I’ve search the internet and most of the articles that talk about the tools Graphic Designers need are pretty outdated, so I created a more up to date version to help with that problem. I will also help you identify specs to help you pic the best computer for graphic design.

Software Designers Need:
It’s obvious that most of your software will be Adobe Products, but that is not the only software you will need. There are other equally important  pieces of software you will need to help you.

• Adobe Creative Suites (CS6) Cost: $50/mo $1800 (Design Premium)
• Microsoft Office/ (Open Office Free) $99
• FTP Programs: Filezilla, WinSCP,
• Skype (Video Chat, share screen with clients)
• Camtasia Screen Recorder $300 (Camstuio Free)
• Font Conversion/Creation Software $50-$500
• Antivirus Software Subscription $78/yr

Web Services Designers Need:
There are web services you may need to perform certain task or services for yourself or your clients, this is part of the cost of doing business and you have to be prepared for it.

• Fax to Email Service $15/mo
• Paypal (cost per transaction fees)
• YouSendIt $50/yr
• Acrobat.com $20.yr (Convert PDF to Word and More)
• FreelanceSwitch.com Membership (find new clients) $7/mo
• Online storage/backups $50/mo
• Basecamp or other Collaboration/Project Management Software $30/mo

Service Providers:

• Broadband Internet Provider $60/mo
• Smartphone Data Plan $20/mo
• Delivery Service
• Various Printers and Print on  Demand Companies

Organizational Tools, Art Tools and Illustration Tools:
There is more to a designer than sitting in front of Photoshop. Much of what we do is based around information we are provided, and information we have to communicate. Its important to have the tools needed to sketch layouts, keep detailed design notes, hard copies of contracts and agreements and so on.

• Filing Cabinet w/Lock. Appropriate Sized Folders and Envelopes
• Grid Composition Notebook for layout design
• Acid Free Sketchbooks, Composition Notebooks,
• Presentation Portfolio Books and Portfolio Cases (One Primary plus one for each Design Discipline)
• Prisma Color Markers, Color Pencils, Drafting Pens, Drafting Pencils/Mechanical Pencils
• Exacto Knife, self healing cutting board, straight edge razors, box cutters, black foam boards and spray mount

Computers and Hardware of Graphic Designers:
Along with software these are the core of your design tool box. While some of this is obvious, some of it is not. Particularly with regard to the external backups and USB drives. You usually want to make sure your computer has a good graphics card now that Photoshop and Illustrator can really take advantage of it with the new Mercury Performance Engine. SSD Hard Drives also improve performance dramatically as do desktops using multiple hard drives.

• Quad Core or Better Desktop Computer (See Building Photoshop CS5 PC) $700-$8000
• Dual Core or Better Laptop (See Buying a Photoshop CS6 Laptop) $500-$4000
• Wacom Intuos 3 or Higher Medium-Large Size Drawing Tablet. $300-$600
• Mobile Tablet Android/Apple (If Web Designer, Both) $200-$800
• Smart Phone (See Also Why Designers Need Smartphones) $99-$700
• External Hard Drives for Each Device Including Digital Cameras,  Plus General Resource Archive. $50-$200
• USB Thumb Drive (8GB minimum) for each Device. $9-$100
• USB converter kit, HDMI Cables, Extension Cords, Media Card Reader/Adapter

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Roberto Blake

Roberto Blake is a Professional Graphics Designer and Photographer, living in Fayetteville NC, has work been working with Photoshop® for over 8 years now, and Flash® for the past 5 years.

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