Digital Tool Requirements - D&I | Tyler School of Art & Architecture

Tech Essentials for Design Success

The Design & Illustration Department at Tyler School of Art and Architecture is committed to excellence in design and the full integration of technologies within our discipline to best educate and prepare our students to become leaders in this field. A thorough understanding of the changing nature of design and the integral role that technology plays in it, is essential for all our design students.

In order for our students to be active participants in this ever-changing environment we recommend a current model Apple MacBook Pro laptop.

Hardware:

These are our minimum laptop requirements:

We recommend getting AppleCare+ with your system.

OwlTECH Store

Apple Silicon (M2,M3,M4) CPU/GPU of any class.
1TB internal SSD storage.
16GB Min RAM, 32GB or more Recommended.

Optional (helpful) hardware:

Color, Photo and Document Scanner
A Mouse, wired or wireless
(while the trackpad on a MacBook is great, it’s no substitute for designing with a mouse)

Free Software Access

Temple University provides students with free access to essential software and cloud-based storage.

Adobe Creative Cloud
Microsoft 365
Temple University OneDrive

Picking the Right Laptop for Design and Illustration

We strongly recommend Macs, but students may choose to use a PC. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide what works best for your coursework and creative workflow.

Mac Pros

Industry Standard: Most professional design studios and agencies use Macs, making it easier to transition into internships and jobs.

Taught on Macs: Our faculty teach using Mac systems, and most classroom demos use Mac-specific language and shortcuts.

Faculty Familiarity: Most instructors are experienced Mac users, so it’s easier to get support when things go wrong.

Better Integration with Classroom Tech: All classrooms use Apple TVs for screen sharing. Macs work seamlessly; PCs often require workarounds or borrowed devices.

Creative Software Compatibility: Some key tools (like Procreate) only run on Apple devices. Others may be optimized for Mac.

Apple Ecosystem: If you already use an iPhone or iPad, your devices will sync and share files easily.

Better Font & Color Handling: MacOS is built with designers in mind, offering better default font rendering and color profile management.

Student Discounts & Support: Apple offers education pricing, extended warranties (AppleCare+), and accessible support via Genius Bar.

PC Pros

More Affordable Options: You can often get a capable PC for less than the cost of a MacBook.

Better for AR/VR & 3D: Many 3D modeling and immersive tech tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, some VR software) run better—or only—on Windows.

More Hardware Customization: Many PCs allow you to upgrade storage, RAM, or graphics cards later.

Custom Builds Possible: If you're tech-savvy, you can build or modify a machine to meet your exact specs.

Mac Cons

Higher Cost: MacBooks generally cost more than comparable PCs. This can be a challenge if you're on a tight budget.

Limited Hardware Flexibility: Often you can't upgrade RAM or storage after purchase—what you buy is what you’re stuck with.

PC Cons

Less Seamless in Mac-Based Classrooms: PCs require extra steps to screenshare and may be incompatible with some software.

Less Faculty Support: Most of our faculty are Mac users, so troubleshooting a PC might take longer or require outside help.

Software Compatibility Issues: You may need to rely on campus labs for Mac-only or Mac-optimized tools.

Lower Resale Value: PCs tend to depreciate more quickly than Macs.