I got into designing mostly because of a chance discussion 3 years ago with Jack Alderson at the field.  He showed me his aerofoiled blue foam model from a Tim Stagg design.  

Up to then I had little interest in 'flat-wing' foamies, but the idea of a 'fat-wing' was intriguing to me.  So I got hold of a Stagg plan and scratch built one.  I was instantly hooked on blue foam.

Since then I have created dozens of aerofoiled-wing foam designs, but to date only one has made it into the air (a derivative of a 1975 pattern ship called the New Era III).  Since I design automation equipment for a living, I use Solidworks for the aeromodelling in my spare time.

I also have interest in getting kids into the hobby, and have done a few school workshops.  Attached is my design for kids, called the Soda Straw Glider.  It is my version of a schoolteacher's idea, and it flies incredibly well from an 8.5 x 11 strip of manila folder stock (try one!).

My 2010 resolution is to move towards F3A precision aerobatics, and I have started with a small GP Reactor.  See photo below, which also shows my chief artistic director and former test pilot (except now at age 12 she has less interest in Dad's toys...)

Aeromodelling has also affected Smokey, my 15-pound Russian Blue.  He has developed a passion for blue foam, and insists on sitting on every piece that I am cutting, which helps with fixturing, I guess.  He also notices when I am charging the battery on my Blade S300, and he then sits next to the heli's box, knowing the bird will fly soon.  He has narrowly escaped injury a couple of times on unexpected propeller starts in the basement as well.