Necessary Equipment for Graphic Design Professionals
Ready to elevate your graphic design game? Here's our list of essential tools for design pros and beginners alike. From laptops and desktops to monitors, external hard drives, and ergonomic chairs, we've got you covered.
Hardware
Laptops
Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)
This gorgeous powerhouse boasts top-notch build quality, an impressive 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, and battery life that lasts nearly a day and a half. Equipped with the M4 chip, it's a beast for handling graphic design software, making it a top choice for creatives on the go.
New features include improved connectivity with multiple ports and a high-quality 1080p webcam. Our reviewer found that the device's intelligence features and iPhone mirroring make theMacBook Pro (M4, 2024) a standout. Check out our full review for more details.
External Hard Drive
Western Digital Elements Portable External Hard Drive
Tired of constant cloud storage fees or a cluttered laptop? This portable drive boasts a bulk-free design with up to 5TB of storage space. With speeds of up to 6Gbps, it delivers fast data transfer while maintaining backward compatibility with USB 2.0 devices for added convenience.
Software
Creative Software
Adobe Creative Cloud
Industry standard software for professional designers, Adobe Creative Cloud's suite of tools is unmatched by any other company. With apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and more, it's essential for landing jobs in design studios and collaborating with fellow freelancers. However, its subscription fees are hefty. As alternatives, consider Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo –– both excellent Photoshop and Illustrator alternatives at a one-time cost.
UI Software
Figma
Figma is the go-to UX design tool, excelling in features for the entire design process, from ideation to prototyping. Its collaboration tools are second to none, making teamwork a breeze. Whether it's for wireframing, creating prototypes, or brainstorming with the included FigJam, Figma UX designers can't go wrong.
Want more tips and tricks for graphic design success? 🎨🖌️
- Hone your sketching skills with our Draw Anything Challenge
- Energize your portfolio with our Portfolio Review Checklists
- Master typography with our Design Typography Guide
- Discover your dream design job with our Job Hunting Guide for Graphic Designers
Want more enriching content tailored to your interests? Let us know, and we'll be happy to share it with you! 😊😉
- The MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) is a potent device for graphic design due to its M4 chip and impressive 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display.
- The MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) offers improved connectivity with multiple ports and a high-quality 1080p webcam.
- The Western Digital Elements Portable External Hard Drive is a convenient solution for storing large design files with a slim design and up to 5TB of storage space.
- Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry-standard software for professional graphic designers, featuring Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other essential tools.
- Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo are alternative creative software solutions at a one-time cost, great for designers on a budget.
- Figma is a renowned UI design tool, excelling in features from ideation to prototyping, and collaboration within the design process.
- Figma UX designers can take advantage of wireframing, creating prototypes, and brainstorming with FigJam.
Tips and Tricks for Graphic Design Success
- Improve your sketching skills with the Draw Anything Challenge.
- Energize your portfolio with the Portfolio Review Checklists.
- Master typography with the Design Typography Guide.
- Find your dream design job with the Job Hunting Guide for Graphic Designers.
- You can hone your skills further by participating in our Draw Anything Challenge, Portfolio Review Checklists, Design Typography Guide, and Job Hunting Guide for Graphic Designers.
- Discover articles about art, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, technology, entertainment, and general news to complement your design education.
- Let us know your interests, and we'll tailor enriching content accordingly.
- If you're starting with UI design, learning the principles of user experience (UX) is crucial.
- 3D design is becoming increasingly popular in web and graphic design, making skills in this area valuable.
- Logo design is a creative and challenging field, essential for branding and identity development.
- If you're drawn to the world of animation or illustration, expand your skills to add more depth and creativity to your graphic designs.
