your travelling gear.

[shane]

Hi, i guess a little background is in order here. I'm an industrial design student with only a little bit of knowledge of graphic design. i'm starting my final major project, and it's going to be a product for the traveling graphic designer. It'll basically be a portable design studio that doubles as a hard case to protect your gear.

so, my basic questions are:
1. do you travel interstate or overseas for work?
2. what gear do you take with you? ie. laptop, tablet, projector, camera etc. (some specifics if known, ie 6x8 wacom + 17" G4 Powerbook etc. etc.
3. how do you transport this gear? (individual soft cases etc.)
4. Do you still use pen & paper for sketches, or are you all digital?
5. Do you have any major gripes with managing, transporting and using this gear?

i know posts like this tend to get ignored, especially with new members and all, but i'd really apprieciate if some people could take the time to answer these. even if you just answere a couple...:)

[Satchel]

Shane,
It's kinda late, this forum gets pretty busy during the day, if you dont hear anything tonight - bump it up to the top tomorrow and I'm sure you'll get a few answers... I personally dont really travel, but when I do (only about 90 miles) I take my laptop in the case it came with and that's about it.

[DesignerScott]

I travel through farm backroads for 30 miles to work with nothin' but my lunch, and my Toshiba tablet pc. I handle everything digitally.

[turbogfx]

If I'm going on any serious jaunts (meaning I am going to work on a design in the field) I will bring my 15" powerbook and wacom tablet.
Camera wise, its a crap shoot. I'm in between rigs right now.

No matter what, I never go anywhere without my pocket moleskine and a good pen. You never know when an idea will strike. I call it my analog solution...no batteries required.

[colonel5]

For Design travel the following is what i like to have on me in my laptop case...

15" powerbook, 20GB iPod for storage, 1GB iPod shuffle for data transfer, 4x5 tablet, a bevy of cables/adapters, usb fly light, p&s digital camera, screen cleaner (spray & rag), notepad and 2 pens, cell phone, pda, & a good book.

[orkaknos12]

My Portable setup is:

HP AMD Turion64 Pavilion Laptop & it's power supply
6x8 V.1 Intuos USB Wacom Tablet
digital camera Nikon P1 and batteries (and the charger for long trips)
Camera Flash and Tripod
wireless optical laptop mouse
A couple of blank cds
sketchbook, pencil, rapidograph
Portfolio and demo reel if I'm visiting clients at the destination

-Jon

[Silence04]

my portable setup:

ipod
paper
pencil

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

1. do you travel interstate or overseas for work?
I spend on average about 1/4 - 1/3 a year traveling throughout the year in the U.S. and foreign countries. Not all of it is for business - but my business always goes with me. Some of it is for speaking engagements at conferences and colleges.

2. what gear do you take with you? ie. laptop, tablet, projector, camera etc. (some specifics if known, ie 6x8 wacom + 17" G4 Powerbook etc. etc.
I travel with my 17" G4 PowerBook, digital camera, mini-tripod for the camera, all the various cords/cables I may need, CDs of fonts, blank CDs, a mouse with a built-in memory stick, and occasionally a small portable Brother color inkjet printer.

3. how do you transport this gear? (individual soft cases etc.)
One big-ass soft case - that gets a little heavy to lug around

4. Do you still use pen & paper for sketches, or are you all digital?
Most often go directly digital these days. Any sketching is more like doodling - on any available piece of paper.

5. Do you have any major gripes with managing, transporting and using this gear?
Two major gripes: 1.)The weight of my case - I'm thinking of getting a new one that has wheels and a handle to pull it. 2.)The biggest gripe is the issue of going through security and having get the PowerBook out of the case quickly - and sometimes several times on one trip. I need easier access to my PowerBook in those pain-in-the-ass security lines. I've been looking at some options like this (http://www.magellans.com/store/Luggage___Computer_BagsLC323?Args=). Unfortunately, most companies don't make one that fits a 17" PowerBook yet.

- J.

[Gromit801]

1. do you travel interstate or overseas for work?
I don't HAVE to travel, but do sometimes.

2. what gear do you take with you? ie. laptop, tablet, projector, camera etc.
Mac PowerBook G4, 2 gig flash drive, blank CD and DVD disks, firewire and USB cables, iPod, small digi camera, iSight, boot and repair disks, Adobe CS disks (just in case). As far as photo grear goes, it's all film for the best tones and gradations, and it FILLS a Tamrac Expidition 8 backpack!

3. how do you transport this gear?
The computer gear goes in a Targus case, and as previously said, if I'm shooting, the photo gear is in the BIG backpack.

4. Do you still use pen & paper for sketches, or are you all digital?
Some of both.

5. Do you have any major gripes with managing, transporting and using this gear?
Nope, eyes are wide open. My wife is an airline agent, so I know how to pack and deal with getting through without broken equipment.