The 38 Best Graphic Design Workspace Gadgets
Whether you're a seasoned creative professional or just starting in graphic design, having the right gadgets can make all the difference in optimising your workflow and workspace. The latest tools and tech can help you be more productive, organised, comfortable, and inspired as you bring visual concepts to life.
From desks and chairs to monitors and keyboards to nifty organisation systems, plenty of gizmos and gear aim to enhance the graphic design experience. But with so many options on the market, it's tough to know what's worth investing in for your home or office setup.
That's where this comprehensive guide comes in! Below, we highlight the 15 best graphic design gadgets that no creative workspace should be without and beyond. Read on for the top recommendations across various categories—including essential hardware, accessories, furniture, and more—to build your optimal creative environment.
Table of Contents
Standing Desks
The benefits of using a standing desk have become increasingly apparent in recent years. Simply put, sitting for prolonged periods is terrible for your health. It can contribute to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and early mortality, according to an array of research.
But working on your feet with a standing desk can counteract those negatives. Benefits include:
- Burns more calories and boosts metabolism
- Improves posture and spinal health
- Increases energy and productivity
- Reduces risk of weight gain and obesity
On top of the health perks, standing desks give you more flexibility to stretch, fidget, and move during the workday than traditional seated desks. This mobility can help graphic designers and creatives feel more energised and focused on generating ideas or handling visual design tasks.
Best Standing Desk Picks
When shopping for a standing desk, you'll want one that offers smooth and stable height adjustments, ample surface space, and reliable construction that will last over years of regular use. These options check all the boxes:
1 – Flexispot Height Adjustable Standing Desk
- The electric motor adjusts from 26″ to 51″ high.
- 48 x 24-inch desktop size
- 355 lb. lift capacity
- 5-year warranty on the frame
2 – ApexDesk Elite Series Standing Desk
- Electric buttons adjust from 24″ to 50″ high.
- 60 x 30-inch wide desktop surface
- 310 lb. lift capacity
- 10-year warranty on electronics
3 – Vari Electric Standing Desk
- Touch screen controls height range of 25″ to 51″
- Available 48 x 30 inch or 60 x 30 inch desktops
- 300 lb. lift capacity
- 7-year warranty
Ergonomic Chairs
If standing desks promote healthier movement in the graphic design workspace, ergonomic chairs do the opposite: they encourage beneficial sitting postures. Using chairs designed to align with human biomechanics can reduce spinal strain, improve comfort, and prevent long-term injuries for artists and designers parked at computers for hours.
What Defines an Ergonomic Chair?
Genuine ergonomic chairs have designs catered to the back's natural curvature and promote overall healthy sitting positions. Key features include:
- Adjustable heights and back angles
- Lumbar support for lower back
- Open hip angle of 90 to 110 degrees
- Waterfall seat edge to reduce pressure
- Adjustable armrests
- Breathable mesh or cushioning
When these ergonomic elements are built into a computer chair, it encourages better spinal alignment through the neck, shoulders, and hips. This avoids hunched or slouched postures that compress organs and constrict muscles and nerves over time.
Best Ergonomic Chair Models
Here are five top-rated ergonomic chairs perfect for graphic artists wanting both style and science-backed support from their seating:
1 – Herman Miller Aeron Chair
- Iconic comfortable design
- Fully adjustable components
- Multiple sizes available
- Mesh back with lumbar support
- 12-year warranty
2 – Steelcase Leap Ergonomic Chair
- The natural glide system moves with the user
- Adjustable armrests and lumbar
- Customisable fabric colours
- Designed for long workdays
- 12-year warranty
3 – Raynor Ergohuman Chair
- Cool mesh back with lumbar support
- Seat/back angle adjustment
- Customisable tilt tensions
- Arm pads pivot in/out
- 8-year warranty
4 – Duramont Ergonomic Chair
- 2D adjustable armrests
- Breathable mesh back
- Rollerblade casters
- Recline and rocking modes
- Lifetime warranty on parts
5 – Sidi T50 Ergonomic Chair
- Dynamic lumbar support
- Adjustable tilt/tension
- Locking casters
- Removable headrest
- 5-year warranty
Large Format Displays
What good is creating gorgeous visual designs if you can't fully make out essential details on your monitor? Large format displays give graphic artists and photographers expanded screen real estate so images and projects appear sharper at native resolutions.
Whether designing print layouts with layers of visual elements or retouching high-megapixel photos, the extra pixels make all the difference in productivity and precision.
Monitor Size and Resolution Needs
Ideally, graphic designers should use monitors in the range of 27 to 34+ inches diagonally with widescreen (21:9) aspect ratios. Common resolutions well suited for visual work include:
- 3440 x 1440 (Ultrawide Quad HD)
- 5120 × 2160 (5K)
- 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)
User interface elements, photos, videos, and other graphics render crisply at those pixel counts without tiny details getting squeezed. This allows creatives to realise their visual ideas without squinting or zooming constantly.
Ultrawides with curved displays also give users extra peripheral vision compared to flat displays. This can further enhance creative flow.
Best Large Format Displays for Graphic Artists
1 – Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved USB-C Hub Monitor
- 34″ diagonal IPS panel
- 3440 x 1440 resolution
- USB-C/Ethernet/SD ports
- VESA mounting
- 3-year warranty
2 – Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor
- 49-inch dual quad HD
- 5120 x 1440 resolution
- 1000R curvature
- 240Hz refresh rate
- 1ms response time
3 – LG 38WN95C-W 38-inch Curved Monitor
- 38 inch diagonal nano IPS
- 3840 x 1600 resolution
- Thunderbolt 3 port
- 98% DCI-P3 color gamut
- Three-year warranty
Best Portable USB Monitors
1 – ASUS ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT
- 15.6″ Full HD touch display
- 1080P resolution via USB-C
- IPS panel with wide viewing angle
- Foldable smart case stand
- Battery powered
2 – Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Portable Monitor
- 14″ screen with small bezels
- 2560 x 1600 resolution options
- USB-C hub connectivity
- TÜV Rheinland low blue light
- Super lightweight at 1.3 lbs
3 – GeChic 1303i On-Lap Monitor
- 13.3″ 1920 x 1080 IPS display
- VESA mountable
- HDMI and USB-C input
- 7800 mAh built-in battery
- Only 0.71 lbs lightweight
Cintiq Pen Displays
For illustrators, product designers, animators and other artists who like sketching by hand, Wacom Cintiq pen displays unlock a new realm of creative potential. They allow the application of natural pen-on-paper drawing motions right on the screen when using compatible innovative apps.
The increased sensory feedback and intuitive control empower artists to translate visions faster than a mouse or trackpad. Cintiq displays bring back the organic feel of mark-making by hand, which many digital creatives prefer.
Key Specs to Look For
When selecting a Cintiq, consider factors like:
- Display size and aspect ratio
- Resolution and colour quality
- Pen sensitivity levels
- Multi-touch gestures
- Express Keys and radial menus
- Stand angles and adjustments
Larger displays will be most suitable for extensive digital painting or illustration, while compact models work for quick sketching or touch-ups. Also, ensure the display resolution and colour reproduction quality match workflow needs.
Best Cintiq Pen Displays
1 – Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display
- 24″ diagonal IPS LCD
- 4K UHD resolution
- 98% Adobe RGB coverage
- 8192 pressure levels
- Multi-touch gestures
- Flip stand with three angles
2 – Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet
- 15.6″ full HD screen
- 1920 x 1080 resolution
- 72% NTSC colour gamut
- Battery-free pen
- 8 Express Keys
- Foldable stand
3 – Wacom Cintiq Pro 32
- 31.5″ diagonal 4K display
- UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution
- Bundled Wacom stand
- Pen tilt recognition
- Multi-touch capabilities
- 98% Adobe RGB coverage
External Hard Drives
Nothing strikes fear into creators' hearts faster than crashes, failures, or losses of precious project files representing hours upon hours of hard work. Using external hard drives to continuously back up all those layered Photoshop images, video projects, 3D renders, font libraries, and other mission-critical assets is crucial.
External drives serve as an insurance policy and additional defence against lost productivity. They make it easy to safely store massive data libraries beyond what internal computer drives can handle. Portable HDDs also facilitate quick transfers of hefty files across multiple machines.
What to Look For in External Storage
For graphic artists and other media pros shuffling around gigantic files every day, critical factors for external hard drives include:
- High capacity to handle storage needs
- Transfer speed (e.g. USB 3.2 Gen 2)
- Durability and shock resistance
- Portability and compact form factors
- Security features like encryption
Both transfer rates and access times measure hard drive speeds. Faster drives allow pulling files on and off more quickly.
Best Rugged External HDDs
1 – G-Technology ArmorATD Portable Drive
- Up to 5TB capacity
- 140 MB/s transfer speeds
- Rain/dustproof IP54 rating
- Up to 1000 lb crush resistance
- USB-C and USB 3.0
2 – LaCie Rugged RAID Shuttle
- 8TB capacity
- 240 MB/s transfer rate
- Built-in RAID 0/1/JBOD
- Drop/crush/rain resistant
- Five-year warranty
3 – ioSafe Solo G3 Fireproof/Waterproof
- Up to 5TB capacity
- Fire protection up to 1550°F
- Waterproof up to 10 ft in depth
- Data recovery service
- 1-year data recovery service
Docking Stations
External drives often pair well with docking station devices. These accessories allow conveniently plugging bare hard drives in and out like cassette tapes to access data on different disks.
Docking stations have ample ports for connecting monitors, devices, and other peripherals, all using a single USB-C or Thunderbolt cable to link everything to a laptop or computer. This simplified setup saves desk space and outlet plug capacity.
Best Hard Drive Docking Stations
1 – Sabrent DS-UTC USB 3.0 Dock
- Supports 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA drives
- 60 watts of power delivery
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 speed
- UDP protocol support
![Sabrent Usb 3.1 To Sata External Hard Drive Docking Station For 2.5 Or 3.5In Hdd, Ssd [Includes Both Type C And Type A Cables Supports Uasp And 10Tb Drives] (Ds-Utc1)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41TJkGpX+ZL.jpg "The 38 Best Graphic Design Workspace Gadgets 31")
2 – Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Dock
- 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3
- Supports 4K displays
- 85W laptop charging
- SATA disk dock slot
- Front SD/microSD slots
3 – CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3
- 15 ports with USB-C/A
- Thunderbolt 3 at 40Gbps
- DisplayPort 1.2
- Hardware RAID 0/1/5/10
- 87W host charging
External SSDs
While HDDs prioritise high capacities for archiving vast batches of files, external solid-state drives (SSDs) are perfect for transporting files faster.
SSDs use faster flash memory chips rather than spinning disks, allowing for quick write and retrieval when working across multiple machines. The flash technology consumes less power and allows smaller form factors, too.
Best External Portable SSDs
1 – Samsung T7 Touch Portable SSD
- Password protected biometrics
- Read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity
- Dynamic thermal throttling
- 3-year warranty
2 – WD My Passport SSD External Portable Drive
- Password-enabled 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- Up to 1TB capacity
- Read speeds up to 1050MB/s
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 ready
- Shock/vibration-resistant
3 – SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
- Up to 2TB capacity
- Read speeds up to 1050MB/s
- IP55 rating for dust/water resistance
- USB-C connectivity
- Password protection and encryption
Laptop Stands
Hunching over a low-lying laptop display all day leads to neck, upper back, and shoulder pain over time. But propping up your device to eye level with a sturdy stand enhances ergonomics for longer computing stretches. Stands also benefit from raising laptops to allow better cooling and airflow.
Modern options include helpful extra ports for plugging accessories and peripherals to declutter the workspace.
Key Features to Look For
Here is what to evaluate when choosing laptop stands:
- Adjustable height range
- Tilt functionality
- Wide base stability
- Non-slip padding
- Cable management
- Extra USB/Thunderbolt ports
- Matching aesthetic
Best Laptop Stands for Designers
1 – Twelve South Curve Laptop Stand
- Raises 5.5″ to 11″ high
- The aluminium design matches the Macbook
- Cable catchers reduce clutter
- Non-slip silicone wings
2 – Rain Design iLevel 2 Laptop Stand
- Lifts 6″ to 12″ high
- Anodised aluminium body
- Rear cable conduit
- Non-slip base
3 – Sabrent USB 3.0 Laptop Stand
- Adjustable height 3″ to 12.”
- Aluminum and acrylic modern design
- 4 x USB 3.0 ports
- Ventilated cooling
- Wire stabilisation spine
Vertical Mouse
Many creatives don't realise how much cumulative strain activities like scrolling, clicking, and dragging with traditional mice have placed on vulnerable wrist tendons and nerves over the years. Vertical ergonomic mice place the hand in a natural handshake position to alleviate those issues.
Ergonomic Benefits
Vertical mice provide much better ergonomic alignment through the fingers, hand, and forearm than regular mice. Advantages include:
- Natural handshake grip avoids twisting
- Reduces risky pronation angle
- Encourages neutral wrist postures
- Fewer nerves/tendon compression
- Can ease wrist pain
This more natural alignment makes them ideal pointers for digital artists, photographers, or creators spending many hours retouching.
Top Vertical Mice Picks
1 – Logitech MX Vertical Mouse
- 57-degree vertical grip
- Thumb scroll wheel
- 4000 DPI precision
- Charges fast via USB-C
- Bluetooth connectivity
2 – Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Mouse
- 60-degree handshake grip
- Five adjustable DPI levels
- Next/previous buttons
- 18 month battery life
- Only $25
3 – Jelly Comb 2.4G Vertical Mouse
- Principal grip reduces pronation
- Six buttons for shortcuts/coding
- Auto sleep mode saves power
- Nano receiver for strong signal
- 2-year warranty
Anti-Fatigue Mat
Standing for hours on hard flooring while working at standing desks or drafting tables significantly affects joints, muscles, circulation, and overall comfort. Cushioned anti-fatigue mats provide essential ergonomic relief.
Key Benefits
High-quality anti-fatigue mats deliver a mix of benefits:
- Cushion and support uneasy feet/legs
- Gentle gives to encourage movement
- Improve focus by reducing pain
- Boost circulation in legs/back
- Decrease spinal compression
This leads to feeling fresher through lengthy creative sessions without discomfort sabotaging workflow.
Top Anti-Fatigue Mat Picks
1 – Sky Solutions Anti Fatigue Mat
- High-density core for comfort
- Sturdy bevelled edges
- Textured top resists slips
- Water/stain resistant
- Five-year warranty
2 – Kangaroo Original Standing Mat
- Supports and cushions feet
- Encourages subtle movement
- Non-toxic phthalate free
- Multiple sizes available
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
3 – Topo Comfort Mat by Ergodriven
- Proprietary cushioning pattern
- Sustainably made from recycled materials
- Bevelled chamfered edges
- Certified slip resistant
- 5-year warranty
Desk Lamp
Proper lighting is necessary for graphic designers and digital artists to visualise every pixel and detail entirely within graphics work, photo editing, digital illustrations, or 3D modelling projects.
Desk lamps concentrating warm adjustable brightness on task areas help achieve optimum visibility amidst ever-shifting environmental lighting challenges.
Desirable Features
To enhance clarity in screen-centric visual tasks, desk lamps should provide:
- Adjustable light temperature
- Directed spotlight beams
- Brightness control
- Glare reduction shields
- Flicker-free LEDs
- Timer settings
- Auto on/off sensors
Those features deliver comfortable custom illumination and match eyes' shifting needs throughout long days staring at displays.
Highly Rated Desk Lamp Models
1 – BenQ ScreenBar Plus Monitor Light
- Clips to monitor for perfect visibility
- Adjustable color temp and brightness
- Flicker-free lighting technology
- Auto-dimming and ambient light sensors
- 5-year warranty
2 – TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp
- Six colour modes from 2700K to 6500K
- Five brightness levels up to 250 lumens
- Touch controls with memory function
- Flicker-free with diffusing lens
- 2-year warranty
3 – Tekjoy LED Desk Lamp
- Three lighting temperature presets
- Five brightness levels up to 12W output
- Touch sensor with timers
- Flexible rotating solar panel
- 18 month warranty
Conclusion
Building a complete graphic design battle station requires quality displays, specialised hardware, ergonomic furniture, and productivity-enhancing accessories explicitly tailored to creative disciplines.
Follow the recommendations across essential gear categories outlined above as you outfit the ideal workspace conducive to big visual ideas and polished execution at every workflow step.
Prioritise components like colour-accurate monitors at higher resolutions, fast external drives bolstering capacity, better input devices, standing desks and ergonomic chairs, laptop stands adding ports, and other tangibles that align best with graphics-focused computer use cases.
While individual needs and budgets will dictate specifics, choosing gadgets with the right blend of performance, reliability, and usability for design applications makes all the difference in optimising creative output.
Workspace Gadgets FAQs
Do graphic designers need pen tablets?
For illustrators, animators, and other artists focused on drawing, sketching, or painting digitally, pen tablets like Wacom Cintiqs provide immense value-enhancing control and creative expression over mouse/trackpad input alone.
Is curved or flat better for graphic design monitors?
Curved widescreen displays offer helpful added screen space/immersion, which is great for handling multiple interface panels. However, colour-critical work like print layouts may fare better on flat screens with consistent brightness edge to edge.
How much RAM do I need for high performance?
16GB RAM should provide smooth UX for most graphics workflows, but upgrading to 32GB+ allows more apps/browser tabs to be opened and handles substantial batch operations.
Is 4K overkill for designers versus 1440p?
4K UHD provides helpful added resolution for visual tasks, though it demands more graphics processing power. 1440p quad HD strikes an excellent middle ground sharpness without overtaxing systems.
How much should I spend on ergonomic chairs?
Expect to invest $300 to $1000+ for quality ergonomic chairs, ensuring healthy posture and comfort during extensive sitting. Carefully test models first, and take your time with support.
Last update on 2024-05-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
