He may be a full-time web designer and developer, but one look at the home workspace of Brad Cerasani and you know he’s also got music in his blood. In fact, the owner of the web shop Shedbot has written, recorded, and produced two albums with a trio called Hoist from his Winnipeg, Manitoba-based studio. Get a look at the high-tech haven in this latest tour. Read more
It’s easy to notice the charm, wit, and sly playfulness behind the work of Andrew Neyer — so it’s no surprise that his signature aesthetic should also make an appearance in his Cincinnati-based home office. Take a tour of the designer, art director, and illustrator’s bright, inspired space, a combination of clean lines, pops of color, attitude, and, quite fittingly, seating by Charles and Ray Eames. Read more
David Bridges, president and CEO of thelab, a media arts company headquartered in New York City, recently gave us a tour of his company’s space in the Terminal Warehouse Company Central Stores Building, formerly a railroad freight terminal and the location of the infamous Tunnel nightclub (the curved structure in its reception area, above, pays homage to the building’s history). Here, David talks about the advantages of an open, collaborative workspace and gives us a look at thelab’s extensive collection of Herman Miller pieces, both vintage and new. While the photos barely do the large office justice (stay tuned for a video tour coming soon), they do give a glimpse at what it takes to be a thoroughly modern workspace. Read more
The design of the personality-filled Fotobia studio — the headquarters of editorial and advertising photographer Daniel Goncalves — was a collaboration between himself and wife Magda, a scientist by day who “uses her creative super powers” after she clocks out at night. Get a look at the duo’s combined efforts in this tour of the color-packed Jacksonville, Florida, workspace. Read more
Candy Black’s statement-making, black-walled meeting room matched with bold black Eames molded plastic armchairs got our attention — so we contacted the design boutique’s co-founder Jason Rubino for a tour of its Poole, UK headquarters. Here’s what we found. Read more
In 2009, RISD graduates Theo Richardson, Charles Brill, and Alexander Williams founded Rich Brilliant Willing, a contemporary lighting and furniture design manufacturer based in New York City. Three years and several awards (and studios) later, they’re overseeing every aspect of their unique process from design to assembly to distribution. Here’s a look at their bustling Manhattan workshop. Read more
Tour a little more of The Neighborhood — and get a look at the creative studio’s beginnings as they refurbished a historic 19th-century building at 24 Lever Street in Manchester, U.K. Read more
In the Northern Quarter of Manchester, U.K., the creative studio The Neighborhood adds color and character to the historic 19th-century building that it calls home. We spoke to co-founder Ben Davies about how this collaborative workspace has created a unique design statement — and thriving creative community. Read more
British illustrator Kate Banazi’s career as an illustrator began in a small, London studio but now happily occupies a home in Sydney, Australia, where she has lived and worked for the last three years. Kate shares her home with husband Alistair and 12 year old son Milan (also a talented illustrator.) Kate’s illustrations have appeared in Business Week, Australian journal Meanjin, Financial Review, Telstra, DT Digital, Future Living and in the last issue of Herman Miller’s very own Jugglezine (below).
How did your career in illustration come about? I originally freelanced in menswear design working on a tiny label with a friend, but after Milan was a born I couldn’t have as much fun in the fashion business, and that led me to freelance illustration.
How did you end up in Australia? I met my husband while I was on holiday here, on a blind date no less. We returned to London for four years where we decided to move to Australia, as we thought it would be great for Milan to grow up in the sunshine. Milan loves to go camping, mountain biking and snorkeling and the climate certainly helps for all those things.
Who do you illustrate for? Anyone who’ll pay me! It’s a varied, eclectic client base really and that suits me as its not straightforward illustration that I do. My clients include magazines, editorial, fashion.
What inspires your work? It could be anything. Sometimes nothing for months, then overload! I’m sucker for a piece of shiny orange plastic and a bit of brown corduroy. The brain works in funny ways!
Where is your home office and how much time do you spend there? It’s downstairs underneath the house in a quiet leafy setting. I’ve worked there for a year. It used to be in the house, but the space I have now is much more practical. I’m there for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I do try and keep some structure.
Which items in your office can you not do without? A scalpel and my drying rack. Two infinitely useful things to an illustrator.
Do you share the office with anyone else? No. It’s my space.
How do you stay organized? I don’t! It’s a constant work in progress. I do have method behind my madness and I constantly say that “I will get it done” but real life gets in the way. Even though it’s not tidy I know where everything is. Anyone moves my stuff and they die!
Music has always driven Dress Code, an award-winning design studio on Manhattan’s Lower East Side run by Andre Andreev and G. Dan Covert. After meeting at California College of the Arts, Andre and Dan both moved on to work at MTV in New York (check out their work for the VMAs here). They left in 2007 to start their studio, and now—in addition to the albums and merch they still design for friends in bands—they count MTV, Lightbox Theatre, CMT, and Belvedere Vodka among their clients. Andre and Dan told us a little about how music continues to influence and inspire them.
What do you listen to while you work? Andre: While I’m working, I usually like down-tempo stuff like dubstep or chop n’ screw. Nothing that’s too energetic or fast-paced. Dan: I am mostly into indie rock and some older rock and hip hop.
How do you listen? A: We all have headphones, but also have a sound system. D: At the office, I usually work with headphones on—one ear in and one ear out—so I can hear the phone and not be a total ass by blocking everyone out.
Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? A: On a daily basis, I check out nahright.com for mostly rap and hip hop. Whenever I want to stock up on some new mix tapes, I to go mixtapetorrent.com. Sometimes I check out voodoofunk.blogspot.com for these great West-African records, most of which are pretty hard to find. Most recently I found a blog of Bulgarian metal that I used to listen to as a kid, which is great because most of the early recordings were only on tape. D: Pitchfork, Pandora, Nodata, and Sordomusic.
Does music influence your work? D: Very much so. Music has been a huge influence in our work from the beginning. We started designing small runs of screen-printed posters, merch, and albums for our friends in college. After school, this helped us get jobs at MTV. And when we left to start Dress Code, we continued to design albums and merch for our friends’ bands, as well as starting to direct music videos.
Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste? A: It’s mostly friends. I trust their taste when it comes to a genre. For instance, Jon sends me a lot of dance and electro; Matt sends me mostly southern rap; Shannon just sent me some dubstep. When I lived in Seattle, I used to listen to KEXP all the time; to this day, I still turn it on to hear some new eclectic mix. D: Most of my friends are really into music as well so I get a lot of recommendations from them. And my brother has always been a big influence on my musical taste. He has been in a ton of bands and has a great ear.
What song or artist best represents the work you create? A: This might sound like a joke, but I would say Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em. Why? He is young and naive, yet confident and successful. So many people hate on him, but he still turns out hits. His music production is totally DIY and stripped down—it reminds me of early punk when musicians barely knew how to play their instruments. There is an energy with him that I can associate with. D: ODB. Because there ain’t no father to his style.
Andre’s Playlist
Turn My Swag On, Soulja Boy
Hustlin’, Rick Ross
I Know Why, Gucci Mane
Straight Out The Rarri, Young Jeezy
I Got, Three 6 Mafia
Standing in the Kitchen, Yo Gotti
A Milli, Lil Wayne
Chevy a monsta, Rich Boy
So in Love, Shawty Lo
Growing Pains, Ludacris
Dan’s Playlist
Starring, Freelance Whales
Osaka Loop Line, Discovery
Two of Us, The Beatles
Hand Me Down Your Love, Hot Chip
Birds On Ice, Shook Ones
Beaches and Friends (Hey Champ Remix), French Horn Rebellion Vs. Database
Foreground, Grizzly Bear
Hayloft, Mother Mother
Home, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
I Don’t Wanna Hear It, Minor Threat
Transylvanian Candy Patrol, Savoir Adore
Images: Dress Code