How to set up a graphic designer office

If you’re a graphic designer or involved with photography, your requirements for a suitable working space vary considerably from the average Joe. You’ll need specialist equipment, more space and even different furniture. You should plan and think through the following four points carefully before you start this renovation.

Space

A graphic designer’s workspace can require considerably more space than a traditional home office. Measure the room to ensure that it can accommodate a large desk, storage furniture and all of your electronic equipment. Plan ahead so that you have enough wall space to hang artwork, photos and design ideas to inspire you.

Storage

It’s important to have ample storage for both the physical and the digital. Viking has a large catalogue of data storage devices and filing supplies to keep your office free of clutter. As a graphic designer, you are likely to be dealing with very large digital file sizes. Stocking up on extra memory cards, external hard drives and memory sticks are just a few solutions to keeping your portfolio organised and safe.

Furniture

When you’re choosing a desk for your office, pick something that is wide and has a very large top surface. Desks that curve into right angles are excellent for splitting your work station into specific areas. They allow you to work on the computer from one position and draw on a tablet from another. As a result, multitasking is made much easier and you can cut out all that wasted time trying to make space.

Include sufficient lighting so that you can work at any time of day. If the glare from the sun is distracting your work during the day, you should buy some blackout curtains and light your room from alternative sources. You can save even more valuable space by investing in a few desk lights like from The Lighting Superstore.

Technology

Buying the tools you need to be a successful graphic designer can get very expensive – very quickly. You should calculate your budget and work-out which tools are essential to your work. If they aren’t immediately needed, you can always add them to your base of operations later on.

One of the most important tools you’ll need is a tablet device to scribble on. Wacom has developed a reputation for supplying some of the industry’s most technologically-advanced graphics tablets. They have beautiful high-definition displays to showcase your work and can be attached to stands if you prefer to draw from different angles.

If you need a new computer, you’ll be forced to pick a side from the long running Mac versus PC war. A lot of it comes down to personal preference, but the available software and performance capabilities on a Mac make them commonly favoured amongst graphic designers. If you need further convincing on why a Mac might be for you, read our article on minimalist office set ups.