Even several years ago it would have been difficult to be a truly mobile designer, that could globe trot and still get work done. However these days with the plethora of amazing technologies, you can now sit in your favorite cafe, in the park or even on the beach and CAD your heart out as though you were right in the office. You can speak with clients and manufacturers, write up a proposal or invoices, and send files to be rapid prototyped, all from a beautiful sandy beach. When you’re done or waiting for an email to come back, you can go and take a dip in the sparkling blue water.
Sounds great doesn’t it! Let’s take a look at some of the great tools that you can now use to get the job done and relax under the shade of a palm tree.
The Laptop
At the core of the mobile designers toolkit is the laptop. Thanks to GRiD Systems and Bill Moggride’s visionary thinking and design, we can now carry our computers with us – anywhere we go. With some designs like the netbooks not much larger than the novel you might enjoy when you head away, the laptop is truly the globetrotting designers hub – Storing all the files and allowing many forms of communication to occur. You will of course need to load all your favorite software. A copy of your preferred CAD program to bust out a 3D model and some tech drawings while you wait for those drinks. Sketchbook Pro so you can wow a fellow globe trotting designers with your sick sketching skillz. And all those other widgets and doodads that help you get your designs done.
The Wireless Internet USB Stick
While once upon a time we had to make sure that there was Ethernet port, phone line or WiFi connection nearby, now all we need need is a couple of bars of mobile phone reception. Unfortunately my favorite cafe doesn’t have all the modern amenities like WiFi. But no matter. I plug this beauty into the side of my trusty design steed (aka. laptop) and I am now connected to anyone in the world from the comfort my favorite cafe. I can bust out an email, Skype, msn or use whatever communications software I need. It is now also possible to put this baby on roaming and utilise it any country I head to – Today it might be Australia, tomorrow China, next week Germany. Now you can be connected almost anywhere you go.
3.5″ Portable Harddrive
Backup. And then backup again. Being mobile it is highly likely something might get broken, destroyed or stolen. So make sure its backed up. A great solution is a 3.5″ Portable HD with plenty of GBs.
The Website/Online server
If your a freelancer it will probably be your own website and server. If you are working for a consultancy or in house design group it will most likely be the companies website or server. Whatever the case you’ll need some form of web hosting. It will give you a secondary place to backup your work. As well as create a place where you can share files with clients or the poor smucks in the office without those pesky email file size limits. If you are a freelancer it will also allow you to create a handy dandy marketing tool – a website.
Mobile Phone
While mobiles have been around for a while now, they are starting to reach the stage where they are packing almost as much processing power as a laptop. Not only can you conduct some phone calls to check materials information with a supplier. You can also send and receive emails on the fly, check out some of idsketching.com’s awesome tutorials to brush up on your skills, have squiz at the job boards to find some more freelance work and even bust out a quick sketch or two. Whats next? CAD on your phone?
Non Digital
Although we love all the digital gadgets. The true ultimate mobile designers toolkit is the trusty notebook and pencil. It doesn’t run out of batteries. It can be used during take off and landing. It might have a few problems with water, but is otherwise pretty robust. Plus who doesn’t love the feel of the pencil or pen gliding across the paper?
Other handy tid bits.
Google mail and Google Docs. Route all your mail through Gmail and then archive, so if something should happen to your laptop then you will have a backup. Google Docs is great for collaboration for writing documents like manufacturing specs or proposals when you can’t face to face with your colleagues.
Other essential accessories
Sun tan lotion? Maybe ski goggles? Dependent on where you are headed you’ll need to pack the right gear. These are just two suggestions because there’s too many to list since you can now travel the world and rock out like a design superstar.
Got any tips or ideas for anything else you might need while you circle the globe and crank out great design? Let us know in the comments…
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