Gary Gibson’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Gary Gibson. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Gary, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I would say I’m wandering. I’m an interior designer by trade, but my path has led me in many directions – Be it designing a collection of furniture and rugs, making art, as well as being a shopkeeper. It has never been my plan to just be one thing; I think it stems from my ability to multitask. I’m always looking forward to the next adventure.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Coming out of school I really didn’t have any idea what I would do with my life. I knew that I loved anything creative, art, and collecting. It wasn’t until I met a designer when I was working at an art store who asked for my help with The Pasadena Showcase house. I loved the process. Ironically years later, I was selected to do a room but declined.
This led me to UCLA to attend the Interior Design program there. I didn’t finish program because I was offered good jobs with several well-known residential design firms of the day. After a few years of apprenticeships, I started my own firm. GGID is now 45 years old, and Gibson the store is on its 26th year.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Since I was a kid, I would collect things that were interesting or fascinating to me. I have always had the love of crafts, hobbies, painting and making things.
My dad was a creative person. He was always building things and was incredibly good with his hands, so there was always a project to do. I have this fascination with tools from the past. They are pieces of art to me with their different functions and the materials that they were made from. They get this amazing patina from use over the years.
I also had an amazing teacher in the 5th grade, Mrs. Waldo, who is the one that really got me hooked on art. She took me under her wing and had me do art projects for the school; I would consider her very instrumental to who I am today!

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear itself is a major deterrent for most things in one’s life. I would say that if you are a Creative then you run the risk of fear deterring you all the time. Because what you are producing, be it interiors, products, or art, are all subjective, you are subject to commentary which isn’t always good.
Overtime you need to have confidence in your designs and be willing to handle criticism. If you can reframe criticism into helpful commentary, I think it will make you a better designer. I say this because in your creative process you can get stuck with a concept or situation, and when you reach out for commentary you can find it taking you in a direction that you hadn’t thought of before.
I think at the end of the day, fear is what pushes me forward. After years of experience, I have found that being social and having open dialog has built my confidence in my creative process.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say that I am pretty authentic. What you see is what you get, meaning that I certainly can speak my mind and not hold back.
When working with design clients, if I don’t like something or feel it is not right for them, I will make sure I let them know. I always try doing it in a way that is not rude or uncomfortable to them, of course. I use humor a lot, it softens the blow! This is how I am with all my friends and family; I spare no one.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that my legacy is built on the loyalty, humor, empathy, kindness, and whatever talent I managed to share along the way. And of course, my dashing good looks. My sarcasm is a quality that has gotten me in trouble over the years, but for the most part, people have come to know that it is one of the qualities they get with me. Sarcasm allows me to bring humor into my life, and I value the ability to laugh at myself. It keeps me grounded and happy. Laughter is something we all need more of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.garygibson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopatgibson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-gibson-92984210
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopatgibson/