Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Janel Kesten, graphic designer extraordinare for New England Reprographics. I love my work, but I swear it’s going to get me into trouble the one day I play “name that font” a little too long and crash into the car in front of me. I also keep busy teaching Photoshop at Sandwich Community School and the totally awesome Geek Girl Camps along with weekly @Bar Photoshop Friday tips.

What services/products do you offer?

I create graphic solutions for businesses through the use of type, photographs and illustrations. (Logos, brochures, catalogs, tradeshow displays, etc.) I have amazing power to make a startup company look like a professional, trusted company based solely on the design of their logo and collateral. It’s intriguing how much people are impressed by good design and how few people are willing to invest in it.

We also provide a variety of scanning and print services: both traditional offset and short run digital, architectural printing, large format posters, banners, direct to board printing, fine art printing, tradeshow and backlit displays, etc. We print tons of stuff, ok?

Who/where is your audience?

Businesses, architects, engineers, artists, designers … anybody really. If you need a unique design (heck, if you have a lighthouse in your logo — call me now!) or need excellent print services call me.

What is the website?

www.newenglandrepro.com

Well-Funded or Bootstrapped?

Hmm. I’d have to say bootstrapped, although I wasn’t here when times were really tight. Nowadays I do have some pretty toys.

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

Making loads more money. Oh, you asked where — I’d probably be here or Boston depending where my future husband lives. I suppose I could be anywhere if I just got Back to My Mac working right!

Where were you born – where do you live now?

I was born in Hyannis and I live in Sagamore Beach. I think I qualify as a native, although I’m always fuzzy on the rules. Do both parents have to be born on the Cape? And how many generations back? Aw, heck, it doesn’t really matter…

PC or Mac?

Mac all the way. My pinky doesn’t like stretching to reach the control key.

Where did you go to school?

Savannah College of Art and Design

What Social Networks are you on?

Let’s clarify: what social networks do I have accounts setup at? Twitter, Pownce, LinkedIn, Facebook — I think that’s it. I don’t visit all of them regularly.

Greatest invention ever?

I’m a fan of caller ID. I know it’s not electricity or the wheel or anything else that’s helped to build society as we know it, but it’s really great knowing who’s calling you.

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

Tim Berners-Lee, he’s the creator of the world wide web. Where would my iPhone be without the internet?

Where have you traveled in your life?

The entire east coast, parts of the Caribbean, Denver, San Francisco, Hawaii and Italy.

Why set up shop on Cape Cod?

Well, technically I didn’t setup shop, but I choose to work here. I had to get out of Savannah and I had a job here. My parents own the business and apparently I had to start working off some of that private school education. Hey, it’s actually worked out over the years and the business has grown a lot since I’ve been here.

5 Websites you go to every day?

Five? I check my email 100 times a day, does that count? Some of these aren’t daily, but I do frequent them.

@Bar.com
PhotoshopUser.com
Facebook.com
apple.com
istockphoto.com

What’s on your iPod right now?

Oh, the ubiquitous music question. Leona Lewis, Timbaland, Sara Bareilles, Air, Snow Patrol, St. Germain, White Stripes, and the O’Jays.

What is on your desktop/screensaver right now?

One of the Apple black and white photos. Being a designer, I try to leave the colors to my work and not my desktop.

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

A book. I’d get a headache trying to fight the glare on the screen. Besides, you can’t curl up with a laptop or use it while on a float. (The island I’m on has recreational equipment, just not people)

Phone call or text message?

That’s a tough one. Phone call for business, but sometimes the text message is very handy. Especially now that I can type a paragraph on my iPhone.

Feel free to tell us anything else….?

I’m a design snob. I hate thermography. I’m particular about typography, inks, paper and all the stuff that makes my job fun. Seriously, if you’re paying me to design something for you, it’s in your best interest for me to have high standards.

Thank you for your time, Janel!