It’s probably one of the questions I get asked most when I give talks or attend seminars, “What do I have to do to become a designer”.

There is no easy answer to this question, I have interviewed people that have taken the traditional route through education and not employed them as I didn’t consider them to be designers, they had the knowledge but not the skill.

I have however employed people with no formal design qualifications, and indeed little knowledge of operating the, dare I say, stock design software, who, with some training have become amazingly creative designers. I am lucky enough to be still working with some of them years later.

So back to the burning question…

Over this series I hope to investigate some of the elements that may help along the rocky path to working in the design industry, I can’t profess to be able to make you a designer, but I’ll try to help.

Equipment

As the saying goes, ‘Horses for Courses’. As in any trade or hobby personal preference rules, there is also the small matter of budget. These are my unashamed personal choices and are based on equipment I actually own.

Hardware

iMac 27” – 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache; Turbo Boost dynamic performance up to 3.46GHz; Hyper-Threading for up to eight virtual cores.

I use mine daily and nothing phases it. I undertake all types of work from traditional graphic design to 3D CGI. This Mac is allegedly the fastest Apple produce at the moment, even out performing a Mac Pro.

MacBook Pro 13” – 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 3MB shared L3 cache; or 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache.

I use this for taking to clients and demoing work, showing our portfolio, attached to a projector for exhibitions and allowing me to work whilst lounging around in odd places.

Some people suggest that you really shouldn’t go for anything smaller than a 15” screen, but I have found that in reality 13” is big enough for working and presenting and is really portable.

iPhone – Ok so I’m looking like an Apple fanboy at this point, and yes, I guess I am, but the products really work for me.

The screen is big enough to show elements of your portfolio at the drop of a hat. The camera is good enough for reference shots (on my 3GS, the version 4 looks exceptional with 7mp). I can pick up my email and react to it from anywhere which has made it worth it’s monthly outlay so many times, ensuring that I have won contracts and again allowing me to be anywhere whilst appearing to be in the studio.

Graphics Tablet – I have a Wacom

Not essential but it makes graphic manipulation so much easier, particularly photo editing. It also allows me to sketch ideas directly on the screen instead of having to scan paper sketches.

Digital SLR – I have a Canon 350D

My Canon is very much an entry level model and is actually getting quite old now but I still manage to satisfy clients with shots for websites and even brochure work.

This list is by no means exhaustive or essential, but it is the kit I work with on a daily basis and may give you an insight into the designers hardware toolbox. I would actually find it quite hard to work without these tools in some kind of format.

Next time ‘Software’…