…I feel that, for the most part, you smash your thumb with a hammer before using Papyrus or Comic Sans on your business cards (or anything)

…I know what bleeds, PMS, hickeys and gutters are (but not what you think)

…I think graphic design and web design are two different things.

…I would rather properly typeset something as simple as an estimate or proposal in InDesign as opposed to MS Word.

…I think that MS Publisher doesn’t count as design software.

…when watching a movie the first thing I notice is the font that the opening credits are set in.

…I have little admiration for people that just up and decide they are a designer one day.

…I know the difference between CYMK, RGB and PMS.

…I refuse to believe owning a Mac is a nessesity to be a designer.

…I believe if you are a designer (especially a freelancer) you #1 priority should be customer service for your clients with providing killer design a VERY close second.

Mayhem Studios

Bio: Mayhem Studios is a small, award-winning design firm located in Los Angeles. Develops identity and brand recognition for small & large businesses across the nation. The Studio uses strategic and creative design with effective messages targeted to the client’s specific audiences.

Website: http://www.mayhemstudios.com

Twitter:mayhemstudios

Design Music: Anything 80s – Men Without Hats (Safety Dance), Thomas Dolby (she Blinded Me With Science), Depeche Mode (Master & Servant)

Casey Hald

Website: http://www.sunfalldesigns.com

Twitter: CaseyHald

Design Music: When I’m designing digital art, I typically listen to power metal, Finland metal, and movie soundtracks such as LOTR soundtrack, Enya, and other epic motion pictures. My favorite bands to listen to are Amon Amarth, Children of Bodom, Iron Maiden, Nightwish, & Bad Religion.

Kostandinos

Bio: Kostandinos is a graphic/web designer and abstract painter living in metro Detroit.

Website: http://www.kostandinos.com

Twitter: suedecrush

Design Music: Dreamend, Mono, Explosions in the Sky, The Octopus Project, Powderfinger, Catherine Wheel, Paik, Jacob, Daturah, and Toman. Big fan of “post-rock” instrumental bands.

Aaron Irizarry

Bio: My name is Aaron Michael Irizarry (aaron i for short), I survive mostly on Asian food & coffee, I am a designer, artist, God follower, father, husband, dodger fan, star wars geek, retired musician, canvas… I am passionate about web design/development, and I love pretty much anything creative. I drink coffee, work, and rant at eLocal Listing, I live in beautiful Murrieta, CA with my amazing wife Amanda, and two girls Ashlyn, and Audrey.

Website: http://www.thisisaaronslife.com

Twitter: aaroni268

Design Music: It depends on what I am doing but more times than not two bands in particular inspire me creatively. Unwed Sailor, Explosions In The Sky, This Will Destroy You. Alot of times when I am tired then I crank up the brutality, and listen to
The Red Chord, War of Ages, Ringworm, Sleeping Giant, Most Precious Blood, and of course Iron Maiden (sorry i will always be a metal head at heart) and the rest of the time i just basically put my iPod on shuffle songs and go with the flow.

Selene M. Bowlby

Bio: Selene M. Bowlby is a web designer and front-end web developer with over 10 years of professional experience in the design industry. After taking the “freelance plunge” in 2008, she runs her company, iDesign Studios full time, where she specializes in creating custom web sites for other small businesses.

Website: http://www.idesignstudios.com/blog

Twitter: idesignstudios

Design Music: I love any and everything by Maynard James Keenan – specifically Tool, but also A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. I also like listening to Nine Inch Nails. Got to rock out to get all the creative juices flowing!

Angie Bowen

Bio: I’m a 31 year old artist, designer & web developer living in the mountains of Colorado. I began my design career years ago learning to build and devise websites. Now that I have a firm handle on both xhtml and css, I plan to move on to explore PHP and Ruby on Rails and see what they have got to offer.

Website: http://arbent.net/

Twitter: Arbenting

Design Music: Placebo is my favorite to listen to when I’m working. Though lately I’ve been listening to the Repo! The Genetic Opera soundtrack.

Kyle Steed

Bio: I currently work as the lead web developer/designer for a WaveTwo (http://www.wavetwo.com) in Dallas, Texas. I have a wonderful wife Amanda of almost three years that supports me. I enjoy playing with our two labradors, Samson and Benjamin. I am learning to make the best of every situation. OH, and I just helped design a new taste over at Nectar (http://tastynectar.com)

Website: http://www.kylesteed.com

Twitter: kylesteed

Design Music: Well first off, here’s a recent post I did for some music I like in the winter: http://www.kylesteed.com/the-onset-of-winter-playlist/

But on any given day I can found listening to the great sounds of M83 (Saturdays = Youth),
Snow Patrol (A Hundred Million Suns), Mute Math (Reset EP) and
Ray LaMontagne (Gossip In The Grain)

Amanda Wyler

Bio: Artistic Amanda Designs is run by a one-woman show: Amanda Wyler. Twenty-eight and living in the heart of Music City, Amanda is the rare person who can move between business and creative endeavors with ease — wearing the hats of visual artist, graphic designer, musician and entrepreneur simultaneously. Passionate about beautiful images in all forms, Amanda focuses on simplicity, style and timelessness.

Website: http://www.artisticamanda.com (currently undergoing a huge renovation – don’t judge me!)

Twitter: artistic_amanda

Design Music: (I opened iTunes and shuffled… these were the first 7 songs that played)

1. Rats – Pearl Jam (Vs.)
2. 15 Steps – Radiohead (In Rainbows)
3. Backdrifts – Radiohead (Hail to the Thief)
4. The Ballad of Johnny Butt – Sublime (Sublime)
5. Megalomaniac – Incubus (A Crow Left of the Murder)
6. Misery Business – Paramore (Riot!)
7. Portions of Foxes – Rilo Kiley (More Adventurous)

Bob Pease

Bio: Web/UI designer (among other things) for http://www.techrigy.com

Website: http://www.bpeasedesign.com – portfolio site

Twitter: bobbo0521

Design Music: Jackson Waters

Arron Lock

Bio: I have been an independant graphic designer for nearly 6 years and though I do have web knowledge I prefer the world of print design. I run arronlock.com (the site you are on now) to share my knowledge of starting out as a fledgling designer and what to expect from the business world.

Website: http://www.arronlock.com (you’re already here)

Twitter: arronlock

Design Music: It depends on the day and how how I am feeling but generally some good heavy music jump starts me. Anything from Slipknot, Mudvayne or Avenged Sevenfold all the way to Billy Joel, Elton John and The Beatles get me through the day… and everyone loves Code Monkey