Matthew Grayson

What is your background in?

I first went to college for Computer Science and Fine Art which I loved because one was always the antidote when I was overworked by the other. After spending a few years in NYC working in technology, which involved a lot of analytical creativity, I really craved the more intuitive, aesthetic creativity that I had used as an artist. This brought me out west to Art Center College of Design where I studied Product Design and after stints designing toys, consumer electronics, and home and kitchen goods, I landed at MDB.

What is your design style?

I am always drawn to letting a material's true qualities come out by doing as little to it as possible. I prefer when the entire design isn't obvious at first glance. You should discover the details and thoughtfulness as you live with it. So, I tend to avoid gestures that are loud for the sake of grabbing attention and prefer those that remain a secret between designer and user.

What inspires you?

I like to think about how undesigned items came to be. An agave plant, river rocks, the night sky. Simple and complex beauty that is so difficult for designers to achieve.

What do you like to do for fun?

My wife and I have a little girl at home and we love food, so our lives revolve around cooking and encouraging our daughter’s curiosity. When I have extra time, I’m usually planting vegetables, finding new music, building furniture in my shop, or exploring LA with my girls.