Beyond Figma: The New Creative Stack Worth Exploring

The Stack Is Shifting

Figma changed how we design. Notion changed how we organise. Canva changed who gets to create.

But a new wave of tools is bubbling up  smaller, sharper, and more culturally tuned. They’re not trying to be universal. They’re trying to be right for a new kind of creative work: modular, asynchronous, visual-first, and sometimes beautifully weird.

This is a curated look at platforms you should know if you're building, designing, or collaborating in 2025.

‍

Tools That Feel Like Studios, Not Software

Some platforms don’t feel like apps. They feel like creative spaces.

• Kinopio – A visual thinking space with charm, chaos, and structure
  Use it for: spatial brainstorming, client sessions, moodboarding with personality
• Are.na – A cultural research platform that thinks like an artist’s bookshelf
  Use it for: concept development, trend tracking, non-linear research

These tools don’t just help you finish work. They help you think — and feel more present while doing it.

‍

Visual Collaboration Tools That Aren’t Trying to Be Slack

Slack, Trello, and Miro have become default. But new tools are reimagining creative collaboration for slower, deeper workflows.

• Heptabase – A mind-mapping knowledge base for layered thinking
• Tana – A hybrid between Notion and Roam, designed for linked creativity
• Muse – A spatial canvas for tablets that feels like sketching on a wall

These platforms prioritise visual logic, not task logic. That makes them perfect for design teams who value context as much as content.

‍

Brand Builders’ Tools — Tiny, Sharp, Useful

If you're building a brand, especially solo or in a micro-agency, you need tools that don't overwhelm.

• Typedream – A website builder that feels like Notion but outputs with polish
• Brandpad – A brand guideline system built for actual usage, not just storage
• Simple – Privacy-focused analytics that give you what you need without the creep factor

The best part? These tools understand that time is the constraint — not ambition.

‍

Creative Ecosystems That Reward Curiosity

Great tools spark exploration. They reward play.

• Blush – Customisable illustrations made by artists, for creatives
• Semplice – A WordPress-based portfolio tool made by designers, for designers
• Spline – Browser-based 3D design with zero intimidation

These aren’t replacements for Adobe. They’re tools that help you build creative fluency across new mediums.

‍

Choose Tools That Match Your Mindset

Your tools shape your process. Your process shapes your work.

Don’t just follow hype cycles. Pick platforms that align with how you think, what you value, and how you want to feel while working.

The future of creativity isn’t about one perfect stack. It’s about finding your fit.

‍