David Toomey
Utah dad, homeschool parent, and lifelong geek who writes the software, prints the parts and builds the things he can't find anywhere else.
I'm David Toomey. Geek By Choice started as a family business making costumes and grew from there, the same way most things in my life do. Someone needs something, nothing out there quite fits, and I end up building it.
Family First
I'm a dad, and we homeschool. A lot of my work exists because of that. When I wanted my kids to search the web and YouTube safely, I built child-safe search tools and spent months reviewing educational channels one by one. When I needed a curriculum that actually fit our family, I mapped one out from Pre-K through 12th grade and matched every lesson to resources I'd checked myself. I like data and I'm good with it. Working through a giant spreadsheet until it turns into something useful is one of my favorite kinds of puzzle.
(This is my biggest project yet and it's still in progress)
A Maker at Heart
I'm happiest when I'm making something real. I 3D print, and when my prints kept failing on detailed models I wrote OverHeal and a set of other Blender tools to fix the problems at the source. I do woodworking too. I've built custom lazy-susan corner cabinets from scratch rather than settle for standard sizes. My printed designs, from dragon-themed functional art to switch plates, are sold through our GeekDesignWorks shops on Etsy and Zazzle.
Proud Geek
The name isn't ironic. I love the fandoms I grew up with, including Stargate, Firefly, Pokémon and the wizarding world, and we're regulars at FanX here in Utah. The free fan art on the site comes from that same love. I'm also into astronomy, science and nature, and I'll happily cook my way through a new recipe.
Music with a Message
I believe music should lift your mind, not just your energy. I write lyrics built around lessons and stories, such as focus, perseverance and choosing who you want to be. I pair each song with books, talks and articles so they can be learned from, not just listened to.
What I build
Code development and data analysis tie it all together. I design, test and debug my own work, all with a variety of tools, including some AI assistance. I care about finding the real cause of a problem, respecting people's data, and keeping things simple.
Better learning, better life. That's what Geek By Choice is about.
