I still like Buddha Bar, all the albums. They have the right mix of calm and energy for me. More than background music, but it doesn’t demand attention. Otherwise Air.
an inspiratinal progressive house: http://soundcloud.com/world-of-dinka/
When it comes to visual media/graphic design, I don’t think you can go wrong with any kind of music, as long as it has positive energy, it will give you energy. But I tend towards classical music, Bach especially. If you’ve never created something with Gustav Holst’s Planet Suite in the background, well…it’s an experience.
Bedros said
Those are the ones for me at the moment ,
Great Deep Purple
And a true idea generator Vivaldi
Vivaldi +100
adammonroe said
When it comes to visual media/graphic design, I don’t think you can go wrong with any kind of music, as long as it has positive energy, it will give you energy. But I tend towards classical music, Bach especially. If you’ve never created something with Gustav Holst’s Planet Suite in the background, well…it’s an experience.
+1… 
I have a very wide range of music taste, it’s hard to recommend a few tracks, so there you have 2, for a moment of calm …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF-Zjj6q45g
How about a chillstep? Especially for night designing 
Good music very much … Often I listen to: Chopin, Prokofiev, Lara Fabian, Pink Floyd … 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPKNOVGHJMw&hd=1
It has everything.
At the moment Daft Punk score for Tron: Legacy is so inspiring for me, but for most times I listen to Dir En Grey.
