Good hardware is the foundation for any quality graphic design work. Whether you’re a new designer starting out in your career, or a creative professional leveling up your craft— investing in the right equipment is key to your success. But with so many design tools on the market, it can be a challenge to figure out the best technology to unleash your creative potential.
In this article, well share five pieces of hardware every graphic designer needs to create their very best work. Plus, we’ll recommend some excellent pieces of hardware built especially for creators that are worth the investment. Let’s get straight into it.
✏️ Thanks to our friends at Acer’s ConceptD for sponsoring this blog post!
1. Laptop
Arguably the most important piece of equipment in your designer toolkit is a laptop—but not just any laptop. There are a few essential specs to consider when weighing your options:
- Display screen size
- Color accuracy
- CPU speed & power
- Portability
As a professional graphic designer, color accuracy and CPU will be the most important specs to look out for. A fast and powerful CPU allows you to run complex design software without a hitch, and a color-accurate display will ensure that the colors in your design work are reproduced on the screen as intended.
If you’re on the market for a graphic design laptop, Acer’s ConceptD 7 Ezel is an excellent choice that meets all of these criteria. It has a PANTONE Validated 4K screen and offers multiple display modes for professional designers who want to be able to sketch, finalize, and present their work all on one device. On top of that, the ConceptD Ezel doubles as a drawing tablet!
2. Monitor
Similar to a laptop, graphic designers should invest in a monitor with high color accuracy, (ideally a PANTONE validated display), and wide viewing angles to evaluate your work with utmost clarity.
Acer’s line of ConceptD monitors are an excellent choice for any creative professional. Check out the ConceptD CP7 for a top-of-line monitor built with color technologies that ensure vivid, true-to-life color reproduction. Plus, a built-in light-shielding hood helps block out any ambient light so you can focus on your design work.
3. Keyboard & Mouse
Although often overlooked, graphic designers should never underestimate the power of a high-tech mouse and keyboard. For the best workflow experience, opt for both ergonomic and wireless builds. Graphic designers working in front of a screen all day need to prioritize both comfort and efficiency, after all.
Logitech’s MX Master Series mouse and keyboards were specifically engineered to be intuitive to your workflow and crafted for the shape of your hands. Plus, the MX Master Series allows you to work faster with predefined customizations optimized for your favorite design apps.
4. Desktop
For your large-scale design projects, you’ll also need a heavy-duty desktop to store big files and run complex design software. Opting for a hardware solution built especially for digital creators is the best investment you can make here.
With Acer’s ConceptD Desktop 900, no design project is too big. With its increased transfer speeds, you’ll get a smooth and efficient boost to your workflows. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about a lack of space ever again. There’s really no limit to what you can create.
5. Bonus: Drawing Tablet
For graphic designers who are big on sketching and iterating on your ideas, consider investing in a professional drawing tablet. Drawing tablets are excellent tools for creating more detailed-intensive work much faster and comfortably than a pen and paper.
With so many drawing tablets on the market, you can’t go wrong with Wacom —an industry stalwart when it comes to drawing tablets for creative professionals. However, you can always opt for a high-tech laptop that doubles as a drawing tablet—like the ConceptD 7 Ezel—to really streamline and maximize your workflow.
Invest in hardware built for creators.
High-quality equipment is the foundation for producing any good design work. Set yourself up for success by investing in hardware built especially for creators. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Acer’s full line of ConceptD products.
ConceptD was born out of a belief that designers achieve their best work when they reach their own definition of perfection. Their line of products offers a truly fresh approach to computing, enabling you as a creator to unleash your full potential.
Start investing in your design career and explore ConceptD on Acer. That’s a wrap! ■
🎨 Blog header Illustration by Irina Molchanova from Ouch!
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