Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts Tech Recommendation

UPDATED: 05/12/2024

Please email: Bobcat Depot for additional questions.

Important Note: Microsoft 365 is required for all majors in College of Fine Arts. OHIO provides Microsoft 365 at no charge to our students.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS	NOTES
School of Dance and School of Theater	These majors do not a have a specific laptop recommendation. Apple, Lenovo, Microsoft, etc. are all acceptable. A webcam enabled device or webcam accessory is recommended for all Fine Arts majors.
School of Music	The School of Music does not a have a specific laptop recommendation. Apple, Lenovo, Microsoft, etc. are all acceptable, however, Chromebooks are highly discouraged. Why are Chromebooks discouraged: Some students will be needing to use a more professional suite of digital tools. Most will not need a professional DAW or video editing software as a first year student. After a student progresses out of their first year, it becomes more evident on what software they will need (Ableton, Logic, etc.) Chromebooks are very limiting since not much can software can be installed on them which would then require a student to use the computer labs. A webcam enabled device or webcam accessory is recommended for all Fine Arts majors.
School of Film: Students should have a personal computer equipped with Adobe Premiere Pro. Adobe Premiere Pro is purchased directly from Adobe (student discounts are available). Recommended specs for computer in order to handle Adobe Premiere Pro: Windows systems Windows 11 Processor: Intel i7 (7th Gen or later) / AMD Equivalent RAM: 16GB or higher Hard Drive space: 8GB (this space is for installing Premiere only) Graphics RAM: 2GB or higher Sound Card: ASIO compatible or Microsoft Windows Driver Model Monitor: 1920x1080 pixels (or higher) Mac systems MacOS 10.13 (or later) Processor: Intel i7 (or newer) / AMD Equivalent RAM: 16GB or higher Hard Drive space: 8GB (this space is for installing Premiere only) Graphics RAM: 2GB or higher Monitor: 1920x1080 pixels (or higher)	NOTES: Students need an additional external Hard Drive to store their media - preferably a SSD of 500GB or higher capacity. All the specs mentioned above are provided with the assumption that students will be working footage no higher in resolution than 1080p In the case that anyone already has a computer/laptop that does not meet the above mentioned specs, email (Anil Srivastha (instructor of FILM 2900: Intro to Postproduction) with specs and he can respond with whether it meets at least the minimum requirements or not. If for some reason, you cannot acquire a suitable computer, you should email, Steven Ross, Director of the School of Film. A webcam enabled device or webcam accessory is recommended for all Fine Arts majors.
School of Art + Design: Technology needs in the School of Art + Design vary by concentration, area of study, and personal interests. However, we recognize that flexibility and accessibility are essential, especially in a field where digital tools play a key role in artistic and design practices. Students are not required to purchase a new computer when starting their program. In fact, many students can begin their studies using a digital device they already own and/or make use of computer labs on campus. During the first year, some courses may require the use of a personal computer, and if they do, the software applications needed for these courses should run on any device. Students can consult with their instructor/instructors at the start of each semester if they have any questions about their current personal digital devices. Remote Desktop Access to a High-Powered Computer: Beginning in their second year, and based on selected courses, students will gain access to a high-performance remote supercomputing environment. This system allows students to securely log into a powerful virtual desktop from any personal device—Mac, PC, or Chromebook—enabling them to run many of the required software for their coursework without needing a high-end local machine using a remote desktop app or even through their browser. This remote desktop access ensures that the students, regardless of their personal hardware, can work with advanced art and design applications and complex processes such as Adobe Creative Cloud apps, video editing, 3D modeling, and motion graphics from any location. However, it is recommended to have some personal devices with larger screens and the ability to connect a keyboard and mouse with a scroll wheel to allow the student to maximize their ability to navigate, interact, and access the remote desktop and the full range of applications needed. This access is also added in addition to the limited physical computer labs in many of the schools, libraries, or other computer labs around campus. Technology Recommendations for the Following Areas of Study: Art History Art Therapy Graphic Design Studio Art: Ceramics, Sculpture, Printmaking, Painting = Drawing, and Photography For students who wish to invest in a laptop, faculty recommend selecting a model that aligns with personal interests and anticipated areas of focus within Art + Design. Keep in mind that these interests may evolve over time, and technology needs may shift accordingly. Laptop Recommendation: MacBook Pro: System A thru System D Upgraded Laptop Recommendation: MacBook Pro: System E thru J Students who are considering film and video, motion and animation graphics, augmented reality environments, realistic 3D CAD renderings, and or other complex digital art processes and applications will require a laptop computer with increased memory storage, processing capabilities, and graphics cards. If a student feels they are planning to utilize any of these specific modalities of art + design production, we recommend they consider purchasing an upgraded model to increase their productivity and functionality.	Software Recommendation Important Note: It is not necessary to purchase software prior to the start of your classes. We recommend consulting with your instructors/area of focus to determine what is needed for your courses. Microsoft 365 (Provided by OU) Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and others.) Advanced Courses (3000–4000 level) may utilize additional software applications based on each area's curriculum, and learning outcomes. Digital Camera: We highly recommended that students utilize digital cameras within their art + design practices. Students will be using these devices to document their artwork, studio practice, designs, and collect visual images for research. We encourage the use of any device including; cell phones, digital cameras, and DSLRs. Students are not required to own or purchase a camera. Digital cameras are available through the College of Fine Art's CREATE_space + Central Checkout facility. Digital File Storage: We highly recommended that students utilize external hard-drives and cloud-based services to store and archive their digital files: research, portfolios, assignments, papers, and any other digital reference material that will be critical to each student and their professional ambitions. In addition to external hard-drives and cloud-based services, SD cards and flash drives can help to facilitate increased flexibility and production for those working on research, designs, and artwork in different labs or on multiple devices. Webcam: A webcam enabled device or webcam accessory is recommended for all Fine Arts majors.
Laptop + Technology Recommendations for Studio Art: Digital Art + Technology (DAT): Windows-only computers (No MacBook), Minimum recommended (2025): Windows 11 64-bit, a quad-core Intel or AMD processor (2.5 GHz or faster), 32 GB of RAM, and a DirectX 11 or 12 compatible graphics card with 8 GB or more of VRAM and an SSD 500GB minimum drive. Consider having a drawing tablet or iPad Pro with a pen + Keyboard, and a Mouse. Students in the DAT area will have access to limited physical computers in the DAT studios, a dedicated remote DAT desktop, COFA remote Desktop, and Remote Ohio Supercomputer access to explore the different technologies and applications. Students who are considering video, motion, animation graphics, virtual or augmented reality environments, 3D and CAD renderings, and/or other complex digital art processes and applications may want a laptop and/or desktop computer with increased memory storage, processing capabilities, and graphics cards. If a student feels they are planning to utilize any of these specific modalities of art + design production, we recommend they consider purchasing an upgraded model to increase their productivity and functionality. Design professionals increasingly utilize technology to explore and create as part of the design process and as practicing professionals. The industry standard for interior design and architecture has traditionally been the PC (Windows).	Software Requirements: Microsoft 365 (Provided by OU), Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and others), Revit (current year version), and TwinMotion (current year version.) It is not necessary to purchase software prior to the start of your classes. We recommend consulting with your instructors/area of focus to determine what is needed for your courses. Advanced Courses (3000–4000 level) may have additional applications based on each area's curriculum, and learning outcomes.
Interior Architecture Majors: Digital design technologies are integral in design learning and practice. The following hardware, accessories and software are required for successful participation and completion of studio coursework in Ohio University’s Interior Architecture Program. Design professionals increasingly utilize technology to explore and create as part of the design process and as practicing professionals. The industry standard for interior design and architecture has traditionally been the PC (Windows). When acquiring your PC laptop, please note that the industry standard drafting and rendering software is Windows-based (no MACs!). With that, here are the minimum specifications to be able to capably run software for drafting (Revit) and rendering (TwinMotion)software. Minimum Operating Specs: Operating System: Windows 11 on PC (No Macs) Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or 3070 (or equivalent) Memory: 16 GB Storage: 512 GB	Software Requirements: Microsoft 365 (Provided by OU), Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and others), Revit (current year version), and TwinMotion (current year version.) It is not necessary to purchase software prior to the start of your classes. We recommend consulting with your instructors/area of focus to determine what is needed for your courses. Advanced Courses (3000–4000 level) may have additional applications based on each area's curriculum, and learning outcomes. Peripherals: Mouse with scroll wheel Printer - Historically, students find it convenient to have a personal printer at their desk – (Recommended but not required) External Monitor – 27” w/necessary cables/adaptors (Recommended but not required) 1TB External Hard Drive (Recommended but not required)
Other technology recommendations for all School of Art + Design student: DSL Digital Camera: Students are not required to purchase a camera. Students may use smartphones or check out digital cameras from the College of Fine Arts' CREATE_space + Central Checkout. Consulting with your Area of focus after your first year will provide students with additional guidance to consider investing in a camera if it serves the student's best interest. File Storage: Students are encouraged to use external hard drives (SSDs) and cloud storage to back up work and transfer files across devices and labs. Cloud-based storage is free to students via OneDrive through your Bobcat email and once you have installed Microsoft Office 365 We encourage students to view technology not as a barrier, but as a tool that can be accessed in multiple ways—whether through owned devices or school-provided resources—to support creative exploration and professional development.