Song: This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), Talking Heads
From the Playlist of: Artist April Wagner

Song: Fly Me To the Moon, Frank Sinatra
From the Playlist of: Designer Eduardo Alessi

Song: Nancy From Now On, Father John Misty
From the Playlist of: Hum Creative

Song: Escape in the Afternoon, French Films
From the Playlist of: Evernote’s Jeff Zwerner

Song: The Wanderer, Johnny Cash
From the Playlist of: Graphic designer Christopher Dina

Song: Shuffle, Bombay Bicycle Club
From the Playlist of: Designer J. Zachary Keenan

Song: Parallel Flights, Ryan Francesconi
From the Playlist of: Sea Chant’s Andrew & Carissa Gallo

Song: Temple of Unfed Fire, Pepe Deluxe
From the Playlist of: Artist Thedor Erkamps

Song: Care of Cell 44, The Zombies
From the Playlist of: Design Colleen Hill

Song: Summer Wind, Madeleine Peyroux
From the Playlist of: Architect and designer Max Gunawan

Song: Vision One, Röyksopp
From the Playlist of: Architect Amélie-Phaine Keller

Song: What’s On Your Mind, Tony Cook feat. Dam-Funk
From the Playlist of: Illustrator Grace Danico

What do you listen to while you work?
The usual suspects on rotation are pop, electronica, hip-hop, two-step/garage, Italo disco, dub, and occasionally, classical music.

How do you listen?
Headphones and studio monitors.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
There are so many, and it’s impossible to list all our favorite ones. The ones that immediately come to mind are: The Life Aquatic, Diamond Atlas, Gorilla vs Bear, Earmilk, The Hype Machine, lyfstyl music blog, Marinate Media, Neon Tape Deck, Hypebeast, High Snobiety, Hearing Gold, Assembly Line Collective, and disco naïveté.

Does music influence your work?
It absolutely does! We also run a boutique record label called Nueva Forma, and Colorcubic handles all of the creative aspects of our artists’ music, from branding to album art to 3D animation/motion graphics. We also organize an annual audiovisual event called Kontrast, which combines our love of bringing communities together with good music and visuals.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Usually by random discovery during late-night YouTube/SoundCloud/music blog trolling and recommendations from friends.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
Michael: Boards of Canada
Christy: Grimes

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is the Eames Chaise on a graphite satin frame in black leather. Music is therapy, and when we listen to this mix, we envision a comfortable chair to lie on. A chaise made the most sense!

Do you have Herman Miller pieces in your office?
In our studio, we use Herman Miller Celle Chairs. We like that they’re 98% recyclable, highly adjustable, and nice looking. They’re great chairs, and we’ve had them for about five years now.

Colorcubic’s Playlist:
1. L.O.V.E., Onra
2. Hawaii (Niva Remix), Blackbird Blackbird
3. Turbulence (), Loveskills
4. Orbit, Teengirl Fantasy
5. What Can I Do (Com Truise Remix), Sally Shapiro
6. The Truest Faith (CFCF Remix), Korallreven
7. Bad Girls, Blood Orange
8. Nazca, NZCA/LINES
9. Dying in Africa, Nicolas Mackelberge
10. Summer Nightrunner, A Gap Between
11. Everything is Working, Games
12. My Fire Burns the Same, The Bear and The Sea

Photos: Colorcubic

What do you listen to while you work?
Recently, I have realized I work best with music that is nearly instrumental but with a slight peppering of vocals which do not take center stage.

I like that it doesn’t demand my attention, which is ideal for concentration. Also it follows the approach to my own work. Most of my work is wrapped around a subtle narrative which is sort of abstract, and I liken that to vocals which are abstract but still add to the song.

How do you listen?
I use Spotify on my iMac while I work. I have music playing from the moment I start to the moment I finish. It’s very integral to the work.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I like Pitchfork and Stereogum. There is a lot I don’t like about those sites, but they are good for finding new music. Soundcloud is really awesome, and I use Spotify all the time.

Does music influence your work?
Majorly. I couldn’t over-exaggerate this if I tried. Three or four years ago I started to dig a littler deeper into my personal work.

Music is probably the art form that moves me the most. I started keeping track of music that I deeply responded to, and I created a little playlist that I call “Soundtrack to My Work.” Then I would try to approach creating visual work that felt the same way as this music. All of my NOD project and most all of my personal work in the past three years has been made this way.

A lot of this music is vocally abstract and sort of whimsical with a twist of melancholy, and I think you can see that in the work.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I have been doing a lot of music-focused editorial illustration for the fashion company Aritzia. They have introduced me to some fantastic new music lately. I look through my favorite new bands related artists on Spotify too. I would say that if my peers on Twitter bring up a band a few times, I’ll usually go check it out.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
If my work was a song, I would want it to be this little one minute piano piece called “Row” that Jon Brion made for the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It’s so beautiful. I can listen to it on repeat. I think it feels exactly like the work I try to create, sad but hopeful, childlike but sophisticated.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is sitting in an Eames Lounge Chair oiled santos palisander veneer and black MCL leather. This playlist is for nighttime, hence the dark-colored chair. Preferably listened to in a warm climate, windows down, alone, leaning back, relaxed, and lost in the music.

Andy’s Playlist:
1. Row, Jon Brion
2. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Ryuichi Sakamoto
3. Rain Smell, Baths
4. Garden 1, Teen Daze
5. Undo, The 1975
6. The Great Estates, Freelance Whales
7. Cleam, Mister Lies
8. Want U 2 Know, Different Sleep
9. Accordian, Madvillain
10. Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst, Kendrick Lamar

Photos: Andy J. Miller

What do you listen to while you work?
In the morning we usually listen to something mellow and ambient since that’s when we do a lot of our emailing. In the afternoon, we usually put on something with a little more kick, and if it’s going to be an all-nighter then 80′s music is the go to.

How do you listen?
We usually listen to music throughout the day on our Sonos and we each take turns putting on different music. If one of us really needs to focus or our cat won’t stop nagging for food, we throw on some Bose noise-cancelling headphones.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
iTunes and KEXP.

Does music influence your work?
We recently illustrated some idyllic forest scenes for a children’s hospital and we listened a lot to Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 while creating them. That music really invoked the feeling that we wanted to portray and helped us get into the right mental space while we were creating the various scenes.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
KEXP in Seattle is probably our favorite source for new music.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
Ha! This is a tricky one. We honestly have no idea, but it’d be pretty sweet if it could be “Linus and Lucy” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is the Eames Molded Plywood Chair in walnut.

Do you have Herman Miller pieces in your studio, home office (or anywhere else in your home)?
We have several Herman Miller pieces in both our home and office, and while they’re all fantastic, we’d say our favorite is the Eames Aluminum Management Chair. When you’re sitting all day long, it’s really important to have a chair that’s comfortable and supports your back for long hours. And it doesn’t look too shabby either.

Sarah & Ryan’s Playlist:
1. You Send Me, Sam Cooke
2. Heaven or Las Vegas, Cocteau Twins
3. Rebel Girl, Bikini Kill
4. When Doves Cry, Prince
5. Gimme Little Sign, Brenton Wood
6. When Harpo Played His Harp, Modern Lovers
7. Fire Alarm, The Fresh and Onlys
8. Hey, Pixies
9. Daylight Sky, Frankie Rose
10. Vapour Trail, Ride
11. My Prayer, Roy Orbison
12.  My Favorite Things, Tony Bennett

Photos: Lab Partners

What do you listen to while you work?
It really depends on what I’m doing. If it doesn’t require heavy thinking, I usually like to catch up on podcasts, mostly from NPR. If it is somewhat design oriented, I tend to prefer down-tempo electronica or classical music.

How do you listen?
Depends on where I’m at. If it is in the office, I usually listen with headphones either plugged into my computer or iPod. I use a Bluetooth wireless headset so I don’t worry about accidentally yanking out my earbuds when I get up or move around.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I have several Pandora stations and I’ve been meaning to check out Grooveshark.

Does music influence your work?
Not at this point in my design career, but it does help me slow down and pay attention. For songs that I’ve listened to over and over, there have been several occasions where I’ve noticed a particular sound, beat, or rhythm that I didn’t notice before and I try to carry over that awareness to my design process.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Pandora or the iOS App Shazam if I’m out in public and hear something I really like.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
I am just beginning my career in design, so I don’t have a body of work to represent. But I wouldn’t be able to narrow it down to one song or artist, it would depend on the type of space. For example, if it were personal space, like a home or private office, I’d like it to be calming, minimalistic, and relaxed, something like “In the Waiting Line” by Zero 7. If it were a public or social space, it would be something much faster and more upbeat.

The ideal place to sit and listen to this playlist is the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman if you’re relaxing at home or the Aeron Chair if you’re listening at work. I’ve had an Aeron in my home office for almost a decade now. I got it because it was the perfect balance between form and function.

Ray’s Playlist:
1. Viejo Abasto, G-Spliff
2. Gotta Be Love, Joey Youngman
3. Arrabal, Gotan Project
4. Dunk, Noiseshaper
5. Mi Swing Es Tropical, Quantic & Nickodemus
6. Reality Check, Stigmato Inc.
7. Get Enough, Telemark
8. Transcendence, Thievery Corporation
9. Intro, The XX
10. A Little Soul, Pete Rock
11. Yachts, A Man Called Adam

Photos and renderings: Ray Tam

What do you listen to while you work?
Any music that helps make Nora a nice space to spend time. New stuff, old stuff, we really like to mix it up. Sometimes it depends on the weather or the time of day, but it’s never just mellow and it’s never just upbeat.

How do you listen?
On a portable speaker system that we can tuck out of eye shot in the store.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Honestly, it’s impossible to pick out just one or two!

Does music influence your work?
Music plays a role early in our creative process because we play music while we think about what we want to the store to be, and later on because we use music to help create the Nora environment. It’s kind of a chicken-and-egg thing — did this song inspire ideas that go into Nora? Or did what Nora is inspire us to pick this song? We haven’t really figured it out yet.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Boy, all over the place. We are lucky enough to get Canadian radio here so CBC Radio 2 is always great, as are the music shows on our own public radio station WDET (which broadcasts just across the street!). Michele, our store manager, gets a lot of music ideas through her husband Christian, and he’s a fan of eMusic. A lot of our music is recommended by friends.

Do you have Herman Miller pieces in your studio, home or office?
All four of us on the Nora team have Herman Miller pieces we love in our homes. We really have a deep appreciation for Michigan’s modern design heritage and Herman Miller is a huge part of that. We love that Herman Miller continues to operate here in Michigan honoring the classics and innovating with new products.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is the Eames Soft Pad Lounge Chair with tilt swivel in Divina Melange #220, a warm light grey. With ottoman, of course. It seems a little sacrilegious to do something other than leather but that Divina Melange fabric is, well, divine. It’s perfect for our mix because it’s so comfortable, and it lets you dream during the mellow parts and dance in your seat when it’s upbeat.

Nora Modern’s Playlist:
1. Sooner or Later, Slumber Party
2. La Belle et le Bad Boy, MC Solaar
3. Beat Control, Tilly & the Wall
4. Losing You, Solange
5. The Late Great Cassiopia, The Essex Green
6. Song for Zula, Phosphorescent
7. Like a Motorway, St. Etienne
8. Autobahn, KraftWerk
9. The Black Keys Work, Erlend Oye,
10. Tombé Pour la France, Étienne Daho
11. Redemption Song, Moodswings with Tanita Tikarim

Photos: Michele Unverzagt

What do you listen to while you work?
In the office we have a bit of a music ritual. Early mornings tend to be fairly mellow, picked by whoever comes in first. Then, at 10am we tune in via iTunes radio to the KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show. That lasts until 1pm and we usually go the duration — unless the guest in the last hour is driving us crazy. At 1pm we go into a rotation and we usually get a bit loud from 1 – 3pm while we’re trying to get a bunch of shipping done before the UPS pickup.

How do you listen?
We listen through iTunes via Airplay, connected to a fairly vintage thrift store find Yamaha receiver, connected to some old, but very nice Infinity speakers. It’s a handy system because we can all connect via iTunes or Spotify, etc. When I really need to focus and get a lot done, I’ve got a pair of Aiaiai TMA-1 headphones I’ll put on to shut out distractions.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
“Favorite” might be a stretch, but we do listen to Spotify in the afternoons a fair amount.  And naturally, we keep an eye on Pitchfork and the usual locations.

Does music influence your work?
I tend to think music influences everything but it’s often in a behind-the-scenes way. More directly, I know that if we have a lot of shipping to do, some A Place to Bury Strangers might be just what we need to make it go fast.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Most of our new music is introduced via a collection of friends around the country on a small music email list. Usually once a week someone on the list sends out a new band for us to check out. It’s a mix of folk, so we end up with rap to sad-sack music and everything in between.

Do you have Herman Miller pieces in your studio, home, or office?
In my house I’ve got a Nelson Platform Bench and an Aluminum Group Lounge Chair. My daughter usually capitalizes the lounger (“it spins well!”) but my longtime favorite is the bench. Simple, clean, classic. [My partner] Jedd has a few more pieces at his place, he has an Eames Lounge Chair in leather — and I’m not convinced he ever sits anywhere else. His dog, Pinto, is usually found on the Ottoman. He has an Aluminum Group Lounge Chair as well — he found both his and mine at a local vintage shop.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is on a black leather Eames Chaise. It starts off slow so you can relax a bit, and then about the time you doze off it picks up — at which point, no more sitting. That means it’s time to get up and move. 

Mark’s Playlist:
1. Life’s a Beach, Django Django
2. One More Time, Psychic Ills
3. Don’t You Forget It, Allah-Las
4. Love Vigilantes, New Order
5. Let the Day Begin, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (“The original by The Call (his dad) was great, too.”)
6. Borrowed Time, Parquet Courts
7. Build, Destroy, Rebuild, Hanni El Khatib
8. Electric, The Men
9. Anxiety’s Door, Merchandise
10. You Are the One, A Place to Bury Strangers

Mark adds:
This list represents what we’re listening to now with a few throwbacks that seem to pop up in rotation. It’ll likely be different in a few months.

Photos: Mark Hansen

What do you listen to while you work?
I usually work to music that pairs well with whatever project is at hand. Could be rock, classical, reggae, hip-hop, or anything else. I’m all over the place with my musical likes and don’t really have too many dislikes, so letting the project dictate the playlist works well for me.

How do you listen?
I’ve had a set of JBL Creature Speakers forever and they’re still getting the job done, plugged directly into my iMac.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Not really. I buy most everything from the iTunes store.

Does music influence your work?
I’m not sure I could highlight a clear-cut example, but the influence is huge. Being a designer is about finding and articulating somebody else’s voice, so picking “project-appropriate music” really helps me get in the right mindset for whatever I’m working on. It’s sort of like method acting, with music establishing a vibe that lets you further immerse yourself in the character you’re playing.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Pitchfork is my go-to for new music, music news, reviews, etc., and my friends have a big influence as well. I’ve also been known to Shazam the heck out of places when I hear something new that I think I might like.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
Geez, I have absolutely no idea. I listen to a ton of Bob Marley & The Wailers, so I guess I’ll go with that. Their music represents a lot of different things to me — places I’ve been, people I’ve known, and experiences I’ve had. Structurally, the songs are often incredibly sparse and tight, yet full of life and personality, which I would say is what I strive for in my design work. Do as much as you can with as little as you can. Drawing that parallel is probably a bit over-analytical, but I’ll stick with it.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
Obviously I’m going with the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in walnut and black leather. Unique and timeless. That thing is brilliant. My uncle had one and it made an impression on me as a kid, long before I knew anything about design or Charles and Ray Eames. I remember hopping up into it and thinking “whoa, this thing is out-of-control cool.”

Jay’s Playlist:
1. San Francisco, Foxygen
2. Space Invaders, Playback
3. Time to Run, Lord Huron
4. Lost, Frank Ocean
5. Five Seconds, Twin Shadow
6. 17, Youth Lagoon
7. Everybody Knows, Vacationer
8. A Country’s King of Dreams, Caveman
9. Jamie Marie, Girls
10. Warm Heart of Africa, The Very Best

Find more from Jay on Dribbble and Twitter.

Photos: Jay Fletcher

What do you listen to while you work?
We listen to various kinds of music, from the electronic genre all the way to Japanese pop music. At times, the distant sound of construction work sounds rhythmic. Strange but true.

How do you listen?
We play music through our laptops, and sometimes from the record player. Everyone in the studio listens to the same music. We take turns playing from each other’s playlist. We seldom use earphones, as we communicate a lot while working.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
We have a few decent music shops in Singapore where we get CDs and vinyl. One of them is called “Gramophone.”

Does music influence your work?
The different music we play sets the mood and pace when we work. It’s like a theme song playing in the background for the task you are performing at that moment.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
It’s always in the air. You are [out] somewhere, you hear a nice tune and the next moment you try find out more about it.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
“Ponyo on the Cliff By the Sea.” I think the film created by Hayao Miyazaki represents the spirit of our work. The film is reflected in the theme song as well.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist: The Eames Sofa in black leather.

Studio Juju’s Playlist:
1. All I Need, Radiohead
2. Ellie My Love, Southern All Star
3. Secret Heart, Feist
4. Finch, The Observatory
5. I Love You, Yutaka Ozaki
6. Be Joy, Guitar
7. 15 Step, Radiohead
8. Drifting In and Out, Porcelain Raft
9. Lotus Flower, Radiohead
10. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Ryuichi Sakamoto
11. Wine-Red no Kokoro, Anzen Chitai
12. くるみ (Kurumi), Mr Children

Photos: Rebecca Toh

What do you listen to while you work?
I have a pretty broad taste, but when I really need to bury myself into a project, I usually have something electronic or ambient playing. It helps keep me focused.

How do you listen?
I have the studio to myself all day, so I pretty much just blare the computer speakers.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Designers.MX, Pandora, Spotify, Daytrotter, and Audiotree are some of my favorites.

Does music influence your work?
It sure does. When designing anything tech related, I listen to a lot of Kraftwerk and Underworld. One example is the playing cards I did for Bicycle [above]. I also do a lot of illustrations based off of Morrissey lyrics. A lot of great things to work with there.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
My friends are constantly sending me songs on Spotify. Other than that, I usually find new artists on Daytrotter or Audiotree.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
I would have to say Bruce Springsteen. I have been a really big fan for some time now. I love the stories he tells with his songs and I try to do the same with my design and illustrations.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is: the Goetz Sofa in Walnut Veneer, Neon Messenger Fabric, and a Night Crush Fabric for the accent. (My favorite piece has always been the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. I shall own one someday.)

Luke’s Playlist:
1. One Million Lovers, The Growlers
2. The Sky is Black, Window Twins
3. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Santa Esmeralda
4. Well I Wonder, The Smiths
5. Wrecking Ball, Emmylou Harris
6. Midnight Confessions, The Grass Roots
7. How Long, Ace
8. Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf
9. In Dreams, Roy Orbison
10. The Partisan, Leonard Cohen
11. Solitary Man, Neil Diamond
12. City of Night, Bruce Springsteen

Photos: Luke Bott

Song: Dear One, Pisces
Added by: One by Four Studio

Song: Let It Flow Again, Scha Dara Paa
Added by: Designer Akira Yoshimura

Song: Tighten Up, The Black Keys
Added by: Designer Iris Brown

Song: Again and Again, The Bird and the Bee
Added by: Designer Bettina Nissen

Song: Would That Not Be Nice, Divine Fits
Added by: Designer Matthew Plumstead

Song: The Trapeze Swinger, Iron and Wine
Added by: Studio Gorm

Song: Nothing Can Come Between Us, Sade
Added by: Architect Kathy Dixon

Song: King of Anything, Sara Bareilles
Added by: Rebecca Baust of the Daily Muse

Song: Nasty Tasty, Luminescent Orchestri
Added by: Designers Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler

Song: Vous Et Moi, Django Reinhardt
Added by: Artist and designer Jason Keenan

Song: Holocene, Bon Iver
Added by: Writer Mindy Koschmann

Song: Ethnik, Plastikman
Added by: Artist April Wagner

Photo: Jason Keenan

What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to a lot of things, ranging from mixes, podcasts, and bits and bobs that I find, as well as selections from my vinyl collection. It all depends on how I’m feeling and what type of energy I need to get through my work. I’m a huge fan of soul, jazz, R&B, and funk. I’m currently on a boogie and modern funk kick, and enjoy listening to artlists like Dam-Funk, Onra, Steve Arrington, and Nite Jewel.

How do you listen?
I share a studio with Gavin Potenza, Liz Meyer, and Dan Cassaro. Usually when we’re all around, I listen to music through headphones, either on my computer or iPhone. When I’ve got the space to myself, I listen to playlists I’ve compiled on YouTube through our projection/stereo system setup. When I’m at home, I listen to records on my portable turntable in my room, or through our stereo setup in the living room.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Some of my favorite sites for music are Dublab, Music is My Sanctuary, XLR8R, Wax Poetics, and Boiler Room. I also like visiting my favorite labels — Stones Throw, PPU (People’s Potential Unlimited), Brainfeeder, and Numero Group. YouTube’s also an awesome source for weird and rare stuff. You’d be surprised how much great music I’ve found there simply by clicking on related videos. Honestly though, I think the best way to find music is digging for records. It’s one of my favorite things to do…sometimes you just have to scratch that itch.

Does music influence your work?
I am totally my music, and my work is a direct reflection of that. I tend to gravitate towards upbeat music, and my work feels that way through color and content.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I find music recommendations through artists I follow on Soundcloud, magazines like Wax Poetics, and, of course, through friends. My friends have varied music tastes, so each one offers a different perspective. One friend recently sent me a video of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers live at the 8th festival of International Jazz in Sanremo, Italy on March 23, 1963. It’s almost an hour of hard bop live! I highly recommend watching it.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
If my work was a song, it would be Stevie Wonder’s “Outside My Window” from Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. It’s cheerful, expresses a lot of joy, and is about one’s unconditional love and bond with plants. A lot of my work thematically deals with nature, the cycle of life, balance, and the complexity of human emotions.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
On a Goetz Sofa in Walnut Veneer, Hydrangea Messenger fabric, and a neon accent color. It’s big enough to listen to my playlist with friends and have a dance party, or just daydream and lounge in solitude.

Grace’s Playlist:
1. What’s On Your Mind, Tony Cook feat. Dam-Funk
2. Sexopolis, Jean-Pierre Mirouze
3. If It Ain’t One Thing, It’s Another, Richard “Dimples” Fields (1975 version)
4. Love Is Strange, Peaches & Herb
5. Still Waters, Jerry Jones
6. Talking About My Baby, John Heartsman & The Circles
7. Superwoman/Where Were You Last Winter, Yesterday’s New Quintet
8. Only My Love Is True, Foster Sylvers
9. Places and Spaces, Donald Byrd
10. By the Time I Get to Phoenix, The Escorts
11. Daahoud, Clifford Brown
12. Prince of Peace, Pharoah Sanders
13. Every Time We Say Goodbye, John Coltrane

Photos: Grace Danico

What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to a wide variety of music because as I go throughout the day I need different sorts of sounds to organize my mind around. Usually it will be more ethereal or classically inspired types of music — Doves, Andrew Bird. But if I need something energizing, I mix that in as well — Röyksopp, Delta Spirit.

How do you listen?
I usually listen on my Bose headphones because that keeps all of the outside noise from coming in to disturb my thinking. Sometimes, depending on what problem I’m solving though, I need to move around while I’m thinking. In that case I have Harman Kardon SoundSticks speakers which fill up my small San Francisco space very well. I have tendencies in my listening habits but I try not to stick to anything rigidly in any of my creative life.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
For discovering music Hype Machine is definitely my go-to site. It’s easy to find music that I like and discover new musicians. There’s also usually a plethora of free, linked music to get through there.

If I don’t want to do any active DJ-ing I will likely wind up on Pandora because it’s really good at following my instructions when I tell it about the type of songs that I do or don’t want on a station.

Does music influence your work?
Music absolutely influences my work. It’s not necessarily visible but it helps me to hold together a continuum of my thoughts as I try to digest design problems or develop ideas. If there is a design that I’m working on with a certain visual quality to it, though, I might try to match the musical style to that so that my mind can more easily get into the groove of thinking about that aesthetic and feeling. It also enables me to work better by putting a backdrop to the day so that I don’t become distracted by irrelevant problems or tasks.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I mentioned Hype Machine earlier, so that’s one major place that I find recommendations. There are lots of different venues for following rabbit trails of new tunes. Just start reading music blogs and you’ll find tons of new stuff. I also do a periodic survey of my friends to see who’s found new music that they think is particularly wonderful.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
My style and way of working varies, but whatever the project, Rufus Wainwright is always a fantastic match. His work is very grand, based in classical composition, but is modern in its execution and has a lot of variety. He shies away from getting trapped into one style of expression, allowing experiences and new knowledge to influence his pieces over time. I subscribe to the belief that a designer should not cultivate their own sense of aesthetics exclusively. Rather, they should respond to the client or design challenges at hand in a way that is tailored to that specific situation, much as a set designer creates space that responds to and enhances the interactions of characters. In this way I think that my personal methods as well as my outcome are represented well by Mr. Wainwright’s own.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman and the Mirra Chair.

I really think this pair of seats would be best, because I don’t like to stick to one thing long enough to get stuck in a groove or to know what to expect next. My playlist goes back and forth between dreamy, free-thinking music and more beat-driven, work-motivating tunes. So between these two seats, both the conceptual idea phase and the design execution phases are accommodated.

Amelie’s Playlist:
1. The Man Who Told Everything, Doves
2. Le Long De La Rivière Tendre, Sébastien Tellier
3. Caravan, Husky Rescue
4. 1969, Boards of Canada
5. Fingers, The Seatbelts
6. Mer du Japon, Air
7. You Hear Colours, Cfcf
8. Special, Mew
9. Vision One, Röyksopp
10. 14th Street, Rufus Wainwright*
11. The Old Days, Dr. Dog*

*Two artists Amélie “could listen to endlessly.”

Photos: Amélie-Phaine Keller

What do you listen to while you work?
NPR or Joao Gilberto. Never get bored of his music no matter how much I listen to it.

How do you listen?
I stream music from my laptop to wireless speakers in my home/office.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
iTunes is my go-to source to purchase music.

Does music influence your work?
Absolutely, it can very inspiring! I stumbled upon this phenom violinist named Amadeus Leopold (formerly Hahn Binh) one day and I was so blown away by his talent. I was feeling lazy that day, but it ended up to be a productive day creatively just by listening (and watching) him play.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I love old classics like Gilberto and Ella so I tend to stick with what I have and cycle through them. Once in a while I will search for contemporary artists that I like (like Pink Martini, Diana Krall and Madeleine Peyroux) and see if they’ve come up with a new album. It’s not a person, but a place… Paris. I fell in love listening to Ella when I was studying there. (Am I sounding like a cliche?)

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
Hands down Pink Martini (for their sheer eclecticism and style) and Amadeus Leopold (for making me want to take the risk and be bold in what I do).

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair in Red Aniline Stained Birch Veneer. It’s bold yet subtle, refined, and comfortable to sit in. Just the way I like my music.

Max’s Playlist:
1. Summer Wind, Madeleine Peyroux
2. A Correnteza, Lisa Ono
3. Just in Time, Nina Simone
4. Desafinado, Joao Gilberto
5. The Stars of Track and Field, Belle & Sebastian
6. Amado Mio, Pink Martini
7. Lullaby of Birdland, Sarah Vaughn
8. Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
9. Body and Soul, Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
10. Maybe You’ll Be There, Diana Krall

Photos: Max Gunawan

What do you listen to while you work?
It really ranges based on the type of work I’m doing and what phase of the project I’m working on. If it’s something that requires more thought, like preparing a lecture for the class I teach or working through a concept, I find lyrics distracting, so I listen to something that can fall to the background like Yann Tiersen or Stereolab.

If I’m in the production mode of a project I need something more upbeat to keep me going, Of Montreal, The Go! Team, and New Order all get the job done.

How do you listen?
My office has an open floor plan which requires the use of headphones. I just purchased a second pair of Sony MDR-7506’s after my first gave out after 10 years of dedicated and reliable service.

At home I have several speaker hook-ups throughout my apartment and I plug my iPod Touch in directly.

Another thing I’ve noticed about how I listen is that I tend to get stuck on a song and listen to it on repeat at least 10 times a day. Two recent examples of that have been New Order’s “Age of Consent” and Edward Sharpe’s “Home.”

My office is above the Fillmore Theater in Detroit, which tangentially influences my work. Occasionally I listen to the rumbles of bands warming up downstairs. I love watching the vast range of people waiting in line for the doors to open. This week it’s kids and parents to see “Sesame on Broadway”; last week it was Marilyn Manson fans.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Pandora.

Does music influence your work?
Yes! I often get caught up in the lyrics to songs. A few years ago I incorporated The Pixies and David Bowie lyrics into a series of valentines I printed and mailed to friends (photo below).

This past summer I was asked to create wedding invites for two friends who are avid music lovers. We ended up going with a gig poster format and had them screen printed at a local shop (above).

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Most of my music recommendations come from friends. There was a point in my life where I was better at following music, but lately, that time has been spent prepping for class and reading about design. Lucky for me my friends have good taste.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
This is a tough question! I would say lcd soundsystem. James Murphy’s music is upbeat, but the themes he explores are serious at times. His music is influenced by the great artists that came before him, but he’s able to build off of that to create something new.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Molded Plastic Armchair with Rocker Base in Aqua Sky. It’s the perfect spot to relax after a day of work — you can rock back and forth to the beat with a glass of Belgian beer in hand and a cat on your lap.

Colleen’s Playlist:
1. Care of Cell 44, The Zombies
2. Age of Consent, New Order
3. Cut Your Hair, Pavement
4. The Party’s Crashing Us, Of Montreal
5. Holland 1945, Neutral Milk Hotel
6. All My Friends, lcd soundsystem
7. Small Stakes, Spoon
8. Home, Edward Sharpe
9. 7/4 (Shoreline), Broken Social Scene
10. Amsterdam, Peter Bjorn and John
11. Center of Gravity, Yo La Tengo

Photos: Colleen Hill

Painting (over couch) by Stephanie Buer.

What do you listen to while you work?
I usually listen to a pretty eclectic range of music styles and my interests are constantly shifting. In recent years, I find myself listening to mostly electronic, ambient, experimental, world, ethnic, jazz, and classical.

How do you listen?
In my art studio, I use a vintage Technics SA-800 “old school” monster receiver driving a vintage pair of Yamaha NS-690 speakers. I love the warmth of the sound that vintage stereo equipment produces. I also play music, so my setup doubles as a recording studio.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
CKUA Radio Network, university radio station CJSW, CBC radio, Last.fm, iTunes, and the Discovr music app.

Does music influence your work?
I think it does — most likely not knowingly — but I do think it plays a role in my creative process by affecting my overall mood and energy. When I discover new talent, I’m particularly motivated and it does translate to my work indirectly.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
The radio stations I tune into definitely contribute to discovering new music. When I listen to foreign language stations, I will use Shazam to determine the artist. Additionally I use the app “Discovr Music” on my iPhone and iPad. Last.fm is also a fantastic resource for finding artists who are similar to the ones I already like.

My friends, artists, and events in my life influence my musical taste. I’m consistently on the hunt to discover new, exciting, and interesting music. I tend to gravitate towards the more obscure and “as of yet” undiscovered talent, so I’m very open to suggestions.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
My work is best defined by the “electronic” and “experimental” music genre (as a whole) rather than a single song or musician(s). With my art work, I experiment a lot with textures, shapes, colors, and especially randomness and therefore I find that my artistic process is most similar to experimental electronic music.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
A comfortable and nicely balanced space that you feel most connected to. This playlist is an aural journey, so to speak, and comfort is key. Sitting in the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (Oiled Santos Palisander and Black Leather) is an exact balance between being asleep and being awake — a perfect place for music listening and to give that music you’re about to listen to — and yourself — the comfort and attention it fully deserves.

Thedor’s Playlist:
1. Khanamoot, Loscil
2. Fahrenheit (Unreleased Long Edit), Asura
3. Temple of Unfed Fire, Pepe Deluxe
4. Beacon, Liquid Stranger
5. Ciudad de Las Ideas, Vicente Amigo
6. Jobim: Chega de Saudade, Rosa Passos
7. Fear and Trembling, Pat Metheny & Brad Mehldau
8. Assalam Felawan (Peace to You), Bombino
9. Colours & Patterns, Entheogenic Sound Explorers
10. Sheets, Promise and the Monster
11. Criminals, The Tallest Man on Earth
12. Mountain Wind, Mamer

Photos: Thedor Erkamps

What do you listen to while you work?
I usually listen to old favorites. A lot of Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Jose Gonzalez.

How do you listen?
If I’m at my drafting table cutting a map, I often listen to my iPod with headphones. It allows me to concentrate a bit more. If I’m writing emails or packaging orders, I listen to music on my MacBook.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I sometimes listen to LastFM.com.

Does music influence your work?
The music I listen to is often nostalgic. It reminds me of certain times in my life and I find myself reflecting on how fortunate I am. In that way, my music is often like the maps I create. They are both mementos of where we’ve been and where we’re going.  Almost like souvenirs of favorite moments and favorite places in our lives.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
My favorite musician is Ben Harper. His music and my artwork are both original creations that evolve over time and are created with hard work and dedication.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in the creamy white leather and walnut veneer. It’s modern, luxurious, and the perfect place to reflect and create.

Karen’s Playlist:
1. In the Colors, Ben Harper
2. Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys
3. I Will Wait, Mumford & Sons
4. Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez
5. Someone Like You, Adele
6. You Are the Best Thing, Ray LaMontagne
7. What You Thought You Need, Jack Johnson
8. Home, Phillip Phillips
9. One More Night, Maroon 5
10. Where I’m Going, The Nadas

Photos: Karen O’Leary

What do you listen to while you work?
Music is like nature. Seasons come and go, then come again. And then you have the rising of the moon and the setting of the sun. You have camping. You have beach walks. You have urban commutes. For everything in life, there is music. And for everything in music, there is life.

Because of the type of work we do, the music played during a normal workday is typically more meditative and relaxed. Last week, I think we started every morning with Debussy, and ended it with The Eraser by Thom Yorke (well, not too relaxed I guess); I don’t know why or how we get into these rhythms. This has not happened this week. This week it’s been Ryan Francesconi in the morning and Leonard Cohen to close us out. Also, Nils Frahm latest free project SCREWS has been very enjoyable.

How do you listen?
Music is our first priority as we approach a work day. There’s always good music coming out of good speakers (Tivoli Speakers hooked up to AirTunes). Then, if one needs to focus in on work or something that requires audio, they are encouraged to go under with a nice set of ear-goggles.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
We almost exclusively use Rdio. If we’re not using Rdio, it’s because we’re spinning a vinyl.

Does music influence your work?
It definitely does. I remember a time where we were listening to a lot of Sigur Rós, particularly their album Hvarf — think it came out in November, because I remember we were listening to it through the cold winter. Some time later while writing the script for a video for a Vimeo promo, the track “í Gœr” was largely influential in setting the tone for the video.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Carissa: I think my dad was extremely influential. Music was such a huge part of our home growing up, listening and partaking… The only boy bands I ever listened to were more along the lines of The Band or The Traveling Wilburys. So my roots are there, in the 60s – 80s, and Andrew keeps me more up to date now.

Andrew: Since I was a kid, crying at the age of 4 because I was so moved by a James Newton Howard score, I’ve always had a rigor in finding music that complements the current chapter of life I’m in. Music inspires so much of life and life inspires so much music. They’re very connected. As far as actually finding new music, the Internet’s pretty great. But since we recently relocated to Portland, I’ve found the local record shops to be pretty helpful in broadening my soundscapes.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
If Damien Jurado and Sigur Rós (their music from the beginning up until 2007) had a child, that child would compose the music for all our films… And probably be one of our best friends.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Lounge Chair, with Walnut Veneer and Canyon Leather. Because what would you want to do in that chair but finish a workday the way that is best: with a record spinning, some wine, and a good relax.

Andrew + Carissa’s Playlist:
1. Come Softly (for Daniel D.), Grouper
2. Parallel Flights, Ryan Francesconi
3. Beacon Hill, Damien Jurado
4. All Waters, Perfume Genius
5. Song For Zula, Phosphorescent
6. Holiday, Jessie Baylin
7. Ivory Coast, Pure Bathing Culture
8. Spirit On The Water, Bob Dylan
9. Deep Water, Portishead
10. Story of Isaac, Leonard Cohen
11. Southern Heart, The Walkmen
12. Country Song, Jake Bugg

The Gallos welcome you to listen to their Playlist on Rdio.

Photos: Carissa Gallo

As is quite clearly stated on his website, J. Zachary Keenan makes “marks for personal and profitable endeavors”. Keenan, who shares a South Minneapolis studio with his wife Caitlin as well as two original Eames chairs, makes marks that include everything from logo, identity and print campaigns, to product design, illustration and even music production. His music tastes cover just as much ground, as you’ll hear in this week’s Playlist.

What do you listen to while you work?
Everything, literally. Motown, garage rock, jazz, shoegaze, folk, Hawaiian, etc. Almost anything that’s been released from the Ghostly International label finds it’s way into my work day.

How do you listen?
A pair of Grado Labs SR 80 headphones—really light, so I can wear ‘em for long stretches of time. And the open-air design let’s me hear what’s going on around me (like my son waking up from his nap in the next room).

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
After years of organizing and archiving a combination of MP3s and vinyl, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that Spotify has become my one-stop-shop for just about everything.

Does music influence your work?
It does. Not necessarily in aesthetics—maybe more so in attitude. Music is always an important part of the studio environment, but never just playing “in the background”. I hope that the creative work I produce plays a similar role in people’s lives.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Most of my friends and family have really great musical tastes. I think the seasons have the biggest influence on what I’m in the mood to hear.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. I’m not saying that I’m anywhere close to that amazing. But I like to think that I have a similar value in craft and work ethic. And I’ll take “timeless” over “new hot” any day.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The ideal place to sit and listen to my playlist is an Eames Walnut Stool (in “A-shape” configuration) — because you may be sitting and listening, and then you might want to get up and dance.

J. Zachary’s Playlist:
1. Small Axe, Bob Marley & The Wailers
2. Shuffle, Bombay Bicycle Club
3. I Confess, The English Beat
4. Faded High, Gayngs
5. Lufuala Ndonga, Konono N°1
6. Police & Thieves, The Clash
7. Vapour Trail, Ride
8. Atlantic City (cover), The Hold Steady
9. Romulus – Sufjan Stevens
10. Asleep, The Smiths
11. Island, IS, Volcano Choir
12. Like Gold, Erlend Øye

Photos: Caitlin Keenan

New York City graphic designer and illustrator Christopher Dina‘s work ranges from identity and print work to wayfinding and environmental graphics, including a recent collaboration with his wife – herself an interior designer – on a children’s clinic in Japan. Chris draws inspiration from his love of illustration and painting, travel, and music like the eclectic pop and indie tracks of this week’s Playlist.

What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to whatever is inspirational and anything that serves as a good backdrop to the work I am doing. If I’m coming up with ideas or sketching I prefer something softer and melodic, perhaps with some electronic or jazz influences – and if I’m cruising along then I can really listen to almost anything. There are also times when I choose music based on the type of project I am doing.

How do you listen?
I prefer computer speakers – I can step away from the desk and move around freely without disrupting the tone I’ve set. The iTunes Radio is nice for a little randomness and I’ll use headphones when I want to listen to music more finely.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
iTunes is really great for seeing what’s new and sampling artists.

Does music influence your work?
The music I like to listen to relaxes me, its creates a space for me to think and generate ideas and sketches when I design. It allows my thoughts to go places which can lead to some pleasant surprises creatively.The influence is usually more direct if I am painting or drawing since sound, emotion, movement and physically making the mark are more closely connected.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I find music recommendations everywhere, friends, other designers, the outside environment. I think for me it has always been about exploration and being open to new artists and sounds.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
I don’t know if there is one artist but I can say that pop music may best represent the work I create. I seem to gravitate toward pop-art sensibilities, bold colors, geometric shapes, and pattern in my work. The Pet Shop Boys are definitely at the convergence point of music I enjoy and design I love; their packaging, set designs and costumes have always been incredibly inspiring.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
Although I have many favorites – the Aeron chair which I sit in at the office is simply amazing, both on a comfort and aesthetic level – the ideal place to sit and listen to my playlist is on an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (Black Cow Leather with Walnut Veneer). The Eames Lounge Chair is sophisticated and iconic in its form, a timeless modern classic which I think makes it a great match for my mix. Also perfect because it will totally elevate your level of comfort and listening enjoyment.

Chris’s Playlist:
1. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1, Flaming Lips
2. Photograph, Air
3. Carrion, British Sea Power
4. The Origin of Love, Mika
5. Fake Plastic Trees, Radiohead
6. Hoppipolla, Sigur Ros
7. Girls, Death In Vegas
8. History Chimes, Echo And The Bunnyman
9. You Don’t See Me, Keane
10. The Wanderer, Johnny Cash
11. Home And Dry, Pet Shop Boys

Photos: Chris Dina

Jeff’s work ranges from product and experience design, to designing Evernote’s building and physical workspaces. Previously Jeff founded the SF office for Hamburg-based Factor Design, launching products for Apple, Google and Coca-Cola just to name a few. Take note of Jeff’s diverse work and listening habits in our first Playlist of 2013.

What do you listen to while you work?
I usually need to listen to music that is more ambient so I can keep my thoughts straight and do the writing I need to for my work. My early years were spent listening to groups such as the Austrian duo Kruder and Dorfmeister. I also lived and worked in Berlin during the early 90′s when this kind of music and techno was booming.These early experiences made it easier for me to enjoy a wider range of music today.

How do you listen?
At the office, when I am working on a deadline or if I have uninterrupted work time in the evening, I will wear my basic Apple ear buds so I can still hear the ambient noise around me while signaling to others “I’m busy.” At home, I have multiple Sonos speakers set up throughout the house so my wife and I can listen to music in say, the dining room, and the kids can listen to their music downstairs while they are playing. In addition to being a great wireless system for an old house, the desktop and iOS controllers make the Sonos system perfect for a connected family like ours.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I have been a happy paid subscriber of Spotify since their launch in 2010. Buying music one song at a time through iTunes is too prohibitive and kills the discovery process for me. The lack of control with other subscription services such as Pandora and Internet radio services are annoying. I really appreciate the flexibility and the control Spotify affords. Plus, the Sonos system integrates seamlessly with Spotify.

Does music influence your work?
I rely on music more to help push me to get work done rather than provide inspiration or open up new avenues of exploration. I have been fortunate to work with and meet some famous rock-and-roll photographers on a few projects, ranging from the launch of the Apple iPod to some charity work we did through my studio, Factor Design. The most notable of those photographers was Jim Marshall, the famous photographer responsible for iconic images such as Johnny Cash flipping the bird, the last shot of the Beatles coming off the stage at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, and thousands more. We did pro bono work for a Multiple Sclerosis organization in San Francisco Jim steadfastly supported up until his death called “MS Friends.” MS Friends held a Rock and Roll photography gala and auction twice a year and we designed the identity and promotions for it. Meeting many of these photographers and hearing stories about touring with bands like Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, and others illuminated decades of musical history for me and make the images that much more vivid to me.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Now that there are third-party apps that are integrated within Spotify, I like to use many of those to help find new artists and broaden my horizons. I frequently listen to the We Are Hunted app which features emerging artists.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
On a purely aspirational level, someone like Peter Gabriel. I grew up with his music and the stories they presented. As an artist, he has clearly been on a life-long quest to listen, learn and recast himself based on his experiences and influences at every given stage of his life. You certainly would not call him one-dimensional.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
Kicking back in the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, MCL black leather with oiled walnut. It’s relaxing and comfy and is the perfect place to listen and think — regardless of how comfortable the couch might be.

Jeff’s Playlist:
1. Dirty Little Secret, The Chevin
2. What’s The Matter, Milo Greene
3. Ho Hey, The Lumineers
4. Escape in the Afternoon, French Films
5. It’s Alright, Matt & Kim
6. Daniel, Bat For Lashes
7. Sun, Two Door Cinema Club
8. Demons, Imagine Dragons
9. Love Is Greed, Passion Pit
10. Aeolus, Freelance Whales

Photos: Jeff Zwerner

Tighten Up by The Black Keys from The Playlist: Gabriel Mann and Rebecca Kneubuhl

Recharge & Revolt by The Raveonettes from The Playlist: Resource Specialist and Musician Royce Epstein

Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long by Erykah Badu from The Playlist: Felicia Filer

Oh No by Andrew Bird from The Playlist: Janine Vangool of UPPERCASE

Polite Dance by The Bird & The Bee from The Playlist: WORKtoDATE Design Director Greg Bennett

Queen of the Night by Yusef Lateef from The Playlist: BeBop Garden’s Ricki Grady

My Oldest Memory by Bowerbirds from Playlist: Erin Jang of The Indigo Bunting

Days by Creep from Playlist: Artist, Designer & DJ Bethany Shorb

Into The Shadows Of My Embrace by Why? from Playlist: Artist & Designer Matthew Shlian

No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses from Playlist: Designer Chris Brigham

Young Blood by The Naked and Famous from Playlist: Tyler Goodro of Plastolux

The Reflection of You by Bear in Heaven from Playlist: Graphic Designer Bryan Todd

Midnight City by M83 from Playlist: Designer & Entrepreneur Andy Johnson

I Need a Dollar by Aloe Blacc from Playlist: Fuzzco

In the New Year by The Walkmen from Playlist: Goodjoy Design’s Leslie Roeder & John Eric Byers

The Sea Horse by Yo La Tengo from Playlist: Graphic Artist Christopher David Ryan

Hands of a Working Man by Big Ass Truck from Playlist: Designer J. Kyle Daevel

Man Down by Rihanna from Playlist: Designer Martha Alvarez

That’s All For Everyone by Tame Impala from Playlist: One by Four Studio

Headcage by Matthew Dear from Playlist: Designer Matthew Plumstead

Emmylou by First Aid Kit from Playlist: Designers John Arndt & Wonhee Jeong Arndt of StudioGorm

Velcro by Bell X1 from Playlist: Writer & Blogger Mindy Koschmann

Let’s Go Away For Awhile by The Beach Boys from Playlist: Artist & Designer Jason Keenan

Longanisse by The Limiñanas from Playlist: Hum Creative

 Image sources (from top): Chris Brigham, Jason Keenan, Martha Alvarez, Andy Johnson, Christopher David Ryan

What do you listen to while you work?
We have a few different playlists, ranging from the likes of Duke Ellington and Neil Young to Bikini Kill and Vivian Girls. Different playlists are selected based on the mood of the studio and the weather outside.

How do you listen?
Drew Hamlet DJs through a sound system connected to his iMac. He’s got impeccable music taste and lets Kate listen to Beyonce on special occasions.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
We generally use Spotify, unless we’re listening to podcasts on iTunes.

Does music influence your work?
Probably not directly, but it definitely helps set the mood. We wouldn’t listen to Slayer while we’re working on branding for baby food. But I guess listening to good music is part of a healthy inspiration diet.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
We stay up to date with Pitchfork and reviews from local news outlets like The Stranger. A lot of the real gems get played on local station KEXP or suggested by friends, but just checking out what employees at local record shops suggest can be the most fruitful.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
If our work was a song it’d probably be the cover of Hot Boyz by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Even though we like to make things fun and interesting we’re also very serious about our work being good. RIP Aaliyah.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
A walnut and black Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Classic and comfortable pairs perfectly with any song on an eclectic playlist.

Hum Creative’s Playlist:
1. Choir Vandals, American Analog Set
2. Pretender, Black Marble
3. Drive On, La Sera
4. Nancy From Now On, Father John Misty
5. Believer, John Maus
6. Yékérmo Séw, Multatu Astatke
7. Longanisse, The Limiñanas
8. Suburbs, Mr Little Jeans
9. The Flower Lane, Ducktails
10. Desire Be Desire Go, Tame Impala

Photos: first and last photos, Chris & Sarah Rhoads of We Are The Rhoads.

What do you listen to while you work?
Usually I listen to music across many genres including 70′s punk, psychobilly, post punk, New Wave, ska, reggae, surf, da African blues, 60′s Italian beats, space rock, and indie. I do prefer a female vocalist.

How do you listen?
In private, generally, with computer speakers as loud as I can. If there are people around I will listen with low volume or use some headphones — the cheap kind you can buy everywhere because every 10 – 15 days I lose a pair. I have hundreds.

I define myself as an “office desk dancer.” In my years of office work, I have developed a dance technique that lets me dance while I’m seated. I move my legs super faaaaast, following the rhythm, but from the waist up I don’t move. This way no one can see anything. One day I’d like to create a tutorial on YouTube. It is pretty funny!

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Many, from blogs to streaming radio. Too many to list.

Does music influence your work?
Yes. This will sound common, but usually music creates a kind of hermetic habitat around me that isolates me from the rest of my thoughts, bad moods, fatigue, even hunger (sometimes). It helps me focus on what I am trying to design.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Usually by getting lost on the Internet.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
I am the Frank Zappa of the design.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The SAYL Chair, Fog Base with Studio White Y-Tower, and red back suspension and seat material.

Eduardo’s Playlist (Eduardo notes that his playlist is made up of songs he will never skip when they come up):
1. Last Caress, The Misfits
2. Ceremony, New Order
3. Fly Me To the Moon, Frank Sinatra
4. Needles and Pins, The Ramones
5. Vecchio Frack, Domenico Modugno
6. I Am the Resurrection, The Stone Roses
7. White Riot, The Clash
8. Andavo A Cento All’Ora, Gianni Morandi
9. Pugni Chiusi, I Ribelli
10. Riot Squad, Cock Sparrer
11. The Sign, Ace of Base

Photos: Eduardo Alessi

What do you listen to while you work?
Radio.

How do you listen?
Speakers.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
YouTube.

Does music influence your work?
I like live music in local bars and I enjoy going to singer/songwriter nights. Their creativity sometimes inspires me to do more creative design in architecture.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Radio. One of my friends, who plays in a band, influences my tastes.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
Johnny Cash.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The ideal place (for others) to sit and listen to my playiist is the Eames Molded Plastic Rocker, preferably with a white seat.

Chongzi’s Playlist:
1. Price Tag, Jessie J
2. In the Air Tonight, Phil Collins
3. No Woman No Cry, Bob Marley
4. Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton
5. All I Want for Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey, Love Actually Soundtrack
6. Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver
7. Hey Jude, The Beatles
8. Let It Be, The Beatles
9. Empire State of Mind, Jay Z  & Alicia Keys
10. Ain’t No Sunshine, Bill Withers

Photos: Chongzi Chen

What do you listen to while you work?
Mostly we listen to music, but in the mornings we listen to NPR. I spend so much time in the glass shop that that is usually my main source of news for the day.

How do you listen?
A laptop hooked up to our stereo system with four Klipsch speakers and a Velodyne sub. So we can listen to CDs and the radio, or Internet radio, and music over our network or from the interweb.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I have a love/hate relationship with Pandora. We used to listen to Slacker Premium Radio but switched to Pandora because it was cheaper. But you get what you pay for. I’m so frustrated that I think we will switch back to Slacker — I mean how many times do I have to tell Pandora that we never ever want to listen to a John Mayer song again?

Does music influence your work?
Absolutely, but in an abstract way. I always listen to music when I work. It helps set the tone and pace of the day. Glassblowing is very physical; it’s a dance that needs rhythm and music helps provide that. If you look at my work I think you’ll see the flow everywhere thru it. I try to capture the lyrical qualities of glass as a molten material in the curves and line quality. A really beautiful piece should sing to your eyes. I included pics of a couple of my new favorite pieces.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
My favorite sources of new music come from my assistants Ally and Nicole. They are really on top of everything hip and new, but they also love old-school stuff that I’ve never heard before. Sometimes NPR will have great suggestions, too. I love checking out their end-of-the-year “best of” compilations. The music we play during the day definitely depends on our mood and what we are making, and sometimes on the weather outside. We’re in Michigan, so it can be sunny and 60 one minute and cloudy and snowing the next, so you’ve just got to adjust your music to match — a little of this a little of that, you know, mix it all up.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
This is so hard to decide. I feel like my work is always changing and growing in different directions, but that it has a distinct style, is technically well crafted, is beautiful, appeals to a lot of people, and ultimately is feminine in its balance of fragility and inner strength. So who is that? Madonna or Aimee Mann or Norah Jones or Amy Winehouse maybe (but without the drug problem and untimely death — she had so much more to give the world). I guess the answer is a little bit of each of these wonderful, creative, successful, and passionate women.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
In the Aeron Chair. I love the Aeron and since I hate office work it really helps to have something comfy to sit in. Sometimes when I’m sitting in it, I’ll come up with my best ideas for a sculpture and I can sketch them out in comfort. It is usually in the office, but we’ll roll it into the studio when people come to watch us glassblowing. The studio is an active workplace with hot glass, chemicals, and machinery everywhere, so I am amazed at how well the Aeron has held up. I’ve had it for probably 10 years and it still looks brand new!

Epiphany Studio’s Playlist:
1. Conspirer, Luciano
2. Naked Figures, Public Lover
3. Puerto Rican Girls, Bruno Pronsato, Thomas Melchior
4. 808 The Bassqueen, Ricardo Villalobos
5. Berg, Tolga Fidan
6. Part One, Cesare vs Disorder, Mikael Stavostrand
7. Into The Night (Nicolas Jaar Remix), Azari & III
8. Vibe Your Love, Maceo Plex
9. In The Mood, Art Department
10. Let’s Go Crazy, Prince
11. Everybody, Madonna
12. Oh Sheila, Ready For The World
13. Faith, George Michael
14. Need You Tonight, INXS
15. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, The Smiths
16. Night Moves, Bob Seger
17. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
18. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), Talking Heads

Photos: Les Ward (top), Sebastian Sullen (2nd to last), April Wagner

The work of artist and designer Jason Keenan spans an eclectic range of interests and disciplines, from automotive and product design, to painting and illustration, and, at one point, DJ’ing. After 10 years in the automotive industry, Jason founded his own studio to focus not only on design but also his own artistic and inventive explorations. From his aurally-enabled workspace, Jason puts the needle on the records for this week’s Playlist.

What do you listen to while you work?
When I’m working I find lyrics to be distracting, so I prefer listening to instrumental tracks. This ends up being mostly jazz, classical, electronic, rock, or hip-hop B-sides. Foreign language records work as well.

How do you listen? I rarely DJ anymore, but I still have my sound system setup in my workshop. Two Technics turntables running through a Vestax mixer, with a Crown amp powering a couple JBL speakers. Not audiophile quality by any means, but it’s built to last and can get pretty loud as needed. I love vinyl and flipping the records forces me to get up and stretch every so often. When it’s crunch time, I’m usually on the computer, so I’ll plug in a pair of Sony studio monitor headphones (MDR-V6). I’ve had the headphones since my school days and they’re like a big leather easy chair for your ears. In fact I had to get them “reupholstered” a couple years ago.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I like to buy music in person at the local record store, but I’ll hunt it down online if necessary. If I need to reference a track or album I had heard or read about, I’ll pull it up on Grooveshark or YouTube to test it out.

Does music influence your work?
Music is not a direct influence, but certainly an inspiration. Art and design are about connecting elements together in new and perspicacious ways. Great music does this very well.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I like digging around record shops and trading mixes with friends. Public radio stations around the country seem to be the last place to hear free-form radio, and luckily most of them are online. Sometimes I’ll check out the blogs or podcasts like the NY Times Popcast.  Wax Poetics magazine is also a wealth of information.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
I would stop short of drawing comparisons, but I have always admired the work and career of Quincy Jones.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
An Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair in black leather. It’s the perfect combination of vitality and tranquility.

Jason’s Playlist:
1. I’m A Loser, Vince Guaraldi and Bola Sete
2. Lovely Is Today, Eddie Harris
3. Woodward Avenue, Yusef Lateef
4. Yippie, Mouse On Mars
5. Let’s Go Away For Awhile, The Beach Boys
6. Sound and Vision, David Bowie
7. Avril En Mai, The Apple In Stereo
8. Return to Hot Chicken, Yo La Tengo
9. Do the Astral Plane, Flying Lotus
10. Mystic Bounce, Madlib
11. Irene, Caetano Veloso
12. Untitled Instrumental, Bo Diddley

Photos: Jason Keenan

What do you listen to while you work?
Mainly to things that are fairly mellow, like Bon Iver, Band of Horses, and Blind Pilot. And apparently I only listen to things that start with the letter “B”…

How do you listen?
Typically with headphones and my laptop.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
A friend just introduced me to an amazing site – Rdio. I also use Pandora and stream NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Does music influence your work?
I’m a writer, so I’m sort of naturally attracted to story songs. I’m amazed how songwriters like the Decemberists‘ Colin Meloy only need a few minutes to tell an epic tale. I suppose the same is true of copywriting. You only get a few words to capture the reader and convey an impactful message.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
David Dye and World Café have changed my life. The man’s taste is impeccable.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
I help with the development of Herman Miller’s online product campaigns, and the messaging always speaks to the timelessness and innovation of our designs. So it would have to be someone like Tori Amos or Bjork— both amazing musicians who aren’t afraid to take risks.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
My playlist is mellow but also challenging — to really appreciate the songs you need to listen to the words. So it would definitely be an Eames Lounge Chair — a beautiful place to settle in and enjoy the songs as the stories unfold.

Mindy’s Playlist:
1. The Story I Heard, Blind Pilot
2. Live and Die, The Avett Brothers
3. In My Time, Kurt Vile
4. We Both Go Down Together, The Decemberists
5. No One’s Gonna Love You, Band of Horses
6. I’m Writing a Novel, Father John Misty
7. Romulus, Sufjan Stevens
8. Bloodbuzz Ohio, The National
9. Velcro, Bell X1
10. Heaven, The Walkmen

Photos: Mindy Koschmann/David Foster

What do you listen to while you work?
Actually we listen to all different kinds of music — classical, jazz, electronic — nearly everything except hip-hop and rap. At the moment we really like electro-swing.

How do you listen?
Usually just with our laptop.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
Not really. Mainly we listen to our iTunes. Or we search for playlists on YouTube for classical music and other stuff we do not have on our computers, such as Phos Toni – Swing That Vinyl Vol 4.

Does music influence your work?
No, we do not think that it influences our work, since we do not listen to music when we have to concentrate or think a lot. We mainly listen to music when we do manual work, experiments, or graphics on the computer. For brainstorming, research, and discussions, we need silence.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Usually we find music via friends, or when we listen to the radio.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
We highly appreciate Björk, because she tries out a lot of different things and does a lot of research for her music. She has a broad field of interests which she puts into her work. This is what we try as well.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The lime green Eames Molded Plastic Armchair with Rocker Base, because it is nice to be able to move to music a little bit.

mischer’traxler’s Playlist:
1. Coin-Operated Boy, The Dresden Dolls
2. Hunter, Björk
3. Elephant Gun, Beirut
4. Candy Shop, Fatima Spar Und Die Freedom Fries
5. El Choclo, Violentango
6. The Logical Song, Supertramp
7. Die vier Jahreszeiten (The Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi), recomposed by Max Richter
8. Mad World, Gary Jules with Michael Andrews
9. Little Swing, Emmanuel Bravo
10. Am Fenster (Special Version), City

Photos: Martin Robitsch, Eva Engelbert, mischer’traxler

Song: Allah Uya, Ali Farka Toure
Added by: Fuzzco

Song: A House, A House, The Alialujah Choir
Added by: Artist Amy Ruppel

Song: Work, Guru
Added by: Illustrator & designer Jimmy Mezei

Song: Groove Holmes, The Beastie Boys
Added by: Goodjoy Design

Song: I Need, Maverick Sabre
Added by: Designer Vanessa Battaglia

Song: Procession, New Order
Added by: Graphic artist Christopher David Ryan

Song: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1, The Flaming Lips
Added by: Designer Kyle Daevel

Song: Honey I Sure Miss You, Daniel Johnston
Added by: Designer Martha Alvarez

Photo: Christopher David Ryan