Starting Art or Design at University in 2026? Here's What You Actually Need
Every September, thousands of students arrive at art and design courses across the UK carrying kit lists that range from the helpful to the baffling. After 28 years of supplying universities, design colleges, and architecture schools, we know which items genuinely earn their place in a studio bag — and which ones you can safely leave off the list until you know you need them.
This guide is written for students starting graphic design, illustration, architecture, fashion design, interior design, and fine art courses in September 2026. We've organised it by course type so you can go straight to what's relevant to you.
The essentials every art and design student needs
Before you get to course-specific kit, there are a few items that appear on virtually every kit list regardless of your subject.
A good layout pad is the single most-used item in most design studios. You'll use it for thumbnails, development sketches, marker work, and presentations. Our GraphicPro A3 Layout Pad (50gsm, 50 sheets) is made in the UK, takes markers cleanly without bleed-through, and is excellent value compared to branded alternatives. If your course involves a lot of marker rendering, choose a dedicated marker pad — the GraphicPro A3 Marker Pad has a coated surface that keeps alcohol markers vibrant.
A scalpel handle and blade set is essential across virtually all design and architecture courses. Swann-Morton is the professional standard — manufactured in Sheffield since 1932, the same precision blades used in surgical theatres. For most students, a No.3 handle with a pack of No.10A and No.11 blades covers 95% of cutting tasks. If your course involves cutting mountboard or foam board, add a No.10 blade (curved edge, ideal for thicker materials).
A self-healing cutting mat protects your work surface and your blades. Get at least A3 size — A2 is better if your budget allows.
A set of fine liners rounds out the essentials. Staedtler Pigment Liners are the workhorse of most design studios — waterproof, lightfast, and available in nib widths from 0.05mm to 0.8mm. A set of four nib widths (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8) covers most needs.
Graphic design and illustration students
If you're starting a graphic design or illustration course, your tutor will almost certainly introduce you to Pantone at some point in your first year. The Pantone Formula Guide (GP1601B) — coated and uncoated, 2,390 PMS spot colours — is the industry standard colour reference that graphic designers and brand managers use worldwide. It's a significant investment and hopefully your course will have one available to use.
For marker work, Winsor & Newton ProMarkers are the go-to for most illustration and graphic design courses — alcohol-based, twin-tipped (chisel and bullet), available in 189 individual colours. Start with a skin tones set or a primary colour set and add singles as your work develops. At £2.34 per single marker they're accessible to buy gradually.
Architecture students
Architecture is the most equipment-intensive of all design courses. In addition to the universal essentials above, you'll need:
A drawing board with parallel motion. The GraphicPro A2 Drawing Board is the most popular choice for architecture students across the UK — robust, reliable, and competitively priced. If your studio has board space, consider an A1 for larger site plans and elevations. The Rotring A2 Rapid Drawing Board is an excellent step up if your budget stretches.
Rotring technical pens or a 0.5mm mechanical pencil for technical drawing. The Rotring 600 mechanical pencil is a cult favourite among architecture students — precision-engineered, metal barrel, and built to last years of heavy use.
Detail paper roll (Bienfang or Tervakoski) for overlays and development drawings. The Bienfang 305mm x 45m white roll is the standard choice.
A set of set squares (30/60 and 45 degrees) and a scale rule.
Fashion design students
Your primary need is good quality layout paper for fashion illustration and garment sketching. The GraphicPro A3 Layout Pad works well. For colour work, ProMarkers are used extensively in fashion illustration — the skin tones range and a set of warm neutrals are the most useful starting point.
A dress form template and fashion design ruler are course-specific items worth buying once you're certain which scale your tutors use — check before purchasing.
A note on buying strategy
Don't buy everything at once. Most experienced tutors will tell you the same thing: buy the essentials before you start, then add specialist items after your first few weeks when you know what your course actually requires. Many items on generic kit lists never get used.
At Graphics Direct we've been supplying art and design students since 1998. If you're unsure what you need, call us on 01423 359 730 — our team has helped thousands of students navigate their first kit purchase and we're always happy to advise.
Free UK delivery on all orders over £75. Orders placed before 4pm are dispatched the same day.