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I've always appreciated the clean lines of a drawer pull which extends all the way across the top (or bottom) edge of the drawer front. There are many different grip profiles available, in both metal and wood, and typically, these are purchased in stock lengths, and then cut to whatever size is required for the cabinetry project at hand. However, after cutting to length, the individual pieces have rough ends, which require additional finishing so they're smooth enough to protect skin and clothes. This is especially true on overlay drawers, where the freshly-cut pull ends are exposed all the time. And so, as much as I enjoy the appearance, due to the amount of finishing handwork required, other drawer pull types usually win out.

Then, while working on a project quote which included thirty-five identical 2-drawer file pedestals, and hence a lot of drawer pulls. Continuous-style drawer pulls would have looked terrific, but the amount of end finishing required would be too costly, and another type of pull was selected. However, I had an idea: GripRail, a continuous drawer pull system consisting of a gripping extrusion, with fitted end caps to cover any rough-cut ends; no finishing labor would be required. The gripping extrusion shape was also designed to address another shortcoming of most continuous pull designs, which is that they can only be grasped from underneath. GripRail is grasped with a pinching motion between thumb and forefinger, so it’s easier to hold, and friendly to long fingernails.

So I drew and rendered the concept, and pitched the idea to Doug himself, of Doug Mockett & Company (they were already producing other designs of mine). Doug liked the idea and we immediately struck a licensing deal. Then we began what was to be a breakthrough design and iteration process. Mockett had just gotten a 3D printer, and working from my CAD files, they printed the first physical models, and sent me samples. Quite literally, the next week, I got my first 3D printer, and then, both of us working from the same file(s), we prototyped and refined the design, until it was ready for production. This was the first of my designs to ever be 3D printed, and remains a memorable and thrilling product development milestone…! GripRail has been in production ever since.

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