Laptop Requirement
Throughout their academic career, School of Fashion students will have several projects and assignments which will require them to have access to a laptop and specific software.
All School of Fashion students are required to have a laptop. Students may choose either a Mac or Windows computer. A three-year warranty (AppleCare for Macs) is recommended. Please note – tablet devices such as Apple iPads and Chromebooks are not recommended for the laptop requirement. Some classes require software that will not work on these devices.
Below are the minimum specification recommendations:
Fashion Design Laptop Requirement
MAC LAPTOP
| Category | Recommendation |
| Models |
14-inch MacBook Pro |
| macOS | Big Sur 11.4 Monterey 12 |
| Processor | Apple M1 |
| Memory | DDR4 32GB or more |
| Storage | 512GB |
| Screen | Retina 4K Retina 5K |
| Input Devices | 3-button mouse |
WINDOWS LAPTOP
| Category | Recommendation |
| Models | No preference |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit (21H1 or later) Windows 11 64-bit |
| Processor | AMD® Ryzen 4th Gen 7 5000 series AMD® Ryzen 4th Gen 9 5000 series Intel® Core i7 10th Gen Intel® Core i9 10th Gen (or later) |
| Memory | DDR4 32GB or more |
| Storage | 512GB |
| Screen | 1920x1080 60Hz 2560x1440 60Hz Retina 4K |
| Input Device | 3-button mouse |
Fashion Merchandising Laptop Requirement
Mac Laptop
| Category | Recommendation |
| Models |
13-inch MacBook Air |
| macOS | Big Sur 11.4 Monterey 12 |
| Processor | Apple M1 |
| Memory | RAM 16GB or more |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Screen | Retina 4K Retina 5K |
| Input Devices | 3-button mouse |
Windows Laptop
| Category | Recommendation |
| Models | No preference |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit (21H1 or later) Windows 11 64-bit |
| Processor | AMD® Ryzen 4th Gen 7 5000 series AMD® Ryzen 4th Gen 9 5000 series Intel® Core i7 10th Gen Intel® Core i9 10th Gen (or later) |
| Memory | RAM 16GB or more |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Screen | 1920x1080 60Hz 2560x1440 60Hz Retina 4K |
| Input Device | 3-button mouse |
DRAWING TABLET REQUIREMENT (Fashion Design Majors Only)
In addition to their laptop, fashion design students will need a drawing tablet and a corresponding direct-to-surface drawing stylus. It is recommended for the tablet to be 9-inch x 12-inch or larger. While larger is typically better, students will want the tablet to be portable and light. Wacom tablets are not currently recommended.
The purchase of the tablet will replace all other illustration-related costs; such, as paper, markers, sketchpad, etc.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT
All School of Fashion students will need Microsoft Office 365 and a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud Student and Teacher Edition on their laptop.
Adobe Creative Cloud can be purchased from the university at a substantial discount. Visit the Kent State Adobe Creative Cloud website for more information.
Microsoft Office 365 is free for Kent State University students. Visit our Information Technology Support website for more information.
QUESTIONS
Questions regarding the School of Fashion technology requirements can be directed to our Tech Support team at Helpdesk-Fashion@kent.edu.
