Alyson Beaton studied architecture in undergrad in her home state of Texas, where she learned to respect the environment and create spaces that have meaning. After working in a firm in Dallas for a little bit she was introduced to the greater world of design, doing commissions and graphic installations with her friend Lance Raney, for Neiman Marcus. From there she knew it was time to expand her design knowledge base and returned to school to study visual communications. She completed her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she learned how to find what fuels her as a designer/artist and maker. She began her career as a design professor and doing many projects & collaborations on the side, perfecting her skills and learning as she went. Her passion and belief in micro-business and manufacturing led her to start her own brand "lille huset" and along the way by nature of the community had other micro-business clients who needed branding and design help. She doesn't see boundaries to design and making, and crosses them as often as possible. She and her husband, Matt Beaton have collaborated on home designs for themselves and others.