Design suite from Microsoft
Microsoft Designer is a multimedia application developed by Microsoft. As the name suggests, this app is a graphic design tool allowing users to design documents. It is free to use and works as a web application.
Designer looked to have a user interface that is a mix between Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher, and Canva. It comes with various design templates, idea prompts, and even buttons to download or post your creation. However, note that the app is currently not available for public use. There is a workaround that promises to let you access its features, but it does not really work.
What is Microsoft Designer?
When it comes to graphic design, Photoshop is arguably the king. However, the app does not only cost a fortune, it also requires working knowledge. Hence, a lot of users are looking for an alternative that is free and more beginner-friendly. Microsoft is looking to provide that said alternative with its Designer app. As mentioned, this new web app offers users tools to design various documents.
Here, users can access various features that give their finished project a polished, professional look without needing advanced knowledge in graphic design. It has design templates and idea prompts that can help you get started immediately. Moreover, it automatically checks for formatting and style issues and creates fixes that you can apply easily. You can also apply design themes to make your project look consistent.
The app is still unavailable to the general public. However, a well-known Microsoft informant, WalkingCat, provided a workaround. First, open https://designer.microsoft.com/?fgToggler=true, which will display a blank page after log. Then, open DevTools and click Local Storage from the Application tab. Then, find persist:featureGates and change its value to this: https://pastebin.com/JRCtTypa. Finally, refresh the page. However, this workaround may not work.
Is the app worth the hype?
Overall, Microsoft Designer is a welcome addition to the growing list of free graphic design apps. The details are still limited but the app is known to offer various tools packed in a user-friendly interface. With this, you can design your document without needing advanced knowledge. However, it is not yet available to the public, and the workaround to accessing it can be quite confusing.
