My career isn’t unlike that of a fisherman. I bait my hooks with ideas instead of worms. While each idea is carefully played, the projects sometimes get away.

I always keep a sketchbook handy and I’m never afraid to use it. This is where I store my ideas. On the shelves of my studio reside scores of these books, all full of fun and creative ideas - ready and waiting.

Some of he ideas have been used in projects. Others have been developed as scale models, displays and signs for my studio walls. But here are far more good ideas hiding in those pages than I could ever hope to use in this fashion. These are often the drawings and sketches I’ve developed or explored for client’s projects. Most projects begin with concept design. Ideas are explored, some tossed or deemed not usable. Budgets send many great ideas into hibernation. Some ideas are rejected by clients. Things change, clients change. Markets rise and fall, sometimes funding is hard to come by. Zoning regulations sometimes sink ideas. All kinds of things determine whether the ideas I come up with ever see the light of day and most of these factors are far out of my realm of influence.

Thee truth is that perhaps only one in ten of my ideas actually get built. The bulk of my ideas lie in wait for the perfect project where they might get used. My sketch books are my most valuable resource... and thankfully good ideas never go bad.

-grampa dan