The Toolbox
The tools for AI-driven design and development, sorted by where in the product loop they earn their keep. The list keeps growing.
249 tools · Harnesses, tools, AI models and everything around them change so fast that it is hard to keep up. This page is our way of gathering it all in one place: tools we use, have used and want to explore.
We use it ourselvesUsed beforeWant to explore
Tools we have used before may have changed since then. When they do, we are happy to revisit them and start using them again.
The tips are just that: tips. You are responsible for how you use the tools and what you share with them.
What are you doing right now?
The core stack
The tools we use every day. Always depending on each assignment’s AI policy, of course. :)
Claude CodeAgentic coding in the terminal and browser. Plans, builds and reviews on its own.Open ↗
OrcaOrchestrates agents that work together, review each other's work and iterate in loops.Open ↗
OpenAI CodexOpenAI's coding agent in the terminal, app and cloud. Builds on its own and reviews what other agents built.Open ↗
MLX ServeLocal inference on the Mac. Runs open models like Qwen 3.8 Flash Next MLX on your own computer.Open ↗
Matt Pocock, agentic engineeringSkills for evaluation and human in the loop, like /wayfinder and /grill-with-docs.Open ↗AI code17
- Claude CodeAgentic coding in the terminal and browser. Plans, builds and reviews on its own.We use it ourselves
- OpenAI CodexOpenAI's coding agent in the terminal, app and cloud. Builds on its own and reviews what other agents built.We use it ourselves
- OrcaOrchestrates agents that work together, review each other's work and iterate in loops.We use it ourselves
- AiderAI pair programming in the terminal. Open source and ahead of its time.Used before
AperantMulti-agent framework that plans, builds and QA-checks for you.Used before
Builder.ioFigma to production code with AI, on top of your own codebase.Used before
AI assistants8
AnythingLLMYour own AI workspace with your documents, locally or in the cloud.Used before
European AI AtlasA map of European AI services and models.Used before
Google AI StudioGoogle's workshop for Gemini: try prompts and build right away.Used before
Hermes AgentSelf-improving open agent that turns its experience into skills.Used before
ManusAutonomous AI agent that takes on whole tasks, not just questions.Used before
PerplexityAI search that shows its sources. A good first stop for research.Used before
AI models & LLMs10
- MLX ServeLocal inference on the Mac. Runs open models like Qwen 3.8 Flash Next MLX on your own computer.We use it ourselves
ds4Run DeepSeek and GLM locally on your own machine. Built by the creator of Redis.Used before
Gemma 4 26BGoogle's open model in assistant form, strong for its size.Used before
Hugging FaceThe home of open AI models. Find, try, download.Used before
LM StudioRun open AI models locally on your own computer. The data never leaves the room.Used before
OllamaRun open AI models locally with a single command.Used before
Agent skills18
- Matt Pocock, agentic engineeringSkills for evaluation and human in the loop, like /wayfinder and /grill-with-docs.We use it ourselves
Agent SkillsOpen standard for reusable skills for AI agents.Used before- Claude UX/UI Design SkillsCurated collection of design skills for Claude, gathered in Notion.Used before
claude-memMemory for Claude Code: keeps context between sessions.Used before
Codex Plugin for Claude CodeOpenAI's official plugin: let Codex review and take on work in Claude Code.Used before
Context7Fresh documentation for code libraries, straight into your AI agent.Used before
Design & prototyping10
FigmaStill the hub. But these days more review surface than drawing board.We use it ourselves
KigenFigma plugin that generates your design system's variables, styles and docs.Used before
MagicPathAI design canvas that goes from idea to working code.Used before
pen.devA design canvas inside your editor. Design files versioned with the code.Used before
RelumeAI that produces sitemaps and wireframes, ready for Figma and Webflow.Used before
FramerDesign that becomes a published site, no handoff.Want to explore
Components22
Tailwind CSSStyle right in your markup with ready-made classes. The standard for modern CSS.We use it ourselves
Headless UIUnstyled, accessible components from the Tailwind team.Used before
HeroUIPolished React library, formerly NextUI.Used before
NativeWindTailwind classes in React Native.Used before
OriginkitFree animated components, with MCP support for AI tools.Used before
PrimerGitHub's design system, open to use and learn from.Used before
Inspiration29
Best Designs on XThe best design content from X, gathered without scrolling the feed.Used before
DribbbleThe classic for visual inspiration. Shots, styles and portfolios.Used before
Navbar GalleryNothing but navigation bars. Niche in the same way as Supahero.Used before
Page FlowsRecorded user flows from real products.Used before
Pure LandingCurated landing pages to borrow structure and moves from.Used before
ReferoReal screens from real apps and sites, searchable by pattern.Used before
Small utilities22
AstroWeb framework for content-heavy sites. Ships JavaScript only when needed.We use it ourselves
axe DevToolsFinds accessibility issues right in the browser. The standard for a11y testing.Used before
CoolorsColor palettes on the space bar. A quick start for color thinking.Used before
FirecrawlCrawl entire sites into AI-ready data via an API.Used before
Jina ReaderTurns any web page into clean markdown for AI workflows.Used before
llm-scraperScrape web pages into structured data with the help of an LLM.Used before
Motion5
CavalryProcedural motion design. After Effects for the next generation.Want to explore
JitterMotion design as easy as Figma. Great for social media.Want to explore
Lottie CreatorCreate and find Lottie animations for web and app.Want to explore
LottielabDraw and animate Lottie right in the browser.Want to explore
Theatre.jsAnimate web pages with a timeline, like in a video editor.Want to explore
Visual & shaders11
BlushIllustrations you mix and adapt yourself, in cohesive styles from real artists.Used before
Figma WeaveFigma's node-based AI canvas for image, video, audio and 3D.Used before
FLORANode-based AI canvas with 50+ models for image and video.Used before
QuiverAIAI that creates editable SVG: logos, illustrations, typography.Used before- BitspaceNode-based playground for AI, shaders and generative graphics.Want to explore
cablesVisual programming for interactive web graphics.Want to explore
3D & spatial17
BeziSketch and prototype in 3D, together.Want to explore
BlenderFree, open and by now the industry standard for 3D.Want to explore
CLODigital clothing at pro level.Want to explore
DepthkitVolumetric video: film people as 3D.Want to explore
gltfjsxTurns 3D models into React components.Want to explore
gltfpackCompresses 3D models so the web can handle them.Want to explore
Audio3
Video & capture12
Kling AIAI-generated video from text and images.Used before
RemotionMake videos with React code. Programmatic film, frame by frame.Used before
SupercutAI-assisted screen recordings for demos and walkthroughs.Used before
DaVinci ResolvePro video editing, genuinely free.Want to explore
LosslessCutCut video without re-encoding. Fast and lossless.Want to explore
NVIDIA ShadowPlayRecords your screen in the background, without the performance hit.Want to explore
Sales & marketing10
AndsendAI agent that keeps customer relationships warm and follows up on time.Used before
BlotatoCreate and repurpose social content with AI, across every channel.Used before
ClayEnrich leads and automate sales research, in a spreadsheet.Used before
DiscoLikeFind new dream customers that look like your best existing ones.Used before
FinIntercom's AI agent that resolves customer issues on its own.Used before
folkA CRM built for relationships, not forms.Used before
Automation1
Analytics & insight2
Backend & hosting5
VercelWeb hosting where every change gets its own preview before going live.We use it ourselves
ConvexReactive TypeScript backend, built with AI agents in mind.Used before
Docker SandboxesRun AI agents isolated in containers, without risking your own machine.Used before
GrafanaOpen dashboards for logs, metrics and alerts.Used before
SupabasePostgres, auth and storage as a ready-made backend.Used before
Methods & strategy6
BMAD MethodAgile method for AI-driven development, with agent roles from analysis to code.Used before- Business Model CanvasThe classic for sketching a business model on one page. From Merck's strategy kit.Used before
Customer Journey Map ExamplesMiro board full of customer journey map examples for UX work.Used before
Idea BrowserDaily business ideas with research behind them. Explore before you build.Used before- Knowns & UnknownsFramework for sorting what you know, believe and guess. From Merck's strategy kit.Used before
Shopify App Design GuidelinesShopify's app design guidelines. Exemplary in their clarity.Used before
Whiteboard5
FigJamWorkshops and flows, in the same world as Figma.Used before
ExcalidrawSketches that look hand-drawn. The fastest path from thought to picture.Want to explore
MiroThe whiteboard giant. Best when the whole organization joins.Want to explore
MuseThinking canvas for iPad, built for deep work.Want to explore
tldrawWhiteboard that is also an SDK. Behind many AI canvas experiments.Want to explore
Organization9
LinearThe project tool that set a new bar for feel and speed.We use it ourselves
BearBeautiful markdown notes, on Mac and iPhone.Used before
GlaspHighlight and save what you read on the web, shareable and searchable.Used before
NotionDocs, wiki and databases in one, now with AI everywhere.Used before
AFFiNEDocs, whiteboard and database in one, open source.Want to explore
Are.naCollect and connect references, without algorithm noise.Want to explore
Typography6
Font TrioTry typefaces that work together, three at a time.Used before
Best Free FontsCurated selection of free typefaces, minus the junk.Want to explore
Fonts In UseSee typefaces in real use before you choose.Want to explore
FontshareQuality typefaces, free even commercially. From Indian Type Foundry.Want to explore- Free FacesBeautifully curated gallery of free typefaces.Want to explore
UNCUTFree typefaces with an edge, gathered in one place.Want to explore
Everyday21
Claude CoworkClaude working with your files and tools, right on your computer.We use it ourselves
cmuxA terminal built for running several coding agents in parallel.Used before
FlywriteMarkdown writing app for Mac with an agent terminal built in.Used before
ForkFast and beautiful git client for Mac and Windows.Used before
Google AI Edge EloquentGoogle's offline dictation built on Gemma. Your voice never leaves the phone.Used before
lazygitGit in the terminal, driven by the keyboard.Used before
Missing a tool we should know about?
Every tool in the list is one we use, have used or want to explore.
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