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Graphic Design

College of Architecture, Arts, and Design

2024-25 Baseline Minimum System Requirements

For All Incoming Undergraduate Students

Platform

Mac

Laptop

Operating System

macOS 13 (or higher)

Processor Speed

Apple M2 Pro/Max chip or later

Memory (RAM)

32 GB or higher

Storage

Minimum 1 TB SSD (Solid State Drive)

Webcam

Built-in or external with built in microphone (headset/earbuds recommended)

Wireless

Wi-Fi Capable

Warranty

3 Year on-site service support, AppleCare (4 Year is highly recommended - available through certain vendors)

Software

Software Suite*

*Students are required to purchase the Incoming Undergraduate Software Bundle through the Virginia Tech Software Service Center. More information can be found at Student Software Center.

Included Products: Microsoft Windows Operating System with Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus
Platform: macOS and Windows
Eligibility: Valid while enrolled in undergraduate classes at Virginia Tech
Note: Office 365 Pro Plus can be downloaded and installed on up to five machines and Office mobile apps can be installed on up to five mobile devices.

AND

An Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is mandatory for majoring in Graphic Design, Studio Art, and Creative Technologies. It's an annual payment.

Backup

Any backup method, including cloud-based services like Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive.

Do I have to buy a brand-new computer, or can I use what I have?

If you have a current computer, you may be able to use it for your first year, then purchase a new computer next summer once you have a better idea of what your needs and preferences are.

Please consider the following:

  • Computers need to be healthy, durable, and should be able to run a fairly robust program called After Effects for ART 1604: Principles of 4D Art & Design. Check system requirements for After Effects on the web.
  • To be successful in your first-year courses, your computer should have a minimum of:
    • 16GB RAM, and
    • Core i7, M1, or M2 processor
    • Usable empty storage space of 256 GB, not the total storage space or more.
  • If your current computer only has 8 GB of RAM with an M1/Intel processor, you may be able to get by but your computer will struggle/fail with tasks.
  • We do not recommend trying to use a computer below these specs.

If you are purchasing a new computer:

  • It would be wise to get the new Macs with the Apple M2 chip (or higher).
  • Ideally 14-inch or 16-inch version.
  • Do not get a MacBook Air.
  • Get AppleCare+!

Do I really have to use a Mac? Can I use a PC instead?

Digital content creation touches every aspect of what we do in our school, whether you are a graphic designer, studio artist, or a creative tech student. Performance matters more than brand. By and large, a MacBook Pro will outlast a comparable PC by several years.

If you would like to use a PC instead of a Mac, please consider the following:

  • All instruction in our studio-based classes will assume that students are using Macs.
  • Students choosing to use a PC take responsibility for understanding the nuances between operating systems.
  • Faculty will not amend curriculum to accommodate PC users.

Contact
DongSoo Choi
540-231-0948
dongsoochoi@vt.edu