_Kyle Steed – Public Portrait – @kylesteed

Website : http://KyleSteed.com
Twitter : @kylesteed

I enjoy the simple things in life, design and faith. The latter though is what carries me on and inspires me the most.

My name is Kyle Steed and I’m a 26-year-old designer living in Dallas, Texas. I own a home and two playful labs with my wife. Over the past 26 years I have loved creating things with my hands and visualizing ideas on paper. But over the past 15 months I have really grown in making things work for the web. And while I love the internet and all its glory I would still rather make art that is tangible. My dream is to one day have the opportunity to work in my own studio making art that is compassionate and meaningful.

When I’m not designing I enjoy writing, reading and listening.

Kyle Steed

_Emil Wisch – Public Portrait – @emilwisch

Website: www.emilwisch.com
Twitter: @emilwisch

Master of none. Servant. Community nurturer. Idea guy. I thrive on connecting people with information.

I grew up with the most supportive parents a kid could have in a suburb just South of Chicago. My blue collar work ethic and lack of finances kept me in town for college (never finished). I love my family and friends. I love animals and hockey. It’s hard for me to put a camera down and, like Simon, “I like to do drawings”. I want to develop this skill so I can show you my dreams. I write occasionally.

I co-created the, now defunct, social network for local, indie businesses: UrbanMelt.com. It prepared me for the work I’m doing with Fuel Your Creativity and the Fuel Brand Group and also with a new venture called Design Groupie. I’m not a designer myself but am highly attracted to the visual poetry of my friends in the design community.

My greatest passion is building relationships. I’ve met who I consider to be the most interesting people in the world. I know there are more of you out there. I will find you.

Emil Wisch

_Mitsi – Public Portrait – @mitsi

Website: www.designgroupie.com
Twitter: @mitsi

The Beginning Designers’ Community

Co-Founders: Emil Wisch @emilwisch, Mitsi McKee @sh3n3rd, Tom Nussbaum @tomlovesyou. This is our brand new project and it will be great to introduce it to the world via your site. Thanks so much.

My name is Mitsi  and I am a sh3n3rd. I love technology and all that we can accomplish together. I have worked in I.T. and development for several years and am looking forward to expanding my horizons in 2009. Specifically, I’m embarking on a new journey as an internet radio dj; and also embracing my creative side to learn the elements of good web and graphic design.

I love beautiful images, colors, interesting typography, and compelling photographs. I am fascinated by places and faces all over the world. Every day I come across new and fabulous people who inspire me.

Some of my hobbies are: learning, creating, problem-solving, volunteering, rock climbing, and gaming.  My passions are: music, books, friends, languages….. and my extraordinary sons. As a single mom, the one thing I try to demonstrate is that nothing is truly out of reach… if you have vision and heart. I consider myself successful if I can make someone’s day, or leave something a little bit better than I found it.

Mitsi

_Sara Cowley | Public Portrait

Website: www.cowleydesign.com

Greetings.

I’m Sara Cowley, principal designer over at Sara Cowley Design. I am lucky enough to absolutely love my work creating print and surface solutions for my clients.  It still feels like such an accomplishment to carry a job from concept to completion, along with all the teeny details that must be considered along the way.

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_Rajesh Pancholi – Public Portrait – @r27

Website: http://www.r27.co.uk
Twitter: @r27

Hello… Is anybody there?

I’m Rajesh Pancholi of R27.Creativelab, a creative first, a goodfella second.

When my father asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, “I wanted to illustrate my own comic book,” much to his dismay. My answer to his frown was to never grow up and I think it’s that fresh curiosity that keeps me enjoying all that I do.

My background to date has covered all aspects of design whether that is for print, corporate ID, exhibition, video stings and of course the web. I’m into all things visual but just as importantly all that influences the creative juices to flow. So I will try to explore whatever sits outside the obvious design zone. The benefits of talking to others in and outside the field of design is paramount, even more so after running my own freelance studio for the last 2 years.

Like Miles Davis, sometimes you have to blow your own trumpet : )

RP – I doodle and love noodle

Rajesh

_Aaron Michael Irizarry – Public Portrait – @aaroni268

Website: www.thisisaaronslife.com
Twitter: @aaroni268

My name is Aaron Michael Irizarry (aaron i for short), I survive mostly on Asian food & coffee, I am a designer, artist, code monkey, God follower, project manager, 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 started in the creative world by learning to design things for a band I was in back in 1998… after that I never looked back. Now I am just as passionate about my work and trying to stretch myself in my abilities and knowledge as much as possible. Though I primarily manage projects, and code user Interfaces at my job, I have really developed a hunger to learn more and write about UX, and try to design as much as time allows.

I am inspired by good design, great music, and the interaction I have with the design community. I love collaboration so fid me on twitter and lets work on something cool.

Aaron I

_Paul Anthony – Public Portrait – @webireland

Website: WebDistortion
Twitter: @webireland

I am Paul.

I cut my teeth on the Amstrad CPC 464 (retro cool eh?) programming simple things to annoy my sisters. After that the next machine I “acquired” – (read begged / pesterd my folks for) was a Compaq Presario running Windows 3.1 with a 386 processor.

Speeeeeedy.

After breaking it a few times and learning how to squeeze as much performance out of it as possible (remember config.sys and Autoexec.bat anyone?). Amstrad basic quickly became Qbasic, Qbasic became Visual Basic, Visual Basic became Visual Basic.NET and the world of object orientated programming opened up a whole world of possibility – especially to the web – which was introduced to me through a friend lending me a broken 56K modem – which I Iater fixed.

The magnet pull of the web grabbed me. Building something that millions of other people could possibly use or see really got me hooked. I read, and read and read. I borrowed HTML books from the library, and taught myself all I needed to know to create websites. Albeit, particularly ugly ones.

In between all of that, the world of web development and design seemed to complement the harsh and cold world of computer programming. I started developing database driven stuff with Active Server pages, which has now become ASP.NET. This mishmash of skills created someone who now loves single handedly developing attractive web applications using  Microsoft’s .NET language and making them pretty with Photoshop. In my spare time I enjoy writing (mainly on my blog), designing, networking, marketing my products, and taking the odd photo. I also currently works full time as a software developer for an e-commerce company – but that doesn’t stop me dreaming of one running my own business. The foundations of which are currently being constructed.

Paul Anthony
www.webdistortion.com

_Jeff Fisher – Public Portrait – @logomotives

Website: Jeff Fisher LogoMotives
Twitter: @logomotives

I’m Jeff Fisher, author of Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands (HOW Books, 2007) and the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives. For the past decade, since adopting my business moniker, I have focused my design efforts on identity design and branding. During most of my 30-year career I have worked as an independent designer. It’s not that I don’t play well with others; it’s just that I want to choose where, when and with whom I play.

Graphic Design USA magazinehas named me one of their design industry  “People to Watch” for 2009. In late 2008, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives was recognized as one of the 2008 StartupNation Home-Based 100 by the business website honoring the top home-based companies in the nation My identity work – and business advice – is featured in over 100 books about logos, the design business, and small business marketing.

I often write for industry publications and online resources (including my own bLog-oMotives); judge design industry competitions; and speak about the design profession to high school classes, design program participants, university students, design industry conferences and business events. My first book, The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success, was released in 2004. I am currently writing a new volume, with the working title of Logo•Type, on the topic of typography in identity design.

Jeff Fisher

_Leigh Caraccioli – Public Portrait – @fleurdeleigh

Website: fleur de leigh photography
Twitter: @fleurdeleigh

My name is Leigh and I have a slash career allowing me to do many cool things for a variety of people. I am a photographer who simply loves shedding light on the individual spirit and still has so much to learn about the art.

My second career is as a  talent agent for Talent Revolution, a career social networking site that is not afraid to tackle the career paradigm and guide people toward obtaining their ultimate career lifestyle.

My passion is having fun in life, snatching happiness is everything I do and making a living doing what I am passionate about. I also a substitute Creative Arts teacher so I can feel like I am getting a return on net investment for my Master’s in creative writing.  If you only have one go at all this, be revolutionary.

Leigh Caraccioli

_Scott Wyden – Public Portrait – @scottwyden

Website: Scott Wyden
Twitter: @scottwyden

Howdy,  my name is Scott Kivowitz or Scott Wyden or even Scott Wyden Kivowitz if you want to get all technical and crazy.  I’m a photographer from New Jersey who loves shooting everything.  Portraits are what I shoot mostly but my passion is nature-scapes. 

Photographing the world is my goal.  I want to visit every place I can and shoot it all.  I started taking pictures just after high school.  I would shoot live bands and even press shots when requested.  My little photo project grew into something larger.

I got highered by ad agencies to shoot events, buildings, companies, CEO’s and a bunch of other things.  I even worked a private forensic type company and got to photograph crime scenes, etc…  Currently  I work as an Assistant Repair Manager at an International Service Contract company called Mack Camera & Video Service. Working with equipment on a daily basis I increased my knowledge of how photographic tools work.  Combine all of that with an Associates Degree in Photography Technology and that is me in a nutshell!

Scott

_Kathryn Austin – Public Portrait – @kathrynaustin

Website: Kathryn Austin
Twitter: KathrynAustin

Hi. My name is Kathryn, but most people call me Katie. I am a graphic designer with a background in print and web design. I will be launching my official web site www.KathrynAustin.com very soon, which will discuss topics related to graphic and website design, social media, and other trends related to design/fashion industry.

Until the official launch, you can visit me at www.KathrynAustin.blogspot.com. I am excited and inspired by social media and the connections it has made for designers. I love to connect with other designers.

_Angela T.Ballinger – Public Portrait – @anotions

Website: anotions.com
Twitter: @anotions

I had the notion in the mid-90s to teach myself the ways of the web, including HTML and bits of graphic design.  The WWW was so mysterious, and only a handful of my peers even had a computer in their homes.  I figured it would be worthwhile to learn a little bit about what the Internet was made of.

So, my curiosity led to the creation of my very own website filled with jokes and stupid stuff I found on the web.  All were written in basic HTML through Notepad, and graphics were courtesy of my pro Paintbrush skills.  Later, I discovered Paint Shop (a generic of PhotoShop) and became more interested in graphic design and layout techniques.  Then, I began creating websites for others, from a businessman friend of my dad’s to my boyfriend’s band.  I discovered that I had a knack for creating something that people needed.  I was hooked.

So that’s brought us into 2009, where I’m leisurely building my own business.  I’m currently focusing on brushing up on my skills and learning the many new technologies that have popped up in the last few years.  I have some ongoing clients, but am trying not to take on any new big jobs.  I do have a full time job, so any extra time is spent learning, social networking (love-love the Twitter design community), and exploring the web for inspiration.  I absolutely love design of all sorts, but that’s also my downfall.. “jack of all trades, master of none”.. but I can still try, right?