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GLADE JOHNSON began his career in the design field in 1969. Upon graduating from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Design, he headed for Detroit to work in the automotive industry where drawing concept cars for Chrysler and Ford was the realization of his boyhood ambitions.

"My previous career as a car designer and aircraft interior designer equipped me with the ideal skills for yacht design. Industrial design is all about combining form with function, practicality with beauty. As an automotive designer, I worked to create forms and shapes over a functional frame. With aircraft, I learned about space planning and elements of decor. It also forced me to deal with very strict safety standards. The fact that my clients included the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Thailand, the President of North Yemen and various high-powered businessmen also helped to provide a client base when I moved into yacht design. By the time I opened up my studio in Seattle in 1987, I already had a commission to restyle a 160-foot Feadship and the necessary experience to focus on both interior and exterior design."

Twenty years later, the client list continues to grow with many repeat customers returning for two or three boats. Glade's personal attention to detail and his concentration on the desires and needs of his clients makes all the difference.

"I think we do a better job because we listen to the owners. You pick up on people's feelings by hearing their words directly."

Glade and his team incorporate the client's wishes for accommodation and styling into the framework of sea-keeping, safety regulations and mechanical requirements for the project. "A yacht's primary purpose is to make it possible for those aboard to enjoy the sea, and the challenge is finding the balance between a client's requirements for an interior layout and the way that relates to the exterior and the elements."

THE TEAM

BOB KERTELL is one of our senior project managers in charge of producing drawings and directing communications from the design office to the client and shipyard. After almost 20 years as an Architect, Bob decided to pursue a different career, and his childhood dream of designing boats. The custom yachts designed at GJDI are self contained worlds capable of traveling independently for prolonged periods of time. The opportunity to be involved in creating these traveling worlds, from the overall deck plans, to the smallest detail sketches, keeps him keenly interested.

ROY SEYMOUR is another of our senior project managers. His 40 years of Industrial Design experience covers projects ranging from electronics, to medicine, to transportation and many areas in between. For 25 years Roy served on the Boeing teams, designing airplane interiors, including Air Force One, and many executive airplanes. His interior illustrations are of masterpiece quality, and reflect his wonderful artistic skills and professional experience.

JIM POMEROY brings considerable design experience and expertise in computer-aided design. After earning his BA in Industrial Design, and attending the Vehicle Research Institute at Western Washington University , Jim spent two years working in Paris in the aircraft industry. After returning to Seattle he developed an inaugural line of printing and embossing equipment for Printa Systems. Jim has also done work on espresso machines, cd-vending machines, recording studio equipment, medical equipment and snowboard bindings, before choosing to pursue luxury yacht design.

RUTH STEPHAN is GJDI's accountant/office manager. It is her contribution to detailed day-to-day business that makes the office run smoothly and allows us to focus on the yacht designs that have made Glade Johnson a well-respected name in the industry.

KERI TRINE is one of our Interior Designers. After attending Western Washington University , she graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle with a degree in Interior Design. She assists in the sourcing process of all material specification selections and purchasing. These include but are not limited to decorative lighting, fine furnishings including Interior & Exterior with custom capabilities, fabrics, hardware selections, and original artwork and sculptures including commissions..

PHIL AYLSWORTH brings experience in product and transportation design, and in ergonomics. After earning Industrial Design and Ergonomics degrees, he developed fitness products, restaurant and dining spaces, small electronics, graphic interfaces, displays, and sport and luxury catamarans. A passion for boating and the water led him to yacht design, where he uses his understanding of ergonomics and space planning, along with aesthetic design, to create luxurious, efficient living spaces.

LINDSAY WOMSLEY studied interior design at the Art Institute of Seattle, where she discovered that the design specialty that was most appealing to her was yacht interiors. She became part of our team, assisting with project management and design. She is responsible for finding the materials to make our designs come to life and coordinating the day-to-day project correspondence of all parties involved in each project. She sources and keeps a current knowledge of everything from furniture, lighting, hardware, flooring materials, galley equipment, soft goods and even the finer touches such as custom amenities and artwork, just to name a few. In addition to her resource capabilities, she has a fantastic eye for color & design, and is a pleasure to work with.

BRIAN ORVIK brings with him ten years of experience in fine metalworking and furniture design. After graduating with a BA in fine art, he worked for Renaissance furniture as a lead artisan and foreman. He later decided to continue building his skill set, and went on to complete an Associate degree in Interior Design at Bellevue Community College . He was a full time interior designer was with Design Utopia, a design firm that specialized in new construction of luxury homes. This gave him the opportunity to work on two projects in the 2007 Seattle Street of Dreams.