534 Design is

Phillip Scott Bryan

Engineer. Husband. Father. Craftsman.

I didn’t take the usual path to the woodshop.

I grew up working with my hands — drawn to the feel of tools, the smell of sawdust, and the quiet focus of building something from nothing. But as life unfolded, woodworking remained in the background. I built a 40-year career as an engineer, raised a family, and moved across the country chasing opportunity and responsibility.

All the while, the shop waited.

Today, I live and work in the Missouri Ozarks, on 80 wooded acres that offer the kind of stillness this work requires. It’s here that I design and build furniture by hand — custom pieces, made slowly and made well. I work alone, one piece at a time, and I take on a limited number of commissions each year.

The years I spent in engineering weren’t a detour — they were preparation. They taught me precision. Patience. Respect for materials and process. All of that now informs how I work with wood.

Most of my clients don’t come with blueprints. They come with an idea — a space to fill, a story to honor, a problem to solve. My job is to ask good questions, listen closely, and translate that into something physical. Sometimes it’s a dining table that becomes the center of a home. Sometimes it’s a conference table built to carry the weight of big decisions. Whatever the project, the goal is the same: to create something both lasting and livable.

I don’t believe in fast furniture. I believe in work that carries meaning. Work that holds up. Work that honors both the client and the craft.

My faith grounds everything I do — not as a brand message, but as a quiet foundation. I believe that good work is worth doing with gratitude, clarity, and conviction.

If that resonates with you, I’d be glad to talk.