This is part 2 of the Design Toolbox Series where I ask top designers what design tools they use to help them complete their work. This series was largely inspired by Grace Smith’s “Show Me Your Dock Series.” It’s my hope that you can gain insight into what other designer’s are using, and hopefully find some new apps/tools to check out.
About Tim Smith
Tim Smith is the editor of Fuel Your Blogging. He has a passion for writing and loves to share his thoughts and experiences for the benefit of others. Here are the tools that he uses to design and create.
Computer/OS
I use an Apple 17″ iMac. My computer is ancient though. I’m always joking around that it’s going straight to a museum when I’m done! It’s still running Tiger! I’ll hopefuly be upgrading soon.
Printer
Actually, I just bought a new printer. I’m using a Brother MFC 6490. I love it. It does everything. It scans, copies and prints. I definitely recommend it.
Browser
I use the latest version of Firefox. Version 3.5, right? One of my favorite features of Firefox is Personas. You can have a different skin for the browser everyday if you want.
Code Editor
I’m more of a graphic designer than a web designer but I love to get my hands dirty with code. I use a very simple app called Smultron. It doesn’t have a lot of features like Coda or Espresso but… it works for me.
Mail Client
I use Postbox. I love Postbox. I started using it when it was still in beta and I just love the features and UI. Even though it’s features are sophisticated, I like that the user experience is simple.
Billing App
I use Billings. I love apps that are simple to use and Billings saves me of a lot of work and headaches.
FTP Client
I use CyberDuck. Again, I love simple apps and CyberDuck lets me setup my FTP information quickly and without hassle.
Twitter App
I’m using TweetDeck. I love using it. I can have my various groups, accounts and I can also update Facebook from it. However, what I don’t like is that it hogs a lot of my RAM and it limits the apps I can have open at once. As soon as I upgrade to a new Mac, I most certainly will begin to use Tweetie if TweetDeck doesn’t make some major changes.
RSS Reader
I don’t use an RSS reader right now. But, I do think that I should start using one. I usually send all my feeds to my inbox. It makes a mess because I’ll wake up to over 80 messages; only counting the feeds. Starting the day with the number 110 on the Postbox icon isn’t really great.
Task Organizer
I love Things!! I recently wrote a review on their app and I gave it 5 out of 5. Again, the app is simple to use and I love that. I was able to learn all of the features of Things in like five minutes. That’s great! It has helped me be a lot more productive.
Photo/Design Editor
Photoshop of course! I use Photoshop everyday for Fuel Your Blogging. I make thumbnails, lead images for our articles and recently I’ve been doing some photo retouching.
Vector/Illustration Program
Illustrator. I make sure I use it everyday. I’m usually working on a logo, some text for a wallpaper or just messing around. I love it!
Parting Shots
Feel free to add your tools of choice for any or all of the categories above. I’d also love to hear your suggestions for genres that I should add to the next designer’s toolbox.
Sharing is Caring
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November 19, 2009
Cool to see that other designers are using Smultron too! It’s a small, fast little app to quickly make some changes. Still, I really love to use it AND it has an awesome name ;) .
Great post – thanks for sharing!
November 19, 2009
Excellent to learn how the greatest bloggers work, I don’t use so many tools but I would try them to get more productive.
Thanks for sharing
November 19, 2009
Very informative!…nice to see what other designers are using. :)
November 19, 2009
I feel so honored to have participated in this series! Thanks Andrew!
November 19, 2009
Billings seems like a good billing software. I’ll have to give it a shot
November 24, 2009
Billings looks interesting and I will definitely look into CyberDuck! Thanks for sharing Andrew.
November 28, 2009
Thank you Andy and Tim! Smultron was a long time no.1 for me but after I tried Coda, my life changed :-)
My question is: “Postbox was a switch from Thunderbird or Gmail or something else?” As I’m using Gmail and I was trying Postbox, maybe there is something I should consider more…