Using Sketch The App For Web Design

Web designers continuously evolve the creative processes to match the latest industry trends, UI elements, and best practices. So it only makes sense that designers would also leverage the best tools to deliver their design work to meet the evolving demands of digital media.

One tool with a big following is the relatively new Sketch App which takes many of its competitors' offerings to the next level. It features advanced in-app tools and a simple UI design that de-clutters the design canvas and streamlines several vital steps of the design process. UI rookies and seasoned professionals alike use Sketch to increase productivity, streamline processes, and illustrate innovative solutions for clients.

Let's explore some of the top reasons why our Object Edge web design teams use Sketch as one tool in our arsenal to digitally transform eCommerce brands across the globe.

Sketch centers around Responsive Design

Responsive web design is an industry standard that requires careful consideration from start to finish.

Sketch offers a variety of tools that automatically account for responsive screens, saving both time and effort for designers and developers.

Implement a built-in grid system with Layout, the tool that automatically calculates screen size and allows you to create custom grids easily. Set variable grid dimensions like Gutter Width and Row Height, and let Layout do the rest.

Once you create a grid, save your preferences as Default for easy reference and reuse in the future. Sketch makes it easy to create custom grids for different projects, and Layout can be toggled on/off as needed

Organizational tools are part of the package

Consistent typography is a crucial aspect of any web design project. Sketch makes it easy to define, save, and implement these elements with the click of a button, thanks to the Text Styles tool.

Build numerous style lists for the essential typography variations in your project. You can define font, size, and color, then make global changes to multiple screens by simply editing your Text Style. Sketch even allows you to preview your Styles for context before you update your design.

Similarly, Layer Styles allows you to define settings for fills, strokes, opacity, shadows, etc. throughout your designs. Ensure that every button throughout your screens is styled consistently, and even create visual placeholders that you can use for wireframing.

Text and Layer Styles save significant time and effort compared to traditional design software. They also help reduce your margin of error since style updates can be implemented globally instead of on an item-by-item basis.

App integrations and plug-ins are limitless

Sketch plugins and other innovative app integrations can improve your design process from prototyping to documentation and every step in between. Here are some of our favorite app integrations:

Framer X

Increase your productivity with Framer X, a prototyping app that lets you test out concepts and adjust micro-interactions before changing HTML or CSS code. Use it to create responsive, high-fidelity prototypes for smartphones, tablets, computers, and virtually anything else with a web browser.

UXPin

Sync your Sketch files straight to UXPin, where you can prototype transitions and realistic user interactions with ease. Produce both low and high-fidelity prototypes in minutes with UXPin's familiar interface and easy-to-navigate dropdown menus.

Zeplin

Make presentations fun again with Zeplin; the web/desktop app that allows you to export your artboards for review and development. Zeplin seamlessly transfers fonts, colors, spacing, and more to a clean presentation board. This essential tool saves design teams hours of effort, while also ensuring that developers have what they need to build designs correctly the first time.

Sketch Toolbox

Browse all available plug-ins and install them instantly with Sketch's number one companion app: Sketch Toolbox. This app allows you to find new plug-ins and manage the ones you already own with the ability to install/uninstall right from the toolbox. This app is an essential tool for designers that work in Sketch.

Documentation has never been more straightforward

When presenting a web design, annotating each screen to include valuable context and usability notes can be a hassle. The Sketch Notebook app is an annotation tool that's sure to ease your mind on presentation day. This helpful tool allows designers to add annotations directly within artboards.

Gone are the days of manually adding annotations to screenshots that have to be continuously updated as your work evolves. Instead, add annotations to your screens in Sketch and hide them while you work. When it comes time to present your design files, toggle to show annotations and you're good to go.

Exportation is both secure and efficient

The Sketch app makes it easy and quick to export assets from your designs. You can share anything from one specific element to an entire library. Click on a layer, then click the Export+ button and choose the size, prefix, and file format you'd like to export. Sketch supports an array of file sizes and formats, plus it automatically saves your preferences for each asset, even if you mass export them as a group.

Conclusion

Sketch offers designers the opportunity to produce superior assets in nearly record time.

It allows teams to cut out extraneous add-ons and clunky design tools that slow down production speed and lead to a mess of imports and exports between platforms.

The Experience Design team at Object Edge understands the value of efficient processes. We leverage Sketch to increase productivity, reduce stress, and make collaboration simple, both between internal teams and with all of our clients.

‍Contact our team today to learn more about our design values, creative processes, and how we can advance your brand in the digital marketplace.