Last week, we shared 7 Laptop Recommendations of 2021 and lightly touched on external hard drives, but there are more tools you should consider getting if you don’t already have them! This list is great for design students starting in the fall or those looking to refresh your tool kit! In a perfect studio world, nothing gets misplaced or taken by accident. However, that’s not always the case. While getting together your toolkit together, make sure to label all your things! Trust me; I’ve definitely lost a few rulers and Exacto knives in the past, so don’t let that happen to you.
Our team gathered this list of items based on past experiences and what we should’ve bought entering our design journey! Before we get started, though, it’s important to know your budget when considering what purchases you’ll be making especially considering brands. When shopping for tools, I take the same route as thrifting – look for the best deals and utility.
Mindset
Design is subjective. For this reason, it can be taxing on the mind when there are no right answers, so it’s important to keep a good mindset! However, what does a good mindset entail? Curiosity, patience, and balance are all critical qualities that design individuals should develop! It’s important to exercise unique thoughts and explore concepts to develop a better understanding of design. Architecture is the culmination of knowledge and design, so experimenting with what works and what doesn’t is half the fun!
Be patient with yourself and others. You don’t expect a baby to start running, do you? Your architectural knowledge, design thinking, and critical thinking will develop over time with practice. Unfortunately, in the design world, at times, individuals can find themselves comparing their work to peers lowering their self-esteem, and trampling over their effort. Our team understands this and wants to emphasize grace with yourself and your peers as you all move forward together!
It’s easy to bury yourself in work with design, so ultimately keeping a balanced lifestyle helps keep a healthy mindset in all aspects of life. Whether it’s taking multiple breaks or hanging out with friends, takes actions outside of architecture that help you be yourself! Remember to look beyond architecture for inspiration and spending personal time.
Sketching/Draft Tools
I’m a big advocate for analog methods like drawing to explore concepts, so much that Architizer shared my other article, The Argument for Hand Drawing, discussing why it’s still necessary for designers to keep this in their skill sets.
Pens, Pencils, Markers, etc
A Good Sketchbook
- A good sketchbook becomes your idea log, diary, and notebook all in one. There are countless sizes and styles, so go forth to find your book!
Metal Rulers
Scale Bar
T-square
Trace + Good Quality Paper
Eraser
Modeling Tools
Drawing Board
- Whether or not you’ll be using this tool a lot for drawings, I highly enjoyed having a raised and smooth work platform!
Cutting Mat
Exacto Knives
Scissors
Tweezers
Quick Dry Glue
Tape Measure
Tech
Although not necessary, this tool can greatly increase your productivity levels, and it doesn’t have to be expensive either! Any old monitor with an HDMI cable will work just fine, so there’s no need for the top-of-the-line product! I bought my monitor from a friend for $30, and up until a year ago, I was using it for everything, from working, gaming, and Netflix binging.
Save, Save, and Save again for your sanity.
A great investment is wireless noise-canceling headphones! Although it’s an optional item, It can be quite frustrating when you are super focused on a task, but studio background noise can distract you from the task. This is why investing in a pair of soundproof headphones can help you focus and optimize your time in the studio and have you rocking to some nice bass. If you are the type to work on large drawings or spend a lot of time building physical models, it might be worth looking into wireless options.
You’ll be using it every day, so why not invest in a comfortable one?
Desk Set-Up
I never invested in a table lamp, but looking back, my eyes could’ve been less strained if I had a lamp for those long drawing sessions. OttLite makes good lamps, and they are available at Costco at a more budget-friendly price. If Ottlite or Costco are unavailable to you, any lamp will work just fine as long as it doesn’t get in your way.
The MOST important item on the list by far is getting a comfortable chair! Your body will love you for getting a good chair because this is where you’ll be sitting for hours and days until you move onto the next chair. This is where you will work on and sometimes nap on, so a good chair, at times, is a double-edged sword because it can be so comfy that you can easily fall asleep!
Stay hydrated.
Please don’t attack me for my coffee connoisseurs, but I’m a cold brew lover, so coffee makers are not on my list. However, if you are like me, I’ll tell you a secret that could save you over $30 a week. Go to any store with any sized pitcher, buy some cold brew packets, let it sit in the pitcher filled with water overnight, and now you have enough coffee for the day/week at a fraction of the cost! I do this today, and it saves me a ton of money! There are plenty of options for you to choose from for my coffee connoisseurs, so don’t get fancy! Remember, utility – select what is appropriate for the task.
You’ll be spending a lot of hours in the studio, and sometimes you need a caffeine boost to keep you going! However, please be mindful that you shouldn’t leave your coffee maker in your studio because it can be unsanitary.
Shopping Tips
Shop Back-to-School Sales
Ask about student discounts in every scenario possible!
Ask in your local buy-nothing group.
What are the essentials in your tool kit? Did we miss your favorite items? Please share with us in the comments below! Well, that’s all we have for you today, and if you’ve made it this far, you deserve a cookie. I hope you found this article interesting and took something from it! Sharing is caring! We hope to provide you with valuable insights and share them with someone who might find this useful. Make sure to follow our Youtube and Instagram for more content!
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