Essential Graphic Design Tools

When aspiring to become a graphic designer, one must have the proper tools. These tools include:

1. A computer either a MAC or a PC- Choices are solely based on preferences because either will work.
2. Graphic design software- Adobe products are industry standard. Adobe software includes: InDesign; Illustrator; Photoshop; Flash; and Acrobat. Jobs in the graphic design field will expect designers to be familiar with most, if not all of these programs.
3. Graphic Design Books- Having a collection of graphic design books around the house can help to inspire designers; offer aide to solving technical difficulties; and help to maintain the designer's business. A designer can never have too many graphic design books. Some recommended graphic design books are: The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook- Pricing and Ethical Guidelines; Los Logos; The Little Know-It-All- Common Sense for Designers; and Tell Me Why- The First 24 Months of a New York Design Company.
   
4. Sketchpad- Sketching your ideas before creating them is a great idea and helps keep your thoughts organized. Also, sketching takes less time than trying to mock something up on a computer. A good idea would be to keep a small sketchpad handy for whenever you get any ideas so that way you can sketch them out before you end up forgetting a potentially great idea.
5. Other Creative Professionals- There are three reasons having other creative professionals around is important; 1. It is hard to critique yourself; 2. If there are others around helping you brainstorm it can help bring your best ideas to light; and 3. When you get assigned projects that are more involved, you are going to need the help and you will need people to collaborate with.
6. and last, but not least, CREATIVITY! In order to be successful in this field you must be creative and you must always keep an open-mind.

This is a list of the essential graphic design tools any aspiring graphic designer must have. Of course, there are other tools and programs available to help aide aspiring graphic designers as well, but this should get them off to a good start once they learn how to operate the tools and organize their ideas.