Get On Fusion

The Best Stories You'd See Today

What’s in My Bag? Product Designer Starter Pack.

Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on whatsapp
what's in a designer's bag

Every designer has a toolkit, not just the Figma files and fancy fonts, but the stuff that gets us through the day. As they say “a bag carries more than belongings; it holds stories of our journey.” So today, I will be telling you the things I always carry in my bag. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the design trenches, here’s a peek at the essentials that keep me creating and productive.

  1. Laptop (aka My Lifeline)

Figma doesn’t run on imaginations now, does it? I always carry my laptop, with a few stickers on the lid so people know I’m “creative” and a charger because battery anxiety is real. This helps me with designing fire interfaces, attending meetings, editing sheets, writing emails and articles.

  1. Sketchbook and pen

Sometimes ideas hit when I’m offline or zoning out in a meeting (oops). I always want to be ready. I get to quickly sketch wireframes or a UI inspo before the idea disappears. Messy notes and feedback also go in here, no judgement. As a product designer, a sketchbook and a pen/pencil should be your best friend. I carry mine everywhere, I don’t take chances of trying to remember a design idea that came to me earlier.

designer wireframe, sketchbook and pen, sketch book in my bag
  1. Headphones

Working from a cafe? Espresso machine noise. Working from home? Lousy neighbors and the unrelenting noise from generators. You guessed right, my headphones are noise-cancelling and they do a pretty good job at it. Peace, amazing playlists and no need to worry about noise during meetings, because my teammates won’t hear any background noise at all!

  1. Blue Light Glasses

On average, I spend 70% of my day in front of a screen, so having blue light glasses is crucial for my eyes. Blue light glasses are the perfect way to reduce eye strain. Not only do they protect your eyes from glare, but they also help you focus on the screen, making it easier to get work done.

They are made of high-quality optical glass that is tempered for strength and durability. The lenses are also anti-scratch and anti-reflective, so I can wear them safely even when working outside in direct sunlight. Get the right pair and it would even elevate your look!

  1. Mouse

To be honest, I was fine with my laptop touchpad until my supervisor recommended an external mouse. I got mine and only then did I understand the hype. It’s easy to use, reduces the stress and fatigue of your fingers. Great thanks to its ergonomic design, which makes it fit perfectly in your hand. This little tool makes micro-adjustments and pixel-perfect alignment a breeze.

  1. Snacks (For survival)

Designing on an empty stomach? Criminal. There’s always a chocolate bar, plantain chips or biscuit in my bag. Because low blood sugar leads to bad UI decisions. So, you never want to be hangry while working. It’s just a preparation for those days when I am unable to eat breakfast before leaving home or when my stomach just growls when it’s time for lunch.

ALSO READ: 5 things I wish I knew before starting my design internship

Sure, tools like Figma and Whimsical help me design. But these are the things that help me survive as a product design intern. Whether you’re a fellow intern, a soon-to-be one, or just nosy, I hope this gives you a peek into the beautifully chaotic world of design life.

Now your turn, what’s in your bag?

Join the Tech Connect community on Fusion, to connect with creatives, designers, writers, and builders like you. You deserve the support of a reliable community of like-minded individuals.

Join Here!

Azeezah Adetunji
Azeezah Adetunji

Related Posts

1,108 Responses

  8. Normally I do not learn article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very nice post.

    Reply

  13. Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.

    Reply

  16. I am so happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.

    Reply

  19. Thank you, I have just been looking for information approximately this topic for a while and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you sure in regards to the source?

    Reply

  35. You made certain nice points there. I did a search on the subject matter and found a good number of people will agree with your blog.

    Reply

  37. F*ckin’ tremendous issues here. I’m very happy to see your post. Thank you a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

    Reply

  43. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

    Reply

  50. I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay in the loop.

Get notified about upcoming Fusion events near you and trending topics from top-rated communities

Lennox mall, Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. | +2348165491678 | support@fusion.ng

 
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter