Hardware Specifications
Students in the Department of Design at The Ohio State University are required to have their own laptop computers after being admitted into one of our major programs.
Students studying Visual Communication Design should be using an Mac OSX based Apple computer.
| Hardware | Ideal Macbook Pro |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB L3 cache or better |
| Memory | 16 GB |
| Graphics Card | Intel Iris Graphics or better |
| Screen | 13 or 15″ (Consider a second external monitor for more working space.) |
| Internal HD | 500 GB or more |
| DVD | No |
| Mouse | Yes |
Additional Hardware Recommended for all Computers
- 32 GB or larger USB Thumb Drive
- 1 TB or larger External HD for backing up and archiving files
- Surge Protector
- Manufacturer's Extended Warranty
- Insurance (Work with your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy)
Software Specifications
Students in the Department of Design at The Ohio State University are required to have the MS Office, the Adobe Creative Cloud, and an Antivirus software. Upon admission to a major program, additional software may be required, as stated below.
Visual Communication Design should acquire the following software:
Purchasing Information
*Please Note: While Adobe Creative Suite® 6 products will continue to be available for purchase, Adobe has no plans for future releases of Creative Suite or other CS products.
Students should check with The Office of the CIO prior to purchasing software for site licensed software that is available at discounted prices for students.
Students should check Tech Hub for prices.
Tech Hub is the OSU campus computer store. Get software and hardware at or below academic discounted pricing. We work with students, faculty and staff for personal and departmental orders. A variety of Apple, Dell and HP hardware is available including laptops, iPads, tablets, desktops, accessories and add-ons. A variety of software is available including Microsoft, Adobe, EndNote/Reference Manager and more. Tech Hub prices extended to students, faculty and staff with a valid OSU BuckID.