Aniket Pawar

Graphic designers are technology and software-savvy. Their tools create digital art, unique & multi-layered designs that visually ‘blow your mind’.

Where we speak in length about the different softwares they use, no one quite pays attention to the smaller things, the hidden tools that are more or less invisible to us but are tools of utmost importance to these artists.

1. The right environment

As important as hardwares and softwares are to a designer, one of the most important ‘tool’ for them is having the correct, soothe and calm environment. A sanctuary with minimum distraction is crucial for artists to come up with ideas that will translate into the best work they have to offer!

2. Comfortable seats

Hear me out before you get laughing! Distractions aren’t just external. So let us not underestimate the power of comfort. A designer isn’t optimizing his mind if he’s busy shifting around and adjusting himself on that hard chair. His mind is constantly moving around as much as his body is. In such cases, effort is compromised, time is waste and there’s more ‘snooze mode’ than ‘work mode’.

Getting the right kind of chair cuts distractions by half as your body is now geared to elevate your creativity by notches.

3. Basic hardware

A keyboard & mouse is a graphic artists’ weapons; things he works with, lives with and creates beautifully detailed illustrations with. It is the equivalent of a magic wand in a designer’s life. So it is mandatory that he gets a ‘wand’ he is comfortable with to make the magic.

Over a longer period of time, artists also face wear and tear on their hands and wrist joints, due to the constantly being at the desk with a mouse in their grip. The right kind of keyboard and mouse will prevent any permanent damage, assisting the longevity of the designer.

4. Multi-screen display

Multi-tasking is a universal necessity. People constantly are short of time and spend long hours on projects to meet deadlines. They are working on multiple things side by side and in such cases, multi-screens are a boon. They help keep your work more systematic and de-cluttered, thus making you work faster and more efficiently.

5. Graphic tablets

Also known as digitizer, pen tablet or digital art board, this is a dream setup for graphic designers. This combination of technology and software coming together to bring creative ideas to life as it lets artists work directly with a pen-on-screen, giving them a feeling of drawing on paper. The rigidity that comes with automation in softwares, is eased off with these tablets.

It isn’t necessary for you to have the most expensive set-ups or the fanciest softwares. With time, effort and focus, these neglected tools work wonders on the end product i.e. the design or artwork.