As a graphic designer, you know that sometimes it take a bit more than a MacBook Pro, Adobe software, and a good printer to get the job done… sometimes you need a few gadgets to make life a bit easier.
Some of these things will allow you to work a little faster and more efficiently, others will help you make sure your work is securely backed up and relieve some anxiety.
Gadgets for Graphic Designers
- External hard drives for backups
- Wacom tablets for digital illustration and retouching
- Portable hard drives for work on the run
- USB thumb drives for fast convenient file transfers
- Webcam for Skype calls and virtual consulting
- Digital camera for photography and HD video for marketing
- Label maker for keeping organized and identifying your gear
- Portable power charger/battery for mobile devices
- iPad or other mobile tablet for basic task and presentations
- Headphones for music inspiration
External and Portable Hard Drives
Having proper backups of your data, especially when dealing with client work, is one of the most important things you can do as a graphic designer. It will save you anxiety and heartache. I use a combination of external backups as well as Dropbox for a cloud backup of important files and client projects.
A good rule of thumb may be to have double the space of whatever your computer’s hard drive capacity is. This means that you could completely backup (clone/image) your computer including your system settings and recovery in addition to storing other files. Alternatively you could have a dedicated hard drive for backing up your computer system, and different hard drives for your working files.
Wacom Tablets
If you work with Photoshop and Illustrator quite a bit, then a Wacom tablet can speed up your workflow and reduce stress on your wrist. Working long hours using a traditional mouse can put a lot of strain on your wrist. Wacom makes some of the best drawing tablets on the market. Many designers make use of them when doing digital art or photo retouching. Logo designers often use them to make complex or organic images in Adobe Illustrator.
Webcams and Digital Cameras
Video is something many graphic designers are overlooking. In addition to using photography and video to market themselves effectively, designers should be leveraging these as part of how they interact with their clients. Using a webcam during a Skype call can help clients overcome anxiety about having you work remotely. This can also work if you’re an in-house designer and need to convince a supervisor to allow you to work from home.
iPad and Mobile Tablets
Adobe Creative Cloud has released some great tools on mobile devices for creating and presenting your work. Adobe Comp is probably one the best examples of this. You can also use tablets for general tasks that a laptop or desktop may be overkill for, such as presenting your portfolio during a lunch meeting or in a casual settings.
Headphones for Music Inspiration
Don’t underestimate the importance of creative stimulation in the design process. The right music can help you focus and be more productive, or it can help you overcome a creative block and find inspiration. With that in mind having a good pair of comfortable headphones is a solid investment. If you are particularly active, consider getting a pair of bluetooth headphones to avoid getting tangled up with cords.
Also consider subscribing to a music service such as Apple Music or Spotify. You can also use free services like Pandora.
Having the right tools and conditions to be successful and productive is a good investment in your career as a creative professional. Do your research on what products and brands can add increased productivity to your workflow, and if you have questions feel free to ask in the comment section!
This article was last modified on August 21, 2015
This article was first published on August 21, 2015
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