Gaelan was born and raised in Wisconsin, where he attended the University of Wisconsin Stout. Falling in love with the design process, of problem solving and creation, he got his B.F.A. in Industrial Design and minored in Sustainable Design. Through a serendipitous opportunity to apprentice in a timber frame shop, the life of a craftsman gently changed his direction. After a quick detour spent travelling New Zealand for a year, the mountains called and design pulled at his heart. He is happiest playing with tools or playing outside. He moved to North Idaho to do as much of both as possible.