Dave is an independent designer working from a small studio Manchester. He also teaches in Huddersfield and Manchester. He has worked in the design industry since 2001 when he graduated. Initially for various design studios and then setting up on his own, StudioDBD, in 2011. StudioDBD work in brand identity, print, web design and typography.

What influence does music have in your life as a creative?:

Music plays a massive roll in my life. I can’t stand silence and would rather hum or whistle that sit in quiet solitude! I suppose in many ways I came to Manchester originally due to a love of music and particularly the music scene in the city. I listen to music every day from the drive to and from work and throughout the day on Spotify or Soundcloud. It’s really hard to define a genre to the type of music I like. I love all kinds of music and certainly am no music snob. I’m happy listening to anything, if it’s good then it’s good. On some days I have been known to spend the whole day listening to Fleetwood mac or Paul Simon, then some days we’ll have some house music on. It depends a lot on the mood in the studio as well. As the week goes on and we get closer to Friday afternoon the tunes tend to get louder and we might even throw in some guilty pleasures.

I’m not sure if I can say it directly makes me more creative or a better designer, but it allows me to focus on the work a bit more.

Tell us about your playlist:

It was pretty hard pulling together a list of songs that to some extent represented me. But I wanted to reference the past and give a nod to a time when I began to really understand and appreciate music. Without some of these tracks I may not have been to University in Manchester, I may not have met my wife, I may not be working here. In many ways that is the power of music. I also wanted to create something that may not be the most obscure or of the moment in terms of what the cool kids are listening to, but hey, I’m not cool. Anymore…

@studiodbd
http://www.studiodbd.com