Although I virtually never build from a kit, and usually draw my own plans,
and have a few ideas, I don't consider what I'm doing as much DESIGN.
Not really.
It is mostly copying the ideas (and numbers) from other people.
There definitely ARE some real designers still around, clearly Brett seems
to be one, as well as Igor, Paul, Wild Bill, Chuck, Serge, all folks who actually <are able
to> do technical analysis. (These guys are using equations with "worms"
in them - calculus, integrals, quadratics..) ;->
And there are very creative, inventive individuals around, like Rabe, Rush,
Hunt, Palmer, Taib, Fancher, Urtnowski, Zambelli, Yatsenko and a dozen others.
These guys seem to combine highly technical analysis with practical ideas ,
in varying degrees.
Finally, there are the MODELERS, who mentor and inspire. My personal hero
here was Bill Melton. Although Bill was a PhD and held a couple of patents for
plant genetics, what he taught me was how to use epoxolite - and SANDPAPER.
I continue to try to suck the "design" marrow out of all these people, in particular
areas I'm interested in at any given time.
So, standing on these shoulders, I'll claim about 5 or 6. Maybe a 4..
L.
"If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing
on my shoulders." - Hal Abelson