Is XD a good tool for non-designers to create marketing email templates?

[El_Jeffe]

I want to start out by saying I'm a photographer, not a designer. I've been using InDesign to create marketing emailers to send to clients via Constant Contact, exporting either JPG or PNG files, but always find the files look compressed. Fuzzy fonts and photographs having that compressed look, even when I try to minimize file compression. Talking with a designer friend who's on maternity leave (so has her hands full), she told me a lot of designers use XD to design emailers, even if thats not really what it was made for. Before I dive into the rabbit hole of XD, I'm hoping folks here can give me some thoughts on if they find XD to be a good solution for creating marketing email templates, if it's a piece of software that has a steep learning curve or if it's more intuitive or if there are other design apps I should consider, maybe stick with InDesign and see how to make that work.

Thanks!

[AkinGn · Accepted solution]

Hmm I see, I'd say you can totally design email templates in XD, since I think it'd make sense to use a UI/UX design tool for that kind of design. But on the other hand, there are a lot of people doing that in Photoshop, I did mailing designs in PS in the past, if you already know using PS that might be an option too, that's my opinion. For XD option, if you're hesitant about its learning curve, I need to say it's really easy to learn with beginner tutorials: https://www.adobe.com/products/xd/learn/get-started.html Also lastly I want to say Adobe Express can be another easy option: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/tutorials So you can decide which one looks best for you, hope this helps!

[El_Jeffe]

Actually, that's quite helpful.

I think what I need to do is find some good templates to get started with. Apart from any in the apps themselves, any good sites where people post template designs? 

Thanks!

[AkinGn]

As you said, apps might have templates (especially Adobe Express) but I suggest checking sites like Envato and Creative Market, you can Google also for free email templates of course (I'm not sure how appropriate it would be to post those links here that's why I just wrote the names of the market places 🙂 )

[El_Jeffe]

Great! I'll check those out. 

Finding some YouTubes on using XD to create emails and email style sheets, so fingers crossed I can use that maybe along with some adapted templates to create what I'm after.

Thanks!

[AkinGn]

Ah yes YouTube has great video tutorials on many subjects, including designing email templates, good idea! Be sure to ask if you have anything to consult, good luck!