From remodeling and engineering to fashion and construction, the creative genius of a professional designer can put thoughts onto paper and help make a vision a reality in no time. 

Whatever your particular industry happens to be, a designer without the right tools is like a fish out of water, a rudderless boat, and a frustrated artist. 



Thankfully, there are plenty of wonderful gadgets, gizmos, and tools to choose from, and as modern technology continues to accelerate, the quality of support has never been higher. 

If you need the extra help when it comes to developing your own designs, here are some must-have tools to check out right now. 

1. 3D Modelling Software
Interior designers will likely be able to tell that some reliable 3D modeling software is hugely beneficial in their line of work. 

It not only allows you to create accurate floor plans and high-quality digital renderings of your projects, but it can supply you with a virtual representation of the finished product to showcase to your customer. 

Some of the best options will allow you to include symbols and measurements on your plan, making it easy to interpret when the time comes to collaborate with other professionals. 

It is not just interior designers that benefit from this kind of software; however, plenty of disciplines require the help of floor planning tools, including architects, renovators, and construction design managers. 

The easier it is to visualize your design (and alter it in a flash), the higher the likelihood you will be able to show off your true talents to clients and business partners alike. 

2. Graphics Editing Programs
Some of the biggest names in graphic design, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Coral, are widely used by professionals all over the globe, and for a good reason, they are immensely versatile and perform a vast array of practical, innovative functions. 

For those of you who can’t stretch your monthly budget to meet the subscription price of some of the costlier graphic design tools, it is worth noting that many companies offer free trials, so if you needed to way up the cost-effectiveness, don’t hesitate to shop around for some demos. 

There are some great free alternatives to the bigger names, too, such as Canva, Crello, and Vectr. 

3. HD Monitors
It can be difficult to truly capture the finished result of your design project in all its glory if you are watching through a low-quality monitor. 

You would likely not want to mix a song without being able to hear it properly, and the same goes for design. 
HD monitors are not as expensive as they used to be, and in fact, you can get hold of some exceptional models for a fairly modest price nowadays. 

4. Storage Options
As a prolific designer, you might have found yourself inundated with digital assets from time to time. 
Without the right storage options, it can be hard to get properly organized in the digital sense, which in turn can affect your productivity and time-management skills. 

Overcoming this potential pitfall is easy when you have some well-organized, accessible, and high-capacity storage options to back you up. 

Turning to the cloud can be a great way of increasing your flexibility while simultaneously maximizing your storage space, but sometimes, it is worth being extra safe, so it might be worth getting hold of some physical hard drives too. 

External hard drives have come an incredibly long way in recent years; many of the best options even offer data encryption to ensure your files remain fully protected. 

5. A Tablet
When a smartphone is too small, and a laptop is too inconvenient, a tablet can come to the rescue for a designer. 
The wider touchscreen, when combined with some high-end design software, can allow you that extra dexterity, flexibility, and freedom when it comes to creating new projects. 

This could be especially handy if you need to illustrate your designs by hand when you are on the go. 

A must-have for any digital nomad who likes to travel the world with their design job, as the extra mobility offered by the tablet can be a way to maximize comfortability and efficiency without sacrificing quality. 

It is worth noting, however, that for a tablet to be able to support you in your professional design endeavors, its screen generally needs to be extremely high quality, so it is probably best to seek out some of the more advanced models if you want to retain your mobility without having your work suffer. 

You could check out the Wacom Cintiq, the iPad Pro, or the more affordable range of tablets designed by Yiynova. 

6. A High-Quality Stylus
A stylus no longer needs to be an unwieldy rod of thin metal that snaps randomly in your grip – some of the more advanced styluses are a joy to use. 

You may be thinking, ‘why would I pay that much for a stylus when any old pointy object will do?’ Any old object certainly won’t do if you wish to design comfortably on a tablet. 

They feel great to design with, they are fairly inexpensive, and they can help you regain your pinpoint accuracy that is so often intrinsic to many projects. 

The increased price tag on some of the top-end styluses can account for greater durability, extra features like a headphone port, or hyper-sensitivity for anyone needing the utmost precision in their design work. 

7. Collaboration Tools
Working with other professionals is simply a part of the designer’s life, from the builders to the landscapers, the welders, and the electricians. A huge amount of talent goes into the final product, and effective collaboration is often what makes it possible. 

Since the world has shifted to a digital-centric way of working, remote collaboration tools are a necessity. 
This means getting hold of a platform that you can rely on to communicate your thoughts and ideas, edit documents in real-time and provide feedback to your partners. 

With the right tools, anything is possible in the wonderful world of design.