Top 5 Must-Have iPad Apps for Designers

When starting this article, I had the inspiration for ten different iPad apps but as I began writing, I realized that I really wanted to hone it down to the 5 most essential, must-have apps that every designer with an iPad should have.

Not only are these apps highly intuitive, bringing your creativity to the touch of your finger, but they're a very real way to take your work with you, make your dreams reality, and allow you to quickly deal with technical issues. As a designer, if you have an iPad and don't get these 5 apps, you're doing yourself a serious disservice. And if you're worried about cost, don't be - there is only 1 app here that will cost you more than $1.99 and one that is less than a buck!

Must-Have App 1: iMockups -

After winning the Applied Arts Best Mobile App Award and Best Utility App Runner-up Award, the price of this iPad app has actually been reduced! Created by Productivity and sold through/copyright by Endloop Systems Inc., customers have been consistently rating this dandy tool a 4-star and it's compatible with iPad iOS 3.2 or newer.

As for what iMockups does, Chris Pirillo, Tech Expert for CNN.com might have put it best when he stated that, "If you weren't planning to buy an iPad, this app alone could very well change your mind."

Yes, for a designer, this thing is really that cool. Created exclusively for the iPad, iMockups combines an absolutely stunning and intuitive interface with the kind of functionality only a touch-screen device can provide. So it's simple to use but don't mistake it for 'beginner' equipment - this is a serious app for serious creative professionals.

For a full list of features (including the ability to design any app you want, the ability to stay focused and save time by creating mockups and allows quick collaboration, and seriously smart - and customizable - controls) and to download this awesome mock-up and so much more-maker visit its dedicated page at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id364885913.

Must-Have App 2: Penultimate -

We've all been told this advice and to one degree or another, most of us utilize it - but never fully. What advice, you ask? This advice:

Always keep a pad and pencil with you for when inspiration strikes.

I will admit that I'm one of the worst at this. I've done all the suggested things like pick notebooks that really draw me in, pens that I love the feel of, keeping the book at my side at all times … and I still slack because it's time-consuming and I don't have the time to consume.

So. This iPad app blew me away. Not only do you get the tactile gratification of using your hands just like writing on paper, but you have digital power and flexibility that allows you to do everything from include photo annotations, keep simple notes, draw sketches, share mockups, and much more - and because it's right there on your favorite little toy, it's easy to remember and to use.

The real selling point for me, honestly, was not only these functions (and there's a lot more) that I could get with something similar, but this iPad app actually helps you stay organized too. You can organize your sketches, photos, thoughts, and mockups in named notebooks by topic, project, or category - whatever makes the most sense to you.

So, hit Penultimate at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id354098826 and get to downloading! (Need motivation? It's less than 2 bucks!)

Must-Have App 3: TypeDrawing -

I don't know about you, but I wind up spending countless minutes that easily add up to hours during a week just sitting there waiting. Waiting for an appointment, a client, my kid … the list goes on. It's frustratingly during these times, when I've been silly and forgotten that pen and paper, that I start thinking most about logo designs.

Hey, everyone's got their own thing.

This being mine, I was thrilled to find TypeDrawing. Whether you are using this really nifty iPad app to create typography art, logotype, or watermarks, it's seriously the most easy thing I've ever seen to play with text. As the app creator, Hansol Huh, put it best, " If you love typography, this poetic visual art app is absolutely yours."

To truly understand the power of TypeDrawing and how easy it is to use (not to mention how very, very little it will hurt your wallet since it's only $1.99) you need to go to its page at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id314072879.

Must-Have App 4: LiveSketch HD -

I'm a chiaroscurist when it comes to drawing - meaning that I love charcoals, pencils, and shades of black, white, and gray. This also seriously comes in handy when you're sketching out ideas for a design, a graphic, or a layout because the pencil quality of these sketches makes it easier to create a digital design from.

Come on in LiveSketch HD. This is an iPad app that allows you to sketch in a way that feels so much like pencil and paper you'll grin. See unbelievable video in which a famous Japanese artist Yoshitoshi ABe sketches with this app: http://bit.ly/livesketch-hd

LiveSketch is super easy to use, too. Draw faster for thin lines, slower for thick ones, and simply tap the screen to hide or show the toolbar. This app makes beautiful and intuitive use of the iPad screen and you'll never regret the (also under $2) purchase at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/livesketch-hd/id364888269?mt=8.

Must-Have App 5: Quill -

What designer's toolset would be complete without a vector drawing program? And wouldn't it be even cooler if that program could go with you anywhere, but allow you to send your drawings in SVG (standard vector format) so that you can open them in everything from Illustrator to Inkscape? Very simply, Quill does it.

Tailored for both the iPad and the iPhone, this app lets you work in vector format with full vector functions like zoom and scale without loss of detail, the creation of bezier curves, path picking, and soon things right out of Illustrator, for example, are coming like basic shapes, grouping, and gradients. In short, it's a great app for very, very little money that allows you to not only work anywhere but save in a variety of formats and email your work as you like.

Check out the app's page for more information: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quill/id362239305?