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.

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.