Designer Starter Pack

If you are someone who is interested in graphic design but don’t know where to start, this is for you! Below are some of the key things I think will help you jump in on this amazing profession (because they helped me get into it as well)!

1) Sketchbook

• This is arguably the most important item you’ll need. A sketchbook is where ideas are born. The ability to quickly sketch out ideas and write down key words/visual language provide the perfect brainstorm session and eventual map for designing digitally later on.

2) Pencils/Pens

• If you have a sketchbook, you’re going to need something to write with! I don’t have any brands I’m particular with when it comes to my materials, but I do recommend a variety of pens, pencils, markers, and colors so that you can get different line weights and also color code if need be!

3) Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop

• If you want to be a graphic designer, you’re going to have to learn Adobe at some point. The two main programs we use (depending of course on the design niche you are pursuing) are Illustrator and Photoshop. If you are wanting to do a lot of image manipulation and more artistic rather than business-oriented work, Photoshop might be for you. However, if you want to make illustrations, patterns, text elements, or any vector asset, Illustrator is the best first step. If you don’t know which one is more enticing for you, I’d push for you to learn Illustrator first, simply because I feel it’s the most versatile platform (it has less limits than Photoshop does). I believe Adobe offers free trials, so I’d test them out and see which would be best for you too!