FREELANCE DESIGN

the43c

Back in 2001, I started a freelance graphic and web design practice serving punk/independent bands, record labels, and small businesses in Boston, working under the moniker “the 43c”—an intentionally vague musical reference. After relaunching in 2023, I continued taking on projects, collaborating with people who share a similar grounding and aesthetic approach.

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Services

Print & merch design

LPs, CDs, cassettes, clothing, postcards, stickers, pinbacks, etc.

Website design

Design, layout, and build using the hosting platform our your choice.

Business & org consultancy

Discuss your ideas and arrive at a strategy that serves you best.

Collateral & ephemera

Anything in your mind's eye that requires a creative approach.

An abridged history

Founded in Boston circa 2001, the 43c landed its first freelance design projects working with local punk and hardcore bands The Explosion, Reach The Sky, and The Suicide File.

In 2002, Bridge Nine Records reached out to Desmond to redesign their website. However, instead of a one-off project, an offer materialized to join the team. Soon after, Desmond became the label's first employee as Digital Media Designer, Webmaster, and eventually International Distribution Rep.

With B9 sharing space in the Initech office, Desmond naturally connected with Doghouse Records and The Kenmore Agency, leading to new design projects. Throughout those years, the 43c engaged with a variety of bands and labels in the hardcore, punk, and indie scene—designing websites, merch, record covers, and show flyers.

After a 20-year hiatus, the 43c resumed operations in the Philly Metro area in 2023, picking up where it left off in Boston.