follow the path of the sun.Zea Newland called it "depressing and noisy" and ultimately "not worth destroying the climate for"."Looks like an unfinished nuclear plant cooling tower," decided T Foxe.However, Chuck Anziulewicz was less despondent and argued "it seems like a fairly versatile structure, with spaces for exhibits and performances". They added "I think this is marvelous".Pa Varreon agreed, writing "beautiful interior spaces in perfect poetical accomplishment with the outside" before hailing it a "masterpiece".Which side are you on? Join the discussion Comments UpdateDezeen is the world's most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.The post "Can't decide if it's out of place or fittingly random" says commenter appeared first on Dezeen.

Architecture studio Atelier Heyman Hamilton has renovated and expanded Tor, a holiday home on an island with the same name in Sweden, focusing on "the meeting between the building and the site".The careful renovation aimed to honour the house's 1970s Folkhem architecture, a Swedish movement that combined modern materials and mass production systems with local and traditional forms.Atelier Heyman Hamilton (AT-HH), founded by James Hamilton and Malin Heyman, wanted to explore how new site-specific construction methods could be combined with an existing catalogue house a prefabricated modular home chosen from a catalogue.The summer house is located in the Stockholm archipelago"We began this project by grounding the design work with a sense of curiosity about the ambiguities that arise when new site-specific parts, specifically designed for the context of the existing building and noticeably adapted to the site, are inserted into the general design of the catalogue home, which is not designed for a specific site and context," Heyman told Dezeen."Through the renovation and addition, we wanted to focus a lot of our attention on the meeting between the building and the site in terms of views, space and tectonics, by working on the foundation, the shape of the roof and the entrances," she added.The home is located in rocky terrain on Tor, an island in the archipelago that surrounds Stockholm.AT-HH added an extension to one end of the traditional holiday homeAs well as adding an 18-square-metre extension, which holds a bedroom and reading room, the designers adapted the existing layout to suit multigenerational living."The major moves of the new plan create more distinct spaces for varying family constellations to gather and seek privacy," Hamilton told Dezeen.The studio cut away damaged roof sections and mouldy parts of the interiorThe aim was to create a design that respected the existing building while not being nostalgic about it."A non-sentimental respect for the existing house was central to our work on this project," Hamilton added."In the interest of keeping both the amount of waste produced and the use of new materials down, while dealing with an existing building in disrepair, the work of renovation and extension turned into a thorough exercise in having existing meet new at every scale, everywhere in the building."A post-and-lintel portal shows off Tor's new structureHamilton and Heyman designed Tor's kitchen, dining room, hallway and bathroom as a series of medium-sized rooms.These function as a meeting point for the two original bedrooms and the bedroom and reading room in the extension.AT-HH removed walls affected by black mould, cut away the worn lower sections of the house's damaged roof and constructed new eaves. These are covered in tar roof paper, which continues over the new extension.Read: Norm Architects creates cedar-clad summerhouse that nods to traditional barnsThe roof structure and ceiling of the living room were also removed, creating the need for a new ridge beam that the studio decided to turn into a visible element."The visible structure a result of changes to the interior roof structure of the existing house becomes a central spatial element in this organization, both separating the living spaces from the service spaces with a post-and-lintel portal where the hall, living room and dining room intersect as well as linking them visually and structurally across the living room," Hamilton said.The interior is clad in plywood panelsPlywood panelling covers most of Tor's interior, which was designed by Stockholm studio Matsson Marnell, creating a space that nods to the summer house's traditional design while offering a clean, contemporary feel."We feel that the spatial qualities of the interiors, as well as their relation to this specific site, are strengthened by the interior design by Matsson Marnell," Heyman explained."The sculptural furniture of Matsson Marnell's own design from the series skog are complemented by a few select pieces that create a low centre of gravity and focus on natural materials and shape," she added."The interior design reflects the contrasts in texture and scale that are present in the architecture of the existing, altered and added."AT-HH aimed to introduce as few new materials as possibleThe overall material choice was an important aspect of the renovation and extension of Tor, which now measures 93 square metres, with the architects aiming to use a palette that reflected and respected the existing."The project introduced as few new materials as possible," Hamilton said."The materials that we chose to add are very much a response of the most prevalent existing materials: the brown-black tar paint on the facade and the pine wood interior panelling," he added."The tar paper on the roof and facade are, for us, in clear dialogue with the dark brown-black ferrous pigment of the existing facades, while the pine plywood on the interior is a nod to the pine panelling in the ceiling of the existing interiors."Other summer houses on Dezeen include a cedar-clad home in Denmark and a residence on stilts in Sweden.The photography is by Andy Liffner with interior styling by Matsson Marnell.The post Atelier Heyman Hamilton revives 1970s summer house in the Swedish archipelago appeared first on Dezeen.

This video produced by Jim Stephenson spotlights the University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub by Reiach and Hall Architects, which has been shortlisted for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.It is the fourth video published by Dezeen in collaboration with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) to highlight the annual award's 2024 shortlist.In the video, viewers are introduced to the building's updated science facilities, which encompass laboratories from various departments that are "gathered into a single entity".The University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub has been shortlisted for the RIAS Doolan Award 2024In the video, University of Aberdeen professor Peter Edwards and director at Reiach and Hall Architects Neil Gillespie emphasise the importance of this development for the university and its students."There was a recognition within the university that our existing facilities for lab-based science education were dated and needed significant investment, and so it was an opportunity across the university to look at what we needed for the future," Edwards said."The traditional model, if you like, was that each department had its own suite of laboratory spaces, teaching spaces, and this building moves to a different model where it's the activity that's been housed rather than the department," Gillespie explained.Read: Fruitmarket Gallery renovation by Reiach and Hall Architects draws on "its previous histories"Praised by the jury for its "high quality and architectural precision", the University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub is one of two projects by Reiach and Hall Architects shortlisted for this year's award, with the studio's Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh also nominated.Other projects vying for the prize include North Gate Social Housing by Page\Park Architects, Ardoch by Moxon Architects and The Burrell Collection by John McAslan + Partners.The Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award is an annual award running since 2002 that highlights Scottish projects. This year's winner is set to be announced on 22 November.The film and photography are courtesy of Jim Stephenson.The post Reiach and Hall Architects renews "dated" science facilities at the University of Aberdeen appeared first on Dezeen.

Did you know that over 70% of designers report using multiple tools in their workflow? The world of design is not just about creativity; its also about efficiency and innovation. From industrial design and 3D modeling to interface design, graphic design, and even AI-powered designing, an array of applications exists to cater to every niche within the creative industry.Heres a look at some of the best design tools available todayeach one a powerful ally in your quest for creative excellencewhile providing insights into how they can elevate your projects from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether youre a seasoned professional or an aspiring creator, this list should have something in it for everybody across the creative gamut.Figma Best for Interface DesignFigma has made a name for itself as one of the top tools for UI and UX designers, thanks to its real-time collaboration capabilities. The company that was notably almost acquired by Adobe managed to carve out a spectacular niche within the digital creative industry in very little time. With cloud-based operation, Figma allows teams to work simultaneously on projects, offering features like component libraries, responsive design tools, and easy prototyping. Its web-based approach eliminates the need for downloads, which makes it ideal for team-based workflows.Figma is commonly used in UI/UX design, with its free tier making it accessible to freelancers and small teams. Professional paid plans start at $15 per seat per month, unlocking additional features like team libraries and enhanced sharing capabilities. With its user-friendly design and robust functionality, Figma has become the go-to platform for designers focused on creating intuitive user interfaces and user experiences.Why We Picked It?Figmas ease of use, and integration of incredibly powerful tools right into a web browser make it absolutely perfect for most individuals as well as large teams. The app feels extremely familiar once you open it, if youre used to a general Adobe-style workflow. It takes next to no time mastering the inner workings, and the internet is FILLED with tutorials to help you unleash your creative vision.What We LikeReal-time collaboration, ideal for team workflowsWeb-based, no download requiredWhat We DislikeLimited offline functionalitySome advanced features are locked behind the paid planCanva Best Web-App-based 2D SoftwareIf Figma was for interfaces and workflows, Canva is for everything else 2D. A popular name in the creative industry, Canva has become one of the most widely used design tools for social media, presentations, and marketing materials. With a vast library of templates, fonts, and elements, Canva simplifies graphic design for those without formal training. Its drag-and-drop functionality is especially appealing for marketers and small business owners who need professional visuals quickly.While Canva offers a free version, the Pro plan at $15 per month unlocks additional features like premium assets and brand kits, as well as Canvas AI features. Canvas ease of use and accessibility make it a go-to for digital marketing and content creation across industries.Why We Picked It?Canvas device-agnostic approach to design makes it an incredibly easy and powerful tool for anyone. You can start working on a project on your phone, and then fine-tune the same project on your laptop or desktop. The app gives you access to hundreds of thousands of assets (some of them behind a paywall), and even supports working and exporting in popular sizes and formats.What We LikeHuge library of templates and assets, great for non-designersDrag-and-drop interface thats easy to learnWhat We DislikeLimited flexibility for advanced graphic design projectsPro version needed to unlock many premium assets and featuresSpline Best Web-App-based 3D SoftwareThe 3D counterpart to Canvas popularity, Spline is a relatively new entry in the 3D design space, offering designers the flexibility to create interactive 3D designs directly in their browsers. With a straightforward user interface and features like parametric modeling, lighting, animation, and even GenAI tools, Spline is user-friendly and accessible even for beginners.Splines web-based nature makes it ideal for quick prototyping and presentations, especially for web designers aiming to add interactive 3D elements to entire websites (their Instagram is a hotspot for creativity). Spline offers a free version with limited features, while the Starter plan, at $12 per month, provides enhanced capabilities. Splines accessibility and ease of use are game-changers for those looking to experiment with 3D designs, games, and websites without complex software or even a line of code.Why We Picked It?3D modeling on a web browser was unheard of a couple of years ago. The most you could do was preview a model but build, edit, AND render on a browser?? Id like to say Spline was one of the first to really pioneer the idea. Their browser-based app wont replace your traditional 3D modeling setup but Spline is slowly getting there. Besides, it makes things so much easier for interactive web designers and game designers that it feels like magic!What We LikeWeb-based, making it accessible from anywhereEasy-to-use interface for quick 3D modeling and interactivityPowerful GenAI featuresWhat We DislikeLimited features compared to more advanced 3D modeling softwareStill developing in terms of advanced capabilities and toolsVizcom Best AI-powered Visualization ToolVizcom leverages AI to turn sketches into highly realistic renderings within seconds, making it invaluable for concept artists and product designers. By using machine learning, Vizcom enhances quick sketches with photorealistic details, significantly speeding up the concept-to-presentation process.Perfect for early-stage design visualizations, Vizcom allows artists to experiment with various styles and materials without the need for extensive manual rendering. Vizcom offers a free basic plan, while premium plans start at $49 per month, making it a great AI-assisted tool for rapid visualization and ideation.Why We Picked It?Sure, there are a lot of GenAI tools out there but none as good as Vizcom when it comes to applying GenAI directly on your sketches. Visit Vizcoms Instagram page to get a sense of how good it is and youll struggle to find a tool that even matches half its capability. It will render your sketches, turn them into basic 3D, and give you the ability to ideate alongside the AI, showing the true future of industrial design.What We LikeAI-powered visualization generates high-quality renderings quicklyAffordable for individuals and small teamsWhat We DislikePrimarily focused on concept and visualization, limited for detailed modelingRequires an internet connection, which can be a drawback in remote or low-bandwidth settings.Quality of output may vary depending on the complexity of the sketchGravity Sketch Best Metaverse 3D SoftwareGravity Sketch brings 3D modeling to VR (with an iPad app too), offering an immersive experience thats particularly suited for designing within the metaverse and virtual environments. Users can draw in 3D space, walking around their creations and manipulating shapes in real time. This VR-first approach offers a unique level of creativity and interactivity that conventional 3D software cant match.Gravity Sketch is used by automotive and industrial designers who benefit from seeing their designs at scale. The software is notably free for individual users (something that Gravity Sketch announced in 2021) making it accessible for students and casual users experimenting with VR design, with a dynamic paid structure for teams and enterprises.Why We Picked It?Gravity Sketch was the first ever mainstream 3D modeling software for the metaverse, and to this day remains the gold standard when it comes to building in 3D, while immersed in 3D. You can create designs by waving your hands in mid-air, making curves, adjusting surfaces, and moving objects/layers around. This truly feels like what the future of industrial and automotive design should be!What We LikeImmersive VR-based 3D modeling experienceIdeal for creating designs within the metaverse and virtual spacesUsed to be paid for individuals, but is now freeWhat We DislikeRequires VR hardware, limiting accessibilityiPad app isnt as immersive as the metaverse experienceProcreate Best Sketching App for iPadProcreate has made waves in the digital art community for its intuitive sketching tools on iPad. It offers a wide range of brushes, layering options, and even animation capabilities, making it versatile for illustrators, digital artists, and animators. With the Apple Pencil, Procreate brings a natural drawing experience to the digital canvas, letting you even sketch directly on 3D models!Priced at a one-time fee of $12.99, Procreate is affordable and extremely powerful for creatives looking to sketch, paint, or animate on the go. Its widely used for illustration, concept art, and character design, making it indispensable for artists who prefer tablet-based workflows.Why We Picked It?Hands down the best sketching app for the iPad. Procreates brilliantly simple interface, its abundance of tools and features, and its ability to handle everything from sketching and animation make it a must-have if you own an iPad. You could sketch with your finger or a capacitive stylus, but we recommend the Apple Pencil for its pressure and tilt sensitivity features. The one-time fee has great value because Procreate keeps adding new capabilities and features every few years without charging extra.What We LikeNatural drawing experience on iPad with Apple PencilOne-time payment, no ongoing subscription requiredWhat We DislikeAvailable only on iPad, limiting cross-platform useLacks some advanced features of desktop design softwareBlender Best Free 3D SoftwareBlender is a widely popular, open-source 3D software with extensive capabilities for modeling, sculpting, and animation. Known for being free yet feature-rich, Blender is a favorite among independent artists, animators, and hobbyists. It offers tools for everything from basic 3D object creation to complex animation, making it incredibly versatile.One of Blenders standout features is its robust community support, which keeps the software updated and provides a wealth of tutorials. This makes Blender ideal for creatives looking to learn 3D modeling without an upfront financial commitment. As a completely free tool, Blender is used not only in personal projects but also in professional production pipelines, especially in indie game development and VFX for films.Why We Picked It?Theres nothing Blender cant do. The open-source software lets you model and render anything, whether youre an industrial designer, 3D artist, animator, special-effects artist, or even an engineer working on simulations. Blenders advanced settings let you customize the UI based on the kind of workflow you have, and you can even download plugins that make it even more fine-tuned to your needs. The software was and always will be free, so if theres one 3D software I recommend you keep in your back pocket its this one.What We LikeCompletely free and open-source with extensive community supportPowerful toolset for modeling, sculpting, animation, VFX, compositing, and even video editingall in one programStrong community provides extensive tutorials, plugins, and support, making it easier for beginners to get started and for advanced users to expand capabilitiesWhat We DislikeUser interface can be overwhelming for new usersLacks built-in collaboration toolsSketchUp Best 3D Software for Architecture + InteriorsSketchUp has long been popular among architects and interior designers, offering intuitive 3D modeling that balances functionality with ease of use. Known for its push-pull tool and simple interface, SketchUp is ideal for creating detailed architectural models and visualizations quickly. The software was created by @Last Software and was acquired by Google in 2006. SketchUp finally got sold to Trimble Inc. in 2012.While SketchUp offers a free web-only version for non-commercial use, the Pro plan at $49.99 per month gives you a dedicated app for Desktop, iPad, as well as web-based 3D modelers. Its user-friendly approach and accessible pricing make SketchUp an industry favorite for architecture and interior design projects.Why We Picked It?SketchUp was the first ever 3D design software I truly worked with. This was in the year 2008-09, just before I went to design college, and when SketchUp was owned by Google. The app was ridiculously intuitive to use, and I even designed houses and 3D scenes with zero prior knowledge. Although SketchUp has changed owners, it still remains a favorite in the architecture and interior design industry (you should check out Thilina Liyanages work all made on SketchUp).What We LikeIntuitive and user-friendly, ideal for architecture and interior designFree version available with essential modeling toolsWhat We DislikeLacks advanced rendering and parametric modeling toolsPro version can be expensive for those needing full functionalityThe 3D Warehouse has been disabled for non-web use, cutting off an entire repository of assets for usersAutodesk Fusion + Revit Best Overall Suite for 3D DesignAutodesk is known for its powerful lineup of 3D design software, most notably Fusion and Revit. Fusion (previously known as Fusion 360) is a standout for CAD, CAM, and CAE, providing a full set of tools for product design and manufacturing. Its cloud-based nature enables real-time collaboration, making it ideal for engineering and industrial design teams that need seamless workflows and advanced simulation tools.Revit, on the other hand, is a favorite among architects and construction professionals for its Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities. Revit allows for the creation of highly detailed building models with built-in structural and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) systems, facilitating a streamlined design process from conception through construction. Its the go-to choice for architecture firms that need precise, collaborative tools for large-scale building projects.Autodesks software is available through individual licenses or comprehensive subscription plans. Fusion costs $85 per month or $680 oer year, while Revits subscription starts at $365 per month or $2,910 per year, with discounts for bundled purchases. For educational purposes, all of Autodesks software remain free to use both for students as well as teachers. The variety in Autodesks offerings makes it a powerful choice for industries spanning product design, architecture, and manufacturing, cementing its reputation as an industry standard for 3D modeling and BIM.Why We Picked It?Autodesk is the most commonly uttered name in the design and engineering circuit. With all its apps and software, be it Fusion, Revit, AutoCAD, 3DS Max, Maya, Arnold, Inventor, and a whole host of others, Autodesk has a strong grip on its industry and user base.Fusion 360 is recommended for its all-in-one CAD, CAM, and CAE tools, ideal for iterative product design and remote collaboration via cloud-based features. Revit excels in architecture and construction with advanced BIM capabilities, supporting detailed, data-rich models that improve project precision and multi-disciplinary collaboration, making both tools invaluable for comprehensive, professional-grade design workflows.What We LikeComprehensive toolset for CAD, CAM, CAE, and BIM (Fusion 360 and Revit)Cloud-based collaboration and data sharingFree for Students and EducatorsWhat We DislikeExpensive subscription plans, especially for RevitAdobe Creative Cloud Best Overall Suite for Graphic DesignAdobes suite is a mainstay in the design world, with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign leading the way for image editing, vector art, and layout design, respectively. Each of these apps provides a deep feature set, making Adobe essential for graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists. Photoshops advanced image editing, Illustrators vector manipulation, and InDesigns layout capabilities make it versatile across creative industries. The company has also stayed ahead of the AI curve, launching multiple AI features within its popular software as well as on its Adobe Firefly web app.Adobes Creative Cloud subscription costs $59.99 per month for access to the full suite, though individual apps are also available starting at $9.99 per month. Adobe Spark and Adobe XD add unique tools for social graphics and UI/UX design, cementing Adobes role as a comprehensive toolkit for digital and print projects alike.Adobe has also moved into 3D design with Adobe Substance, expanding its offerings for those working in material texturing and 3D asset creation. This suite provides designers with everything from basic editing to advanced 3D tools, truly making Adobe a one-stop shop for creatives.Why We Picked It?Theres really no escaping Adobe. As hard as you try, Adobe always remains the industry standard for graphic and creative work, although theyre steadily expanding into most domains. Adobe Audition is a VERY capable digital audio workstation, Premiere Pro is the gold standard for video and VFX, Illustrator is the best for illustrators, InDesign for publication designers, and Photoshop oh, where would we be without it! As an editor, I use Photoshop probably more than any other design app/software, and its intuitive layout (that hasnt changed in decades) plus GenAI features make it the best photo-editing software out there. For a price, though.What We LikeIndustry-standard suite covering a wide range of design needsComprehensive toolset for everything from graphic design to 3D renderingIncredible AI features integrated right into the softwareWhat We DislikeHigh monthly subscription costs, especially for full Creative Cloud accessCanceling your subscription can be a monumental task with extra feesKeyShot Best for 3D Rendering and VisualizationKeyShot, developed by Luxion, remains a top choice for 3D rendering and visualization, recently enhancing its platform with a comprehensive Product Design-to-Market suite. Known for its fast, photorealistic rendering and simple drag-and-drop interface, KeyShot enables designers to create high-quality visuals and animations from 3D models with ease. Its real-time rendering engine provides instant feedback, making it invaluable for quick design iterations and client presentations.With the recent bifurcation into KeyShot Studio, KeyShot Hub, and KeyShot Dock, the software now extends beyond rendering to support a complete, collaborative workflow. KeyShot Studio delivers the powerful rendering capabilities users rely on, while KeyShot Hub enables streamlined asset management and sharing across teams. KeyShot Dock bridges the gap between design and marketing, making it easier for teams to transition finalized assets into promotional materials.KeyShot is widely used in product design, automotive, and marketing, where lifelike visuals are crucial. Pricing for KeyShot Studio starts at $99 a month, with add-on plugins providing advanced features like Network Rendering and VR support. These new additions solidify KeyShot Studio as an essential tool for turning 3D models into stunning, market-ready visuals while enabling efficient, team-oriented workflows across the design-to-market process. KeyShot Hub and KeyShot Dock have pricing-on-request models.Why We Picked It?88% of Industrial Designers prefer KeyShot over any other rendering software. Its intuitive, fast, and provides stellar results with minimal effort, unlike other software that requires a lot of technical know-how or pre-rendering setup. Although KeyShot isnt a design software, its Product Design-to-Market Suite is slowly and surely making it an integral part of the industrial design and visualization process. KeyShot Studio, or the rendering app, remains an industry favorite by a strong margin, being used by leading brands like Volvo, Nikon, Motorola, and Under Armour. The KeyShot Hub supplements the rendering program, allowing you to access assets to use alongside your designs.What We LikeReal-time rendering with high-quality visuals and animationsNew Design-to-Market suite enhances workflow with Studio, Hub, and DockWhat We DislikePricey, especially for the Pro and enterprise-level versionsPrimarily focused on rendering, not modeling or asset creationThe post Best Design Apps for the Creative Industry first appeared on Yanko Design.

"My guess is that they expected faster progress than we delivered."Junction Point's project was the first of two attempts to set an episode in Ravenholm.