Computer Recommendations

The Graphic Design program uses industry standard Apple Macintosh computers in both labs.

To ensure reliable performance throughout the Graphic Design program, students are required to provide a laptop that meets or exceeds the following specifications. A personal laptop meeting these requirements must be purchased by the end of the sophomore year.

Processor (CPU):

• Apple M4 (or newer) or Apple M4 Pro recommended
• Intel Core Ultra 7 (or newer)
• AMD Ryzen AI 7 (or newer)

Display:

• 14"–16" display recommended
• Minimum resolution: Full HD (1920 × 1080)
• IPS, OLED, or Mini-LED display with accurate color reproduction
• 100% sRGB color gamut or better recommended

Memory (RAM):

• 32 GB recommended
• 16 GB minimum (may limit performance in some Adobe applications and multitasking)
• Memory in Apple laptops is not user-upgradable after purchase. Students should purchase the amount of memory they expect to need for the duration of their degree.

Graphics (GPU):

• Apple integrated GPU (Apple Silicon)
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 or better
• AMD Radeon equivalent or better
• Dedicated graphics are strongly recommended for students working with motion graphics, video editing, 3D, or animation.

Storage:

• 1 TB SSD recommended
• 512 GB SSD minimum
• External SSD storage is recommended for backing up projects and storing large media files.

Operating System:

• The current or previous major version of macOS or Windows 11, fully updated and compatible with the latest Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

Software:

• The Art + Design Department provides each Graphic Design student with an Adobe Creative Cloud license for the duration of their enrollment in the program.
• Students may be required to install additional software as specified by individual courses.

Student Responsibility:

• Students are responsible for purchasing and maintaining a laptop that meets or exceeds the specifications above by the end of their sophomore year.
• Students are expected to keep their operating system and required software up to date and maintain adequate storage space for coursework throughout the program.

• Microsoft Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Comes with your Belhaven Outlook Email account)
• Adobe Creative Cloud

Graphic Design majors are required to purchase a personal laptop computer no later than the end of their sophomore year.

Using your .edu email account grants you special financing and pricing options with Apple and many other retailers.

An AppleCare Protection Plan is a wise purchase and comes with many valuable perks.