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!

Related Posts

2,118 Responses

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

  2. Great website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get responses from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thanks a lot!

  3. You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart. “The only way most people recognize their limits is by trespassing on them.” by Tom Morris.

  4. Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.

  5. The subsequent time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I know it was my option to read, however I really thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can repair if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  6. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  7. I haven’t checked in here for some time since 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 🙂

  8. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I’ll definitely be back.

  9. Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!

  10. I was curious if you ever thought of changing the layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

  11. Some genuinely superb information, Gladiolus I found this. “Nothing can resist the human will that will stake even its existence on its stated purpose.” by Benjamin Disraeli.

  12. Hi I am so excited I found your website, I really found you by accident, while I was researching on Digg for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the awesome job.

  13. Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

  14. I like this web blog very much, Its a real nice situation to read and incur info . “One man’s religion is another man’s belly laugh.” by Robert Anson Heinlein.

  15. I do agree with all the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

  16. I am curious to find out what blog system you are using? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any recommendations?

Leave a Reply

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