You may have a lot of accomplishments to prove that you are a visual designer with outstanding talent. And your skill can be dramatically increased by employing the right graphic design tools. We have rounded up the list of hardware and software widely used today. These tools can help you impress your clients and attract new prospects. Let’s delve in!
5 Most-Recommended Graphic Design Tools – Hardware
Depending on your work and the environment you work in, graphic designers may have different hardware requirements. If you are wondering what designers with years of experience might use, this is a good starting point.
Laptop: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch
While it may not be the newest, Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro is still one of the best laptops in its class. Even at 16 inches, the MacBook Pro has a size-defying, ultra-thin, and sleek design, making it perfect for graphic designers to work at home or on the move.
The internals is not much different than that of the 14-inch model. However, the 16-inch comes with a wider screen that can accommodate all creative works better than the smaller variant. It’s an XDR mini-LED screen display that is popular for its stunning quality.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch is available with either M1 Max or M1 Pro chips, which can handle even the most demanding graphic design projects. Considering the powerful components of this device, the battery life is surprisingly exceptional as well.
Indeed, all this does not come cheap, and, understandably, a device with the best specs always costs a lot more. However, if you are looking for a laptop to support your design job with no trouble for years, this is undoubtedly an excellent investment.
High-res monitor: BenQ PD3200U
Occasionally, graphic designers prefer working on a desktop over a laptop. For that reason, they need a monitor that can provide them with the highest resolution possible, extreme performance, and most up-to-date connecting choices. BenQ PD3200U has it all, and it comes at the best value.
This BenQ monitor comes with a 32-inch widescreen display that makes dealing with 3D and 4K images much more straightforward than other monitors. The display includes a PS screen with a 1,000:1 contract ratio and full sRGB color space.
In addition, the monitor has CAD/CAM modes, dedicated animation, and a darkroom, making it the best friend of 3D graphic design professionals. Coming with a KVM switch, this 4K monitor allows you to connect it with a second PC easily and use only one screen, mouse, and keyboard to switch between the two.
Furthermore, the PD3200U promotes high versatility, allowing you to swivel, tilt, or rotate the monitor per your preferred position. All in all, it’s a top-tier monitor designed for creative professionals and is modestly priced compared to other monitors in its class.
Monitor calibrator: Datacolor SpyderX
The color quality of a monitor will undoubtedly change over time. For that reason, many professional colorists advise every graphic designer to calibrate monitors at least once a month. It is to ensure the colors the monitor displays stay consistent.
To conduct monitor calibration, you will need the best calibrator. And Datacolor SpyderX is one of the most recommended calibrators, for that matter. SpyderX is the improvement of the previous Datacolor Spyder5 models.
SpyderX calibrators feature a brand new lens-based detection system. It can make the calibration process run faster while simultaneously improving accuracy, allowing every graphic design professional to feel more confident with the monitor’s color accuracy.
Of all the SpyderX range, the Pro models are now the most affordable option. Considering the value, it’s still one of the most reliable monitor calibrators from Datacolor. Besides, it comes with multi-monitor support and the ability to detect light conditions so that the monitor can provide its best look wherever you work.
Graphics tablet: Wacom Cintiq 16
Using graphic tablets by graphic designers and other creative professionals has become increasingly popular. Tablets provide designers with a more natural creative experience, enabling them to create and communicate their design ideas quickly.
Wacom is one of the most well-known and widely-used graphic tablet brands by many creative professionals. Its Cintiq 16 model is the perfect example that a tablet with quality specs doesn’t have to be insanely expensive. It is an excellent tool to start with for any aspiring graphic designer out there.
Of course, it’s not without a reason why the Cintiq 16 is the ideal tablet for graphic design. This tablet is a perfect combination of performance, size, and value. Compared to other entry-level tablets, this one is more reasonably priced.
However, its entry-level status may tempt some designers to overlook this device. But the Cintiq 16 comes with a secret weapon: the Wacom Pro Pen 2. The stylus has a maximum sensitivity level of 8,912, outperforming many graphic tablets with comparable prices.
Hard drive: Western Digital Elements
An external hard drive may not be explicitly a design tool. Still, professional graphic designers could not work well without needing at least one. Reliable hard drives can provide enormous amounts of storage and are portable and easy to use. Even if you don’t use them to back up your project data files, you can use them to expand your computer’s storage.
Western Digital Elements comes at the top of the list of all the existing hard drives in the market. This drive features a stylish case that stands vertically. This little detail not only frees up your work surface but also keeps the internals of the device cooler.
The WD Elements provides up to 12TB to save your most important graphic design projects. Moreover, the product is already NTFS-formatted and ready to use with Windows-based PCs or laptops, which is quite handy because it will take a lot of time if you have to make a full format. If you are a Mac user, you can simply plug in and reformat the hard drive.
Considering the weight, it might not be an ideal option if you prioritize portability. But if you are looking for the most storage for your budget, then look no further.
5 Most-Recommended Graphic Design Tools – Software
Now we are moving to the software tools that professional graphic designers use. Much like hardware, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to software tools. Yet the following list is the most recommended and widely used by professional and aspiring graphic designers.
Creative software: Adobe Creative Cloud
As a designer, you will always require reliable software to accommodate the design creation process. While the options are varied, Adobe Creative Cloud, best known as Adobe CC, remains at the top of the list.
Adobe CC is even regarded as the standard in the industry for creative professionals. It is primarily due to the depth and range this suite of tools offers unmatched by any other graphic design software maker.
If you have been in the creative industry for years, you must know that this tool comes at a cost. Even if you have an Adobe Creative Cloud discount to chop the initial price, a subscription for all apps is still a significant financial commitment.
Still, you will get total access to Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and many more. There’s no stopping you if you are passionate about being a multi-disciplined designer. However, it’s not the sole option if you exclusively work on vector design or photo editing.
Productivity software: Google Docs
In addition to requiring design software, graphic designers also need productivity software to streamline their tasks. In this case, Google Docs is widely recommended for the free online version of popular productivity software like Microsoft Office.
This suite allows you to create documents, slides, and spreadsheets that can be accessed from any browser on your device. When your work requires you to use Google’s extensive search functions, they are consistently integrated into this productivity software’s simple interface.
In addition, Google Docs makes it easy for you to collaborate with other graphic design professionals. There is also a wide range of quality, ready-to-use templates to save you time. If you require more extensive collaboration tools, you may consider using Google Docs G Suite, which requires a subscription.
Antivirus: Bitdefender
An antivirus is a must-have software for graphic designers because it’s too easy for your device to fall into a malware or virus trap. Having this on your computer doesn’t always have a thing to do with some risky actions. It may only take opening a document that seems like it was sent by a client for your computer to be infected.
Therefore, it’s essential to invest in dependable antivirus software. It is especially crucial if you work remotely or always connect to a WiFi network. In this case, you can rely on Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020. It’s a complete protection package that can protect 10 devices. These include Windows-based PCs, MACs, and Android-based devices.
You won’t have to worry about losing your graphic design projects and other data anymore. This antivirus provides ongoing defense against phishing attacks, viruses, and malware. It can even spot suspicious software based on its behavior before it has any chance to do any damage.
Additionally, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020 features a highly secure browser designed specifically for shopping and online banking. This software is also equipped with a file shredder you can use to destroy any private information from your clients so that it’s impossible to be recovered.
Cloud storage: iDrive
You may already have an external hard drive, but it can only be accessed one way. It is where cloud storage plays its role. Among all available options, iDrive is ideal, especially if you are looking for enormous storage for your buck.
iDrive offers an incredible deal where you can get 10TB of cloud storage for only $3.98. The most exciting thing of all these worths for a whole year. If even that tiny penny is a bit too much for you, you can enjoy the free plan deal, which will provide you with 5GB of storage.
In addition to the price, iDrive is excellent for graphic design professionals because of its functionality and features. You will enjoy unlimited device sync and backup, automatic external hard drive backup, simple file sharing, end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentification, and many more.
VPN software: ExpressVPN
Perhaps you are now wondering why graphic designers require a VPN. VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, is a service that serves as a secure portal to the internet. It allows you to have secure access, primarily if you work remotely and frequently use public WiFi hotspots.
Suppose you need to access certain websites which are unfortunately blocked in your country. In that case, a VPN will enable you to get past this limitation. ExpressVPN is one of the top choices for graphic design professionals to enjoy secure internet access when working with public WiFi network.
This service does this by routing your online traffic via one of the many servers dispersed over 94 countries utilizing an encrypted connection. If that seems overwhelming to you, no need to worry; the interface of this VPN makes it all simple to comprehend and use.
Furthermore, ExpressVPN is not only compatible with desktop computers and laptops. It can also work with all mobile apps installed on your tablet and smartphone. The best thing of all, you can install this VPN on routers to protect any device connected to your home WiFi network.
To Wrap Up
Graphic design is a vast industry of creative prospects. Knowing which tools you should have can help you build a far more impressive career. Purchasing the appropriate tools is an investment in your professional life and the growth of your creativity. Which design tools from the list above do you plan to own in the near future?
