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Starting a Design Course? Here's What You Need

Starting a design course can be an exciting and challenging journey. Whether you’re heading into architecture, product design, illustration or another creative discipline, building a strong foundation begins with having the right tools. Two essentials for any aspiring designer are a dependable drawing board and a reliable light box—tools that help you bring ideas to life with precision and confidence.

Why Drawing Boards Matter

Drawing boards are more than just a flat surface—they’re your workspace for turning thoughts into visual form. A stable, adjustable board helps you stay focused, reduces fatigue during long sessions, and provides the right environment for fine details and measured lines. From sketching and rendering to drafting precise technical work, a good board is a must-have from day one.

Recommended Drawing Boards

Orchard offers a range of high-quality drawing boards to support students at every level:

  • Priory Desktop Drawing Board – Ideal for students on the move, this compact board is lightweight and features a smooth motion parallel ruler, perfect for accurate line work in small spaces or at home.
  • Ackworth A-Frame Drawing Board – A popular choice in classrooms and studios, this floor-standing board is height and angle adjustable, offering ergonomic comfort and professional build quality for extended use.

All our boards are delivered fully assembled and ready to use—no fiddly setup required. Whether you’re working at a desk or a dedicated design studio, there’s an Orchard model to fit your needs.

A2 Priory Drawing Board Cross-wire

Free UK Delivery ✓

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  • Parallel Motion Type Continuous Cross-wire
  • Stand Colour Black
  • Paper Size A2 (594mm x 420mm)
  • Board Size 650 x 470mm
  • Angle Adjustment 13 stage
  • Weight 8kg
  • Supplied fully assembled
  • Lifetime warranty

£159.60Inc. £26.60 VAT
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A1 Priory Drawing Board Counter-weight

Free UK Delivery ✓

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  • Parallel Motion Type Counter-weight
  • Frame Finish Black
  • Paper Size A1 (841mm x 594mm)
  • Working area 920 x 650mm
  • Footprint (when flat) 1020 x 800mm
  • Angle 13 stages
  • Weight 12kg
  • Delivered fully assembled
  • Lifetime warranty

£227.88Inc. £37.98 VAT
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A1 Ackworth Drawing Board Counter-weight

Free UK Delivery ✓

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  • Parallel Motion Type Counter-balanced
  • Stand Colour White
  • Paper Size A1 (841mm x 594mm)
  • Board Size 920 x 650mm
  • Adjustment Height & Angle
  • Weight 17kg
  • Supplied fully assembled
  • Lifetime warranty

£350.40Inc. £58.40 VAT
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The Role of Light Boxes in Design

Light boxes are indispensable for many types of design work—particularly where tracing, transparency, or visual clarity is important. From reviewing overlays and adjusting layouts to checking negatives or fine illustrations, an evenly lit surface gives you the detail and consistency you need for confident progress.

Recommended Light Boxes

Our BEAM range of light boxes is built to professional standards and trusted by designers, artists and quality control teams alike:

  • BEAM LEd Light Box - A highly capable and fully features LED light box with unparalleled light distribution.
  • BEAM Light Table – A compact, backlit table with adjustable brightness and a clean glass top—ideal for tracing, reviewing, or precision inspection tasks.

Whether you’re working on A3 sketches or full-scale plans, our light boxes provide uniform illumination and durable construction for daily use.

A2 BEAM LED Light Box

Free UK Delivery ✓

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  • Working Area 620 x 440mm Edge-To-Edge Screen
  • Paper Size A2
  • Dimming Stepless brightness control 10 - 100%
  • Memory Function
  • Weight 4.3kg
  • Total Light Power 3,274 lumens
  • Screen Brightness 12,000 LUX / 3,820 nits
  • Screen Acrylic Screen
  • Light Source Rear-lit LED
  • Light Output 5500K - 6000K (Pure White)
  • Light Wavelength500 - 545nm
  • LED life-span 50,000 hour
  • Power Supply 24V 2.5A
  • Max. Power Usage 40W
  • Ingress Protection IP64

£502.80Inc. £83.80 VAT
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A1 BEAM Light Table

Free UK Delivery ✓

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  • Working Area 860 x 620mm Edge-To-Edge Screen
  • Paper Size A1
  • Weight 7.8kg (14.5kg with glass)
  • Switch Stainless touch sensitive & illuminated
  • Dimming Stepless brightness control 10 - 100%
  • Memory Function
  • Total Light Power 6,398 lumens
  • Screen Brightness 12,000 LUX / 3,820 nits
  • Screen Toughened Glass
  • Light Source Rear-lit LED
  • Light Output 5500K - 6000K (Pure White)
  • Light Wavelength500 - 545nm
  • LED life-span 50,000 hour
  • Table Height 830mm
  • Weight 31Kg
  • Power Supply 24V Mains power supply included
  • Max. Power Usage 80W
  • Ingress Protection IP64

£894.00Inc. £149.00 VAT
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A3 Wafer Light Panel

Free UK Delivery ✓

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  • Light source: LED
  • Dimmer switch: continuous
  • Light colour temperature: 5,500°K
  • Energy consumption: 10W
  • Lumens: 320
  • Product colour: Grey
  • Product dimensions: 36 x 48 x 1 cm (14.2” x18.9 ” x0.4 ”)
  • Product Weight: 1.64kg (3.608lbs)
  • A3 Illuminated area: 44cm x 32 cm (17" x 12.5")
  • Cable length: 1.8m (71”)

£78.00Inc. £13.00 VAT
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Start Strong with the Right Equipment

Beginning your course with professional-quality tools sets the tone for your entire design journey. Orchard drawing boards and light boxes are made in the UK with a focus on durability, accuracy, and ease of use. They arrive fully assembled and carefully packaged, so you can start creating from day one. If you’re unsure which option is right for your course or space, our team is always happy to advise.