If you are working as a freelance graphic designer for corporate clients, you know the importance of having the right tools in your arsenal. Creating high-quality illustrations, logos, and other visual material requires graphic design apps and hardware that can meet the demands of complex projects. In a field where you can capitalize on your skills and build a stable career in the creative production industry, investing in reliable tools defines your capacity to compete and succeed.
In order to thrive as a professional graphic designer, here’s a list of the best tools you should be using.
- Graphics Tablet
Whether you are creating a logo or coming up with a design for a poster, you will need a graphics tablet that helps you translate concepts into products that sell. When it comes to choosing a graphics tablet, go for something that is durable and responsive at a price you can afford. If you are looking for high-end products that allow for higher resolutions, consider getting an iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil or a Wacom Cintiq 22. Despite being expensive, these tools can do a very good job turning out high-quality work.
- Mac or PC
Of course, as a graphics designer, you will need the right hardware that matches the demands of every project you take. Choose a desktop computer that can handle intensive processing. You might be thinking of getting an iMac Pro with its 8-core 3.2GHz Intel Zeon processor, but you can find more affordable (and equally powerful) tools in the PC sector. You only need to choose computers with high processing speeds, upgraded graphics cards, and with enough memory to boot.
- Hard Drive
If you are working on long-term projects, you are bound to produce multiple versions of a single output before your clients decide which of these versions to use. For this, purchasing a hard drive makes all the difference when it comes to storing large files. You might want to consider using a solid state drive (SSD). It is faster than your standard hard disk drive (HDD), but it has a hefty price tag that aptly justifies the benefits. You might as well opt for an HDD that churns out a high transfer speed. At any rate, you will need to conduct routine maintenance and fix problems like a Photoshop scratch disk full issue that often gets on the nerves of creatives.
- Monitor
When it comes to purchasing a monitor, you will need to be very meticulous when it comes to resolution, colour accuracy, and pricing. Then again, it’s best if you are willing to pay more for a monitor that has all the right features, like the LG Ultrafine 4K which works well for both PC and Mac users. The size and resolution should give you an extra boost during intensive design projects.
You already have the right skills, so you might as well pair them with the right tools. Investing in the best hardware can help give you the edge you need to thrive as a creative.