I had a chance to interview Liz Andrade of CMD+Shift+Design. Liz shares her ninja skills, her banana prefrences, and talks about making the jump into the freelance world.

1) Do you like bananas?
They’re my favorite potassium rich fruit!   I like buying the ones from Ecuador, cause I’m half-Ecuadorian.

I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. Design and more fine art stuff. When I was really young I would make my own  board games and comic books.. as I got to be a teenager, I made zines and eventually websites. I was born with that creative gene – but it wasn’t until college that I discovered how drawn i was to the problem solving aspect of graphic design.

The usual — like music and movies, but I also get inspired by the day to day. Being in Seattle is inspiring! I love this city and I love the people in the city. I’m big on people watching… ease dropping on the bus. I guess that could sound a little creepy, but humans are interesting, they inspire me.

4) Favorite design magazine?

As far as printed publications go, I have to admit – over the last 2 years, I have stopped paying attention for the most part. I read a lot of online magazines and blogs. Design (especially web design) changes so rapidly, I don’t want to wait an entire print cycle to hear about something, and you don’t have to anymore because of the web! Smashing Mag, Vandelay, A List Apart, WebCreme… to name a few of the biggies.

Dan Cederholm is a UI genius, Jina Bolton’s type skills are hot! The color and texture I see from Design Sensory out of Knoxville  inspires me.

I had a regular 9 to 5. I worked with a boutique firm here in Seattle doing web and print design for almost 4 years and I learned a lot. For most of those 4 years it was just me and the firms owner running the whole operation – so i really got on the fast track plan to learning the ins and outs of the industry — if not for that experience, I probably wouldn’t have made the freelance leap when I did.

About a year ago, I really felt like I had gotten all I could out of my old job. I broke out on my own and I have no regrets whatsoever! It’s one of the best decision I have ever made. Some people ask if I’m nervous because of the economic situation right now, but I’m not. I feel like I have more control over my career being out on my own than some of my friends and family who’re  getting hours cut…  or worse, getting laid off.

Advice I would give is — you’ve got to really want it. It’s not for everyone and it’s not easy. Even though I didn’t take this route, I’d advise anyone thinking of going freelance to first do it on the side of your 9 to 5 for a while to see how you handle it.

LOL. I dunno, a cat? I’m a crazy cat lady, so i have to say that. Maybe it’s true though? I know what I like and I’m not too concerned with what’s trendy at the moment or what isn’t. If it works, it works.

I don’t think of my design style in an aesthetic way, but more of my style of working. I try to be smart in my process, you have to be. Good design has to marry form and function… sacrificing usability is as offensive as bad kerning.

Do you have a preference for print or web work? Which one do you like more?

Since going freelance I have marketed myself more as a web designer, I enjoy the web design community a lot, you get the design geeks and internet nerds all in one pool — perfect place for me! I still do print work from time to time and I really enjoy it. In the past I’ve worked with clients on complete branding solutions, so I’d  get my hands in both their print and web marketing, that’s when it really gets exciting… developing and growing a whole package.

#252525 as a substitute for black.

10) Favorite font?

Avenir is my favorite San Serif, but my favorite San Serif numbers are Meta Plus. My favorite Serfied small cap is  Mrs. Eaves and I also adore the numbers in that typeface. My favorite puntuation is in AGaramond… The quotation marks, are to die for…

Thanks Liz!!!!!