What We Do
Michael McNaught: builder / founder.
Creative design and outdoor adventure are life-long passions of mine, and I’m grateful to focus so much of my energy on their intersections in my work.
The story of The Berkeley Builders, a company that literally survives on adventure, is very much an adventure in itself, and has proceeded from many unforeseen developments and fortuitous encounters.
My imagination and love for the outdoors were first nourished growing up in Santa Cruz, where I spent a lot of time in nature and never strayed too far from a sketchbook. With parents in the fine art world, I developed an eye for detail and quality from a young age that has influenced all my endeavors since.
I studied literature at Cabrillo College before moving to Berkeley where I pursued a degree in philosophy at the UC. After graduation, I focused intensively on drawing and painting, camping on the weekends and embarking on longer and longer backpacking trips. During this time, I became fascinated with the design of outdoor gear, and developed an appreciation for storage, versatility and organization on the move. I borrowed a friend's sewing machine, and experimented with modifications to my own packs, testing out different features on trail in pursuit of the perfect system.
It wasn’t until the father of a close friend invited me to help remodel a house that I made direct contact with the world of building. Thanks to his dedication, I came away with a host of new skills and interests, and, in time, my friend and I started “The Berkeley Builders” -- initially a freelance carpentry business. With some money saved, I took time off to study art, traveling to St. Petersburg where I spent a summer training in classical technique at the Academy of Art. Upon return, I was determined to find a dedicated space to continue painting. I rented a small studio in West Oakland that, as I soon discovered, was directly across from a fine woodworking shop.
Friendships formed, and before long, I found myself working in the shop and learning from masters of the craft, soaking up the many specialized skills that laid the foundations for The Berkeley Builders in its present form. When a friend asked if I could build a set of modular cabinets in his Subaru Outback, I seized the opportunity, and discovered a world where my design imagination, building skills and interest in outdoor adventure were all brought together in the process.
While I've certainly worked harder at bringing this business into being than I have at anything else in my life, it would have been impossible without the encouragement and wisdom a handful of wonderful people felt inclined to share with me over these exciting years.
Thank you for reading, and happy trails!
-- Michael.
When Gamiel isn't dialing in tool-paths for our CNC products, or coming up with ideas for new designs, you can find him brewing up craft ciders or out exploring the mountains and deserts of California.
A trained CNC technician and additive manufacturing wizard, Gamiel has helped The Berkeley Builders step into the CADCAM world and provides critical insights for the R&D that goes on behind the scenes.
I’m an outdoor photographer based out of Sonoma County and I take commercial photographs for brands that build trust with their customers.
People buy from brands that they trust. The first step in building trust is by showing compelling photographs. These photographs need to catch the viewer’s interest, showcase the brand’s mission, highlight the product’s craftsmanship, or connect with the customer’s needs. How does a customer know if a jacket looks good? By seeing a picture of someone wearing it. How does a customer know if a particular set of gloves are for the snow? By seeing a picture of someone wearing those gloves in the snow. Your brand’s images are the first thing your customers will engage with and these images need to reassure your customers that they have come to the right place.
See Joe's work.
