The design industry is experiencing its biggest technological revolution since the transition from drafting tables to CAD.
With clients expecting faster turnarounds, remote collaboration becoming the norm, and sustainability considerations taking center stage, mobile apps have evolved from convenient additions to absolute necessities.
Yet with thousands of apps claiming to be “must-haves,” finding the ones truly worth your time can feel overwhelming.
As someone who’s spent countless hours testing and implementing various design tools, I’ve curated this list of 13 game-changing apps that genuinely deserve a place in your digital toolkit.
From revolutionary AR measuring tools to sophisticated sketching platforms, these apps address real challenges that architects and interior designers face daily.
Whether you’re documenting site visits, presenting to clients, or collaborating with team members across time zones, these tools will transform how you work.
Take a look.
1. Autodesk SketchBook
SketchBook offers revolutionary sketching capabilities and intuitive design.
It’s perfect for quick concept development offering professional-grade tools that transform your tablet into a dynamic drawing board.
Its pressure-sensitive brushes and customizable interface make it indispensable for preliminary design work and client presentations.
Key Highlights
- Professional-grade brushes with customizable pressure sensitivity
- Extensive layer support with multiple blend modes
- Perspective guides and rulers for technical drawing
- Cross-platform compatibility with desktop and mobile devices
- Large canvas sizes with high-resolution export options
Explore: Procreate vs Sketchbook
2. Morpholio Trace
Built specifically for architects and designers, Morpholio Trace brings the traditional tracing paper workflow into the digital age.
You can layer your drawings, add notes, and iterate designs with unprecedented ease.
The app’s scaling tools and accurate measurements make it perfect for on-site modifications and quick design studies.
Key Highlights
- Advanced layering system mimicking traditional trace paper
- Built-in scale tools and measurement features
- Custom sheets and templates for architectural drawing
- Integrated mood boards and material palettes
- Real-time collaboration features
3. magicplan
Transform your device into a floor plan creation tool with magicplan. Using your camera and augmented reality, you can create accurate floor plans in minutes.
The app automatically generates measurements and allows you to add furniture, annotations, and materials, making it invaluable for site visits and preliminary space planning.
Key Highlights
- AR-powered room scanning and measurement
- Automatic floor plan generation
- Custom object library for furniture and fixtures
- Cost estimation features for projects
- Export options in multiple formats including PDF and CAD
Also Read: Best Drawing Apps For iPad
4. RoomScan Pro
Another revolutionary space-capturing tool, RoomScan Pro creates detailed floor plans by simply touching your device to walls. Its accuracy and speed make it perfect for preliminary surveys and quick documentation of existing spaces.
The app also supports laser distance meters for enhanced precision.
Key Highlights
- One-touch wall measurement system
- 3D visualization of scanned spaces
- Integration with laser measurement devices
- Multiple export formats including DXF
- Cloud backup and sharing capabilities
5. Palette Cam
Color matching becomes effortless with Palette Cam.
Capture colors from your surroundings and instantly get their exact values in various formats (RGB, CMYK, HEX). The app also suggests complementary color schemes and allows you to save custom palettes for future reference.
Key Highlights
- Real-time color capture from camera
- Multiple color format support
- Color scheme generation
- Custom palette saving and sharing
- Color harmony suggestions
Check Out: Best CorelDraw Alternatives
6. Sun Seeker
Understanding natural light is crucial for both architects and interior designers.
Sun Seeker provides detailed solar path information through both a flat view compass and an augmented reality camera view.
Plan window placements and interior layouts with confidence by knowing exactly how sunlight will interact with your space throughout the year.
Key Highlights
- 3D sun path visualization
- AR view for real-time sun position
- Annual sun path predictions
- Location-based solar information
- Shadow calculation features
7. BIMx
Graphisoft’s BIMx brings your 3D models to life on mobile devices.
Navigate through complex BIM models, access documentation, and present designs to clients with this powerful visualization tool.
Its hyper-model technology allows seamless switching between 2D and 3D views.
Key Highlights
- Seamless 2D/3D model navigation
- Interactive BIM element information
- Real-time model sharing capabilities
- Offline access to project files
- Integration with ARCHICAD
Also Read: Best Drawing Apps For Laptops
8. Paper by WeTransfer
Combine sketching, note-taking, and presentation capabilities in one elegant app.
Paper’s intuitive interface and beautiful rendering make it suitable for quick design iterations and client presentations. Its diagram tools and color fills help create professional-looking sketches in minutes.
Key Highlights
- Intuitive sketching interface
- Beautiful watercolor and ink effects
- Multiple export options
- Presentation mode with zooming
- Cloud synchronization across devices
9. Houzz
Access millions of high-resolution photos, connect with professionals, and shop for products all in one place.
Houzz’s ideabooks feature helps organize inspiration and share it with clients. The app’s augmented reality tool lets you visualize furniture and products in real spaces before making decisions.
Key Highlights
- Massive inspiration photo library
- Product sourcing and purchasing
- Professional networking platform
- AR furniture visualization
- Client collaboration tools
10. Measure
Apple’s native measuring app uses augmented reality to take quick measurements of objects and spaces.
While not replacing professional measuring tools, it’s incredibly handy for quick estimates and preliminary space planning during site visits or client meetings.
Key Highlights
- AR-powered measurement system
- Quick distance and area calculations
- Level tool functionality
- No internet connection required
- Seamless iOS integration
Also Read: Best Color Combinations That Look Good Together
11. Concepts
Concepts is a powerful vector-based sketching app that combines the flexibility of paper sketching with the precision of technical drawing.
Its infinite canvas and adjustable grid system make it perfect for everything from quick sketches to detailed technical illustrations.
The app’s powerful export options ensure your work can be easily integrated into other professional tools.
Key Highlights
- Infinite vector canvas
- Customizable tools and brushes
- Multiple precision modes
- Advanced layering system
- Various file format exports
12. Photo Measures
Document measurements directly on photos with this practical app.
Ideal for site visits, Photo Measures lets you annotate images with dimensions and notes, creating a comprehensive record that’s easy to reference later.
Its organization features help keep multiple projects and spaces clearly documented.
Key Highlights
- Photo annotation with measurements
- Project organization system
- Cloud backup capabilities
- Share and export features
- Multi-device synchronization
Also Read: Best Open Source Photoshop Alternatives
13. Pinterest
While not exclusively a design app, Pinterest remains an essential tool for inspiration and mood board creation.
Its visual search capabilities and vast collection of design images make it invaluable for gathering references and sharing ideas with clients.
Create dedicated boards for different projects and collaborate with team members seamlessly.
Key Highlights
- Extensive design inspiration library
- Visual search functionality for similar images
- Collaborative board sharing
- Mobile and desktop synchronization
- Integrated website linking for product sourcing
Conclusion
All these apps represent the cutting edge of mobile tools for design professionals.
While they can’t replace desktop software for complex tasks, they provide incredible flexibility and efficiency for many aspects of the design process.
By incorporating these tools into your workflow, you’ll be better equipped to handle the demands of modern architectural and interior design projects.
We need to understand that the best tools are those that enhance our existing process rather than completely changing it.
Start by incorporating one or two apps that address your most pressing needs, then gradually expand your digital toolkit as you become more comfortable with each tool.
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