NateCreates.com

A list, in no particular order. If I had to give up their use, I’d probably give up design…ok, maybe a little dramatic, but fun to say either way.

1. SNAGIT! - Screen Capture Software | $38.95

Snagit screen capture software is superior to anything on your Windows OS, your Mac OS, or any OS for that matter. It’s like having a digital camera in the virtual world. Don’t worry about processing. Just click, click, click.

Snagit Screen Capture Software

2. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Premium Design Edition | Upgrade $599 | Full Pkg $1,799

Don’t try to design without Adobe. It’s like trying to sing without a voice. And now that Adobe bought Macromedia, I actually saved money when I upgraded. There’s no software out there for designers that works as well as the tools in this package. (By the way, I’m including prices because it helps illustrate to potential clients the cost of getting setup to do serious design work…not to mention the years necessary to build up a good intuition.)

Adobe CS3 Design Premium

3. Moleskine Pocket Sketchbooks | $9.95

A designer should never be caught pulling anything else out of their pocket to jot down an idea. It just doesn’t look good.

moleskines.com

4. Nikon D70 (D80) SLR Camera | Pkg $1299 | Body Only $999

I realize this camera is ancient by today’s standards, however I’ve never, in the time I’ve used it, ever felt like, Gee, I which it would do that. I’m sure the D80 only better.

Nikon USA

5. Old Fashion Lightbox | $170

Ok, I’ve designed for years without one. Just purchased the Porta-Trac 18×24 last week. I knew that once I had one…well that’s why it’s on this list.

6. Powell’s Books | $$ Varies

Or any great bookstore (although I’m not sure one exists better than Powell’s). If you’re a Portland native, you know. If you’re not, and you ever visit, definitely visit Powell’s Books.

Powells Books

7. Diet Coke | $0.60 x many

After Starbucks in the A.M, a steady stream of dangerous chemicals are needed to reach full creative potential - namely more caffeine.

8. Electric Eraser + Electric Pencil Sharpener | Approx $50

The one needs the other in the quest for efficiency.

9. A Book/Copy Stand | $20

After years of peering over flat books while trying to learn how to do this or that thing, my neck is now in much better condition, thanks to this cheap little desktop assistant.

10. Gigads of RAM | $100 +

More, more, more. I need more.

The idea for this post was inspired by El Decor Magazine. Each issue they feature some famous designer I’ve never heard of and their 10 things they couldn’t live without. I’m not famous, so I had to post on my own blog, but if anyone would like to link to their own “10 Tools ______ Couldn’t Design Without”, please feel free to share.

Wow!

I just spent the last three hours searching for the Windows Holy Grail - how to quickly create a new folder with a keyboard shortcut. I understand Mac users have never had this issue. They’ve been given Shift-Command-N (or Command-N). For Windows users the best solution I could find was the suggestion to memorize Alt, F, Enter, Enter. As anyone who makes their livelihood behind an LCD panel knows, keyboard shortcuts are the key to efficiency and memorizing long keyboard combinations to navigate menus is not a shortcut.

So after searching long and hard, I decided to test something. I tried Adobe CS3 Bridge as my default file manager.

Guess what. In Bridge, it’s as simple as Control-Shift-N. Voila, I have a new folder. I name it. I move on.

I hope by sharing this tip other designers out there using PCs (I know we’re a small crowd), I save you 3 hours of your time.

P.S. This post is the sort of post I’d like to run on my new blog, MonkeyintheMachine.com. While the blog is in it’s infancy, I am open to guest writers if your submission pertains to the topic of how to survive as a cog. Excuse the lack of design so far. I’ll be working on something good this summer.