11 Design Studio Supplies That Pros Actually Use

Before there was social media or portfolio websites, one of designers’ greatest tools for promoting a brand image—and making a good first impression—was through their studio. The workspace can be quite telling, indicative not only of a firm’s inspirations, but also of its organizational skills and, ideally, of its creative spirit too. Olson Kundig’s Manhattan office, where a record player and stack of vinyls in the lobby allow guests to pick their own playlists, or the hammock-like lounge space in Elizabeth Roberts’s Brooklyn studio come to mind.

Wondrous ideas aside, there are a few basic design studio supplies when it comes to setting up shop. Taking cues from the dozens of office visits AD and AD PRO have taken over the years—Stephanie Goto’s sky-high studio, designer Jeremiah Brent’s sunny headquarters, and Studio Sofield’s art-filled workplace among them—we’ve rounded up popular studio essentials.