Where Did It All Start?

Designer Tools started in 2018 as a simple Chrome extension born out of frustration. At the time, achieving pixel-perfect alignment in designs felt like an endless battle. I wrote about this in a Medium article called "Winning the War on Element Alignment", where I shared the inspiration behind the project. It was meant to solve common alignment and spacing issues that plagued my workflow as a designer and front-end developer.

The first version of Designer Tools was basic but practical: it had some basic tools for measuring spacing. This was a game-changer for me. It was fast, accurate, and so lightweight that integrated seamlessly into my work. When I launched the extension, I had no expectations; it was a personal project to save myself some headaches.

To my surprise, Designer Tools quickly resonated with others. Within the first three months, it had 350 users. I still remember the excitement of seeing people download it, leave feedback, and even share their feature requests. Slowly but steadily, the user base grew, and by 2024, Designer Tools has over 80,000 users worldwide.

Over the years, the extension evolved based on feedback from its growing community. What started as a simple alignment tool expanded to include features like comparing elements, grid systems, overlaying designs and accessibility checking. These weren’t just my ideas — they were shaped by the needs and suggestions of the designers and developers who used the tool. It became clear that the challenges I faced weren’t unique; they were shared across the industry.

Looking back, it’s incredible to see how much Designer Tools has grown, not just in terms of features but in its impact. It went from being a personal hack to a tool that helps teams create better digital experiences. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been hearing stories from users about how it fits into their workflows. Whether it’s a solo freelancer or a large design team, knowing that Designer Tools has made their work easier is what keeps me motivated.

None of this would have been possible without the support from the community. To everyone who has downloaded it, shared it, or reached out with feedback — thank you. Designer Tools exists because of you, and I’m excited to continue improving it. The journey isn’t over, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.