My Favorite Tools to Use

Software

Adobe Creative Cloud
Illustrator (this program is my happy place because it is my absolute favorite design app), Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro. My subscription plan: Creative Cloud All Apps subscription.

Sending Files to Clients
I prefer to send through Dropbox.

Font Management
iMac Font Book is my current method of storing fonts on my iMac, but I also use Adobe Fonts.

Electronics

Desktop
I only design on my iMac desktop. 2017 27-inch, 32 GB memory, 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor with a bluetooth trackpad. I haven’t used a mouse in over a decade.

Pen Tablet
Wacom Intuos Pro L with a Pro Pen 2

Tablet
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch) 3rd Generation with pencil. My tablet is for quick sketching, viewing designs on the go, and even some quick editing on Adobe’s tablet programs.

Scanner
I still like to use a good quality scanner to scan my watercolor paintings in and other designs I want to have a good scan to work with. I use a good ol’ Epson Perfection V600 Photo scanner.

Office Supplies

Notebooks
A5 size top bound spiral notebooks are my go to for all note taking. I prefer smaller notepads for carrying and storing. A top spiral bound also allows me the ability to tear pages out without a side spiral or spine to interfere with my writing. My current favorites are Yansinido brand because the covers are a sturdy plastic that holds up with great lined inside paper and I appreciate the little bit of design ascetic for look.

Writing Utensils
Sharpie S-Gel pens .38mm Ultra Fine Point. I like my writing to be precise, the ink to write smooth, and not smudge.

Planner
I love, love, love planners! Therefore, over the years I have tried so many. My current planner is the 2024 Laurel Denise Vertical Weekly Planner and I must say, this one so far, is my absolute favorite. My other favorites are: Sugar Paper Essentials Signature Spiral Office Planner, and the Day Designer Daily & Weekly Planner.

Image Resources

Font Resources

Premium Fonts
Adobe Fonts, Creative Market, Befonts.

Free Fonts
My Font Squirrel, Dafont, 1001freefonts

Watercolor Supplies

Watercolor Paper
Premium Papers: Arches, L’Aquarelle Canson Heritage, Hahnemuhle, and Fabriano Acquarello

Lower-end Papers: Fluid Easy Blocks

Watercolor Paint
My preferred paints are tubes. My go to brands are Holbein, M. Graham & Co., Daniel Smith, and Winsor & Newton Professional

Watercolor Brushes
Princeton Neptune 4750, Princeton Elite 4850, Silver Black Velvet 3000, Raphael Soft Aqua Brush 805, and Encoda Perla

I also enjoy using OOKU Water Brushes for a fun twist to painting.

Watercolor Supplies
- Only Porcelain paint palettes - (no plastic palettes for me)
- Fineliner Markers
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils
- Staedtler Colored Pencils
- Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Pencils (2B & 4B)
- Faber-Castell White Soft Eraser
- Any Kneaded Eraser