Printable School of Design Computer Recommendations [Word]
A laptop computer is expected for all students in the School of Design. The school recommends laptops for their easy portability between a residence and studio space. This computing flexibility is paired with access to the Warehouse computer lab for major-specific computer courses.
During the first year, students will be required and expected to have access to Adobe Creative Cloud and Trimble SketchUp Free. We recommend subscribing to Creative Cloud Student Edition. Syracuse University provides students with Microsoft Office 365 and Google G Suite. These services are ideal for backup, group work and file sharing.
Design Studies
Students in the design studies program should follow the computing requirements for communications design; please see below.
Communications Design
The communications design major— much like the communications design industry— uses Apple Macintosh computers as their primary tool platform for getting work done. Based on our experience we offer the following guidelines as a set of minimum requirements for student computers.
Minimum Guidelines
- Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription (Academic Pricing)
- Apple MacBook Pro with 13” – 16” Display
- Minimum 16GB RAM
- Minimum 512GB Hard Drive (Internal)
- AppleCare+Extended Warranty and Support / Buying through SU Bookstore offers extended warranty with longer coverage than AppleCare
- (2) USB 3.0 Flash drive — 64GB Min
- USB C to USB Dongle
- Dedicated, external hard drive for regular, local backups, 5TB
Optional Accessories
- External Mouse
- Protective Case
Fashion Design
In the fashion design industry, Apple Macintosh computers are used as a primary tool platform for getting work done. We offer these guidelines for minimum requirements for fashion design student computers.
Minimum Guidelines
- Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription (Academic Pricing)
- Apple MacBook Pro with 13” – 16” Display
- Minimum 16GB RAM
- Minimum 512GB Hard Drive (Internal)
- AppleCare+Extended Warranty and Support / Buying through SU Bookstore offers extended warranty with longer coverage than AppleCare
- (2) USB 3.0 Flash drive — 64GB Min
- USB C to USB Dongle
- Dedicated, external hard drive for regular, local backups, 5TB
Environmental & Interior Design
Students in the EDI program will need the computing capacity to run Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk AutoCAD, McNeel Rhino 3D (Windows OS), Trimble Sketchup, Autodesk Revit, and rendering plug-ins, such as Enscape or Keyshot.
The EDI program and Warehouse Lab are set up to principally support computers with a Microsoft Windows operating system. All EDI students should be equipped with Microsoft Windows operating system computers that meet or exceed the minimum technical requirements below to run the Windows apps required by the program. We recommend international students wait to purchase their machine in the U.S. This will often make it easier to receive warranty service.
Please do not purchase an Apple computer. They cannot easily run essential Windows apps required for use in the program.
We are providing recommended specifications for laptops that will best interface with the school’s current hardware and software systems. Please note that the electronic environment is constantly changing. While we do our best to anticipate the likely software requirements of computer hardware, the program cannot guarantee that any given unit will be adequate to address all computing needs throughout one’s progress in the curriculum. Students MUST run the same versions of software as in the computer labs for compatibility.
Please do not purchase an underpowered machine! While it may meet your needs for the first semester or two, you will soon discover that it cannot handle the demands of design and modeling software.
Here are some basic laptop configurations and specifications recommended for running CAD, graphic, and 3D applications that can be used as a guide to purchase your equipment:
| Component | Specs |
|---|
| Operating System | Windows |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel i7 (12th generation+) or AMD Ryzen 7 (6000 series+) |
| Memory/RAM | 16 GB+ |
| Storage Drive | 500 GB+ (SSD) |
| Video Card (GPU) | Memory: 6 GB+ Nvidia: GeForce RTX 3060+ or 4060+ AMD: Radeon RX6700+ or 7600+ Discrete not shared or integrated. Avoid Intel graphics. |
| Display | 15" (minimum resolution: 1920 x 1080) |
Note: Plus signs (+) indicate "or better."
Optional Accessories
- Protective case
- External 24”+ monitor with HDMI port (plus HDMI cable and USB-C to HDMI converter)
- 128 GB+ USB flash drive
- Video adapters, VGA or HDMI connection
Industrial & Interaction Design
Students in the IID program typically use computers for various tasks, such as researching project topics, working collaboratively, creating posters that share information, digitally sketching and rendering, modeling in 3D (CAD-Computer Aided Design), and visualizing renderings and animations.
Supporting these design processes needs computing capacity to run applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk products, SolidWorks, Rhino 3D, Gravity Sketch VR and KeyShot.
For digital sketching, it is recommended that students purchase either a Wacom or Huion digital pen tablet to use with their laptop or an iPad. For students that desire a comprehensive all-in-one solution without VR capability, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro is an option.
Minimum Guidelines
- Laptop Running Microsoft Windows 10
- 15” Display or larger (Display resolution 2560 x 1440 or higher)
- VR ready (Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, Nvidia RTX)
- 512 GB SSD
- External Three Button Mouse for CAD
- Protective Case