Who are you and what do you do?

Stephen Drowne, Graphic Designer/Owner, Wooden Image Design

What services/products do you offer?

Any print design, advertising, branding, clothing, weddings, illustration, web design, etc.

Who/where is your audience?

As of now my audience is mainly small businesses looking to make changes to their overall look and feel. So many people don’t realize how much their overall look impacts how they are perceived. I also do work for several larger companies and hospitals in and around Boston who are looking to continue their look.

What is the website?

Not up yet. Eventually it will be www.woodenimagedesign.com.

Well-Funded or Bootstrapped?

Definitely bootstrapped.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  10 years?

In 5 years I plan on having grown the client relationships I currently have as well as getting many new clients. In 10 years, I plan on everything running as smooth as possible so I can actually take a day off.

Where were you born – where do you live now?

Born in Falmouth. Lived in various places but am back in East Dennis.

PC or Mac?

Seriously?

Where did you go to school?

Virginia Tech. Originally for Architecture or Engineering but couldn’t make up my mind so I went with Graphic Design.

What Social Networks are you on?

Linked In, Facebook, Plaxo

Greatest invention ever?

Toss up for me: Wheel or Electricity. Both pretty great.

Person you believe has contributed most to the world of technology?

All who have made 0’s and 1’s into what we see today are pretty incredible in my view.

Where have you traveled in your life?

In the U.S.: Entire East Coast, Louisiana, Colorado, California, Utah, Minnesota
Outside the U.S.: BVI, Puerto Rico, Quebec

Why set up shop on Cape Cod?

Born here, love the Cape. At some point I plan to move the business off-Cape mainly to be between my clients, but also because I like to think of the Cape as a getaway. When you’re here constantly that seems to diminish but maybe that’s just because I haven’t lived here long enough.

5 Websites you go to every day?

Google, Yahoo!, Apple (just to check), CapeCodOnline, MSN

What’s on your iPod right now?

Haven’t used it in a while. Actually, can’t even find it.

What is on your desktop/screensaver right now?

Gray/Arabesque

You are on a deserted island – do you bring a laptop or book?

Macs are pretty fantastic but I they don’t have a built-in solar panel yet. Anyway, I’d most likely drop it in the water. So, book, definitely book.

Phone call or text message?

Mainly phone.

Feel free to tell us anything else….?

I am constantly asked why my company name is Wooden Image Design so here’s a brief explanation. My great, great, great…Grandfather, Shem Drowne, was the man who created the grasshopper weathervane on Fanieul Hall in Boston. He’s done many other notable ones throughout Boston and Cambridge also but that’s the most recognizable one to many. Apparently Nathaniel Hawthorne knew of him and wrote a short story about him. The story can be found in his book of short stories called “Mosses from an Old Manse”. The name of the story is Drowne’s Wooden Image and it’s about Shem Drowne getting commissioned to do the design and creation of a figure head for a ship. Different time, but still in line with what I do and I thought it was interesting and a perfect name for my company.

Thank you for your time, Stephen!