Dedicated to inspiring designers, inventors & the creative spirit in all of us.

Judson Beaumont is owner of Vancouver-based Straight Line Designs, established in 1986. Known for his custom wood, fiberglass and mold making, Beaumont enjoys offering a whimsical view into his world through furniture and exhibit design.  Much of Beaumont’s studio work has been displayed around the world and on numerous design sites.

What was your first impressionable moment that involved design as a child?

I never did art classes as a child, it wasn’t until graduating high school that I started to look into it as a profession. I then began to look at design more seriously and decided to take the concept farther by attending art school.

It is easy to see that you are influenced by your childhood; what are the things from your childhood that you wish to pass on to others through your work?

I try to pass on the ideal of never limiting yourself or your creativity, take chances and hold onto the childlike fascination with the abstract.

You attribute your style to people like Walt Disney, Dr. Seuss, Warner Brothers, Pee-wee Herman, as well as designers like Philippe Starck and Frank Gehry. Have you had the opportunity to meet or correspond with any of these cultural icons?

I have met both Frank Gehry and Philippe Stark at various trade shows. I admire the fact that they push the limits more than any other designers, always reaching forward and defying limitations.

How did you make the transition from student to business owner, creating Straight Line Designs out of design school?

I never wanted to leave art school; for me it was the greatest thing I had every experienced. After going through a short trial in the movie industry, I decided to venture out on my own and start my own studio. My plan was to create my own art school environment.

What is the key to your success in your design studio, having worked nearly 25 years with so many clients on so many projects? Is it the atmosphere, the content of your work, or maybe the end result of seeing people enjoying your finished work?

I think it is a little bit of everything combined. The talent of my staff, being able to create such unique products and getting to enjoy the reactions afterwards.

How important is it for you to have sketches and renderings to communicate to your clients before you create your finished designs?

It is one of the most important aspects of design. It is very important for me to visualize the project with the client on paper before it ever begins being built.

You have said that you try to incorporate elements into your designs that make each project un-intimidating, interactive and fun. Is this difficult when working with a medium such as wood?

No, we work with many different techniques to bend the wood and create unique shapes, we definitely push the medium. We also incorporate fiberglass and mold making into our list of materials, as well.

Giving talks and slide shows must be  rewarding, but how do you make time for speaking engagements; do you travel to schools and businesses or do they come to your studio?

It is definitely a little bit of both. I enjoy going to schools and events and talking with students but it is also great to get them down to the studio so they can see everything in a real working environment.

What should an aspiring designer do every single day, with the intention of becoming a better designer through habit?

I would say sketching, and researching are definitely the most important stepping stones to becoming a better designer. Looking into other artists, getting inspired and seeing what others are doing around you.

I don’t know about this one; designer fire extinguishers? There are some things that are better left untouched, and I believe the fire extinguisher may be one of those things. To redesign the color scheme of one of the most recognized, standard products worldwide would not be a wise venture.

This design reminds me of a story a college instructor once told about being commissioned to design signage for a newly built community of homes. Ignoring the standard of fire engine red for stop signs, my instructor had used the shade of blue assigned to the community’s signage brand for the stop signs. Yeah, you can guess the end result.

Stop signs are red, record buttons are red and fire extinguishers are red; that’s just how it is!

This IPhone app drafting template is pretty sweet. Use it to storyboard that awesome app you think is going to turn the world upside down. The reflective metal material is reminiscent of the Apple brand, but I think that the old-school, green plastic drafting template would be way better.

Here are ten great images to make you say ‘wow’, all from the team at Straight Line Designs. I have seen these images peppered throughout the design blog world for some time now, but I thought I would include a top 10 of what I consider to be their most unique designs as a collection. Enjoy!

Finally, a gadget worth talking about that isn’t a cell phone. So many gadgets are being created with a cell phone as the core of the product; cell phones with cameras, cell phones with GPS, cell phones with MP3 players. This pocket-sized electronic features an HD video camera with a built-in projector. The 2.5 inch LCD is there for previewing, but if you want to showcase your footage on the back of a travel seat or on the wall of your home or office, there is a Pico projector built right into it. And of course, as with any new and exciting product to be leaked out to consumers, there is no timeline or price for this awesome gadget.