Fundamentals
Today, many design and modeling workflows face disruption as sanctions impact software availability in Russia. A growing number of companies have paused operations there, reflecting broader restrictions that affect access to essential design tools for modern web and architectural projects.
Major software makers have halted new sales in Russia. Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and other Creative Cloud apps are no longer available, and this pause extends to leading platforms used by designers. Industry insiders highlight the challenge this creates for teams that rely on these workhorses for everyday tasks.
Olga Britt, a lead designer with Lanit-Tercom in the Lanit group, notes that a modern web designer can hardly operate without access to Figma or the suite of Adobe products. Figma, an online platform for building interfaces with real-time collaboration, becomes a bottleneck if access is restricted, she explains. The absence of these tools could stall critical design workflows across teams.
Valeria Kachanova, a designer at a construction firm, emphasizes that she typically uses widely adopted programs from the Adobe, Autodesk and Graphisoft ecosystems in her daily work.
Regarding Archicad, a key architectural design application from Graphisoft, there is optimism that the software will remain available in the Russian market. Archicad is valued for its capacity to manage complex architectural projects. Designers compare it with Autodesk Revit, noting that many firms use both in different capacities.
As one expert observes, similar functionality exists across Archicad and Revit, and firms accustomed to Archicad may continue their workflows uninterrupted. Others who relied on Revit might consider Archicad as a viable alternative as software landscapes adapt to new constraints.
Possible analogues
Olga Britt believes creating a Russian analogue to Figma could be a strong strategic move. Such a service would have to compete with Adobe XD and could potentially replace some image processing tasks traditionally done in Photoshop, she asserts.
Yet the expert cautions that no single solution will meet every need. Import substitution may be required across major software tools to maintain full design capability and workflow integrity.
Valeria Kachanova adds that there are currently no clear Russian equivalents for building design modeling. If Archicad restricts access, some projects may face new hurdles. Simpler tools show more promise, including a local alternative to AutoCAD from Autodesk, used for architectural and engineering drawings, though it is not officially active in every market.
Another local solution, KOMPAS-Graphic, offers a Russian analogue with both advantages and drawbacks compared with its international counterpart. It holds potential for broader deployment among specialists in the country, alongside a Russian variant of Graphisoft’s KOMPAS-Graph. There is mention of a Russian lightweight CAD option, nanoCAD, though it has yet to gain widespread familiarity among the field.
Domestic substitutes are also seen as essential for disciplines like power systems design, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and water supply and sanitation. These professionals rely on specialized software that connects with universally used drawing tools, such as AutoCAD, and local alternatives must aim for compatibility and reliability.
For 3D modeling and visualization, SketchUp is considered a practical option for some projects and could replace Autodesk’s 3Ds Max in certain cases. Architects and designers continue to use SketchUp for rapid concepting and prototyping, and the market may see growing adoption as needs evolve.
Progress of import substitution
Olga Britt notes that worthy Chinese or Indian equivalents to Figma, Photoshop and Illustrator have not yet emerged to replace the missing capabilities for advanced design tasks. Still, she expresses hope that Russia will advance its own development in this area.
Valeria Kachanova agrees that exploring options is possible, but it will come with practical constraints. For instance, Procreate on iPad could substitute some Photoshop tasks, though it is platform-restricted. She believes there are domestic tools that do not severely limit work, even if they are less familiar due to the ubiquity of Adobe products.
Industry software developers are urged to tailor tools for design and architecture to maintain high-quality visuals, as many professionals rely on precise rendering and presentation standards in their work.
GIS programs that support map creation and terrain analysis remain a bright spot in import substitution. QGIS is highlighted as a flexible, free option that suits many users and is available in Russia.
Alexander Kiselev, founder and CEO of an IT training platform, points out that design bans influence the quick pivot toward local substitutes. While pirated software and offshore workarounds may exist, large firms tend to avoid such practices due to reputational risk. They may instead engage contractors who operate through VPNs, though this approach carries safety and reliability concerns.
Kiselev also notes that certain tools like Canva or paid image resources are no longer readily affordable for many teams, pushing the search for alternatives. His team is pursuing options that maintain core design capabilities while respecting budget and compliance constraints.
As part of the ongoing search for viable substitutes, examples include Alivecolors for photo processing and retouching, and Supa for video creation used in social media content. The emphasis remains on finding robust, locally supported options that align with professional standards and workflows.