Creatively speaking...

Joe de Lange, Redshift Creative Director > 

Like so many other digital designers born in the 70's, 8-bit computers got me into design. I wasn't a natural designer but I've always been very much into drawing. I used to play video games too. Eventually I started drawing on the computer. 16 colours on a 300x200 screen gives you an eye for detail (and teaches you how to use a grid very effectively). Many of the most beautifully detailed 8-bit games are Japanese and Japanese design in general is a big turn on. They really understand colour.