Workstation Setup & Ergonomics

Step 1 — Audit what you actually have

In a few honest sentences (no judgment attached):

1. Hardware access: Do you have a computer at home? Desktop, laptop, shared family computer, tablet, or school Chromebook only?
2. Current specs: If you know any specs (processor, RAM, storage, graphics card), list them. If you don’t know, that is fine—say so.
3. Current use: What do you currently use it for? (Schoolwork, gaming, video editing, web browsing?)
4. Current ergonomic setup: Where do you actually sit and work? (A desk, kitchen table, bed, couch?) How is your posture, screen height, and viewing distance?

If you have nothing at home, write that. It matters for the next part, not as a problem to solve here, but because it changes what “worth building” means for you.

Step 2 — Pick your job

Choose the creative industry focus driving this workstation build. It must be something covered in this pathway, or an adjacent creative field you are genuinely curious about:

• 3D Art & Game Development (Blender, Unreal Engine 5)
• Video Editing & Post-Production (Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects)
• Graphic Design & Digital Illustration (Photoshop, Illustrator, Krita)
• Music & Audio Production (DAWs, recording, virtual instruments)
• General Creative Multitasking (Undecided / hybrid creative production)

Your whole build gets justified against this focus. A video editing rig and a Blender/Unreal rig require very different hardware priorities.

Step 3 — Set a real budget

Pick a budget between $800 and $2,000. State your target number and explain why in a sentence.

“This is roughly what a family might actually spend on a first serious workstation” or “This represents saving money from a summer job” are both great justifications.

Step 4 — Build it on PCPartPicker

Go to pcpartpicker.com → System Builder. Build your system in this order to minimize compatibility headaches:

1. CPU: Pick this first, since socket type determines compatible motherboards.
2. Motherboard: The tool will filter to CPU-compatible options.
3. RAM (Memory): Must match what the motherboard and CPU support (e.g., DDR4 vs DDR5).
4. GPU (Video Card): Sized for your creative workload.
5. Storage: High-speed NVMe SSD for OS/apps, optional bulk drive.
6. Case: Ensure it fits your motherboard form factor and GPU length.
7. Power Supply (PSU): Sufficient wattage with 20–30% overhead.
8. Operating System: Windows or Linux.

As you add parts, PCPartPicker automatically checks physical and electrical compatibility. Pay attention to every warning. A red warning means parts will physically or electrically fail together, not a mild suggestion.

You don’t need an account to build a list, but creating a free account lets you save your list link for easy portfolio posting.

Step 5 — Hit your numbers

Cross-reference your build against your chosen job from Step 2:

If your total is over budget, cut something and explain the trade-off. If you are well under budget, decide whether to upgrade a bottleneck component or reserve budget for ergonomic workstation peripherals.

Step 6 — Write your component justification

For each of the four core components (CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage), write 1 to 3 sentences covering:

• What it does in the machine
• Why you picked this specific model for your job and budget
• What you would upgrade first if you were given an additional $200

This is the core of the assignment. The parts list proves you can use the tool; the written justification proves you understand what you built.

Step 7 — Plan your ergonomic workstation setup

A powerful PC tower sitting on the floor does you no good if you are hunched over a coffee table with wrist pain. Connect your hardware build to an ergonomic workstation plan:

1. Monitor & viewing setup: What monitor size, stand, or arm will you use to maintain a 20-to-40 inch viewing distance with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level?
2. Keyboard & mouse placement: How will you position your keyboard and mouse so wrists stay straight and elbows remain bent between 90 and 120 degrees?
3. Seating & posture: What chair or support (including improvised lumbar cushions or footrests) will you use to support neutral posture with feet flat and thighs parallel to the floor?
4. Break routine: What is your specific plan for the 20-20-20 rule (eyes) and taking micro-breaks to stand and stretch every 20 to 30 minutes?

Step 8 — Reality check

Write one honest paragraph:

Is this build realistic for you or your family right now? Would you actually buy or build it? Is there a smarter or cheaper alternative that gets you 80% of the performance—such as buying a refurbished workstation, shopping the used GPU market, or upgrading a single part (like adding RAM or an SSD) in a computer you already own?

There is no wrong answer here. A $2,000 dream build you never purchase still teaches critical systems thinking. Acknowledging realistic alternatives proves mature engineering judgment.

Step 9 — Post to your portfolio

On your portfolio’s Coursework page, publish a new post using the standard format:

Workstation Setup & Dream PC Build — Intro to Media Careers · Unit 1 · [Date]

What this is: An audit of my current digital setup, a custom PC build designed for [creative focus] on PCPartPicker, and an ergonomic workstation plan.
Tools used: PCPartPicker, Google Sites.
What I'd do differently: [One honest sentence about a hardware trade-off or budget choice].

Include all of the following in your post:

• Current setup audit (Step 1)
• Career focus, budget, and rationale (Steps 2–3)
• PCPartPicker link (or screenshot of the complete parts list with prices)
• Component justification breakdown (Step 6)
• Ergonomic workstation plan (Step 7)
• Reality check paragraph (Step 8)