Finding the right tools to produce quality content is essential for any graphic designer. Being able to utilize the right fonts, shapes, and colors is key to producing a high quality design for clients and keeping your customer base happy. But what are some of the best tools for any graphic designer? Here is a list of five essential tools for your graphic design endeavors.

An Education- One of the biggest mistakes that graphics designers make is trying to break into the market without a proper education. Even if you don’t have a formal education in graphic design or get your degree, take a couple of classes or buy some books to help you along the way.

A Computer- Choosing the right computer for graphic design is going to be the most important and the most expensive decision you are going to make. Pick a computer that you are familiar with. If you are great with the Windows operating system, then buy a Windows based computer with a good graphics card. If you are comfortable with the Mac operating system, then get a Mac based computer. Always use a desktop or a laptop with a display attached. You will get better results by working on a bigger screen.

Adobe Creative Suite- One of the best tools that you can use as a graphic designer is the Adobe Creative Suite. This is a great collection of several graphic design, web development, and video editing software packages. With these software applications you will be able to work in flash formats, PFD formats, and all of the common image formats that graphic designers are accustomed to.

Sketchpads- The best thing that you can have as a designer is a sketchpad. Throughout your design career you will be sitting in a doctor’s office, a grocery store, or even a movie theater and an idea will emerge. Carry a very small sketchpad with you so you can sketch out all of your ideas on the pad for future reference. This way you won’t forget your ideas and you won’t have to spend a ton of time on your computer getting them down. This small and you can have it anywhere you go.

A Graphics Tablet- A great tool for graphics designers is a graphics tablet. A graphics tablet will allow the designer to hand draw graphics and other images with their hands. These tablets come in a couple of varieties and can cost anywhere from forty dollars to over two hundred. Be sure to buy one that is pressure sensitive so you can vary the image based on the amount of pressure you apply.