Our founder Mark Taylor has dedicated his life to invention, and invention has been the central thread of his remarkable journey.
Early Foundations
From childhood in Nottinghamshire, England, Mark first helped his father on building projects. Dad transitioned from being a journeyman joinery and carpentry craftsman to become a small contractor. His encouragement wasn't just a pat on the back. If Mark came up with a good idea, they used it – integrating it into the work they were doing.
By the time Mark was around nine years old, if he came up with a better way of getting the job done, Dad was more than happy to use it and commend him for being such good help. This nurturing approach taught Mark that he could make a difference – that if an idea was good and saved time or resulted in better quality work for the client, this made Dad very happy.
Mark's early engineering talent gained recognition when, as a 16-year-old at Quarrydale Comprehensive, he won the Abacus Trophy for outstanding achievement in CSE engineering. The local newspaper covered his achievement, noting that he received a £10 cash prize from Abacus technical manager Mr. G. Mellors, along with 20 other pupils and teachers for a tour of the Oddicroft Lane works.
Aerospace Engineering at Rolls Royce
As Mark grew older, his love of science fiction and hands-on experimentation fueled his passion for engineering. He won multiple awards for his projects and eventually trained as an apprentice with Rolls Royce at their research and development facility in Nottingham.
On day one of his apprenticeship, Mark had to sign the UK's Official Secrets Act as a condition of employment. This was at the facilities that had pioneered the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology for the Harrier Jump-Jet. Rolls Royce paid for Mark's engineering college courses at West Nottinghamshire Tech – one day and two evenings of night school per week over six years.
During his apprenticeship, Mark won Rolls Royce's Award for the Most Promising Young Apprentice. When asked what he wanted to do with his career after winning that award, he said he wanted to learn all he could at Rolls Royce and then go work on the American space program.
Technical Achievements and International Collaboration
Mark's work at Rolls Royce was both practical and intellectually demanding. While he didn't particularly enjoy getting his hands dirty, Mark loved making really cool stuff and was willing to put up with the dirty hands to gain that invaluable hands-on experience – for which there is no substitute. Rolls Royce apprenticeships are rarer than Ivy League degrees in engineering, representing one of the most exclusive pathways into advanced aerospace technology.
Mark was often tasked with figuring out how to make things that had never been made before, or to pioneer new methods as the industry transitioned to computer numerical control (CNC) systems. Some of the components he worked on arrived already marked as "sensitive" – he was never told exactly what they were for.
Mark built a test rig for research into boundary layer turbulence – technology that later found its way into US fighter jet systems. He also pioneered new manufacturing processes for both Rolls Royce's own jet engines and those of General Electric (GE) of America.
Meanwhile, Rolls Royce was getting into collaborative ventures with America's General Electric and Grumman Aerospace. Whether by kindness, coincidence, or design, Mark found himself working on those collaborations with GE and Grumman.
The Grumman Aerospace Challenge
When a thrust reversing technology prototype door made by Grumman in America arrived at the facility "not right," it came to Mark to fix. The senior colleague he shared that job with had become suddenly unwell. Mark now suspects with hindsight that this prototype had been sabotaged by hostile agents attempting to derail US-UK partnerships.
The thrust reverser door came to Mark along with Grumman's anxious Chief Financial Officer and Chief Technical Officer. The CTO explained that Grumman was under penalty clauses – every minute that prototype was delayed for remedial re-engineering cost them money. He asked Mark to do his best to fix it ASAP.
So Mark pulled extended shifts and missed night school to get it done. Over approximately three extended shifts, he was able to fix the engineering non-conformance issues. The collaborative venture was a success, and the Grumman CTO encouraged him to come work in America, saying: "They will love you in America, Mark, because you just get it done, and you don't know how rare that is."
Continued Professional Recognition
Mark's expertise continued to gain recognition beyond Rolls Royce. In 2000, he won the Haskell Award for best article of the year in Engineering Technology journal for his article "Know Your Intellectual Property Rights," presented by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (now part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, of which he is a Fellow). This early expertise in intellectual property protection would prove prophetic given his later experiences with technology theft.
Technologies That Changed the World
Over the years, Mark developed or contributed to technologies that shaped the modern world: internet banking systems, QR codes, global communications satellite networks, advanced aerospace testing methods, and even early concepts behind vaping technology. Some of these inventions were stolen and laundered by others, while others remain unacknowledged, but their origins trace back to his innovative work.
The Cost of Defense Work
Unfortunately, hostile intelligence services noticed who had fixed their sabotage, and Mark began to experience repeated poisoning as well as several life-threatening incidents that were probably assassination attempts. This persecution ultimately cost him his career, his home, and his country, forcing him into exile from England to America.
⚠️ This is why Mark gives the following warning to fellow inventors: Be very careful about getting involved in defense-related technologies. Unless you are exceptionally good at it and working under the protection of a major defense organization, the risks can outweigh the rewards. Adverse attention from hostile actors can destroy your life.
Current Innovation Work
Mark continues to develop cutting-edge technologies through Systems Design Innovation LLC. Of his patents that have been cleared for publication, two are now granted with three pending, and more applications in the pipeline. These civilian technologies, including AI and encryption innovations, are viewable along with pseudocode prototypes and full project descriptions at his Systems Design Innovation LLC website.
His defense-related technologies remain under government secrecy orders from the US Navy and Department of Energy. One patent application has received a D10 Notice, indicating the invention is allowable but will be kept classified, with the government required to provide fair compensation for the technology.
Unique Guidance for Defense Inventors
For inventors who find themselves involved with defense-related technologies, Mark offers specialized guidance that few others can provide. Having navigated the complex world of secrecy orders, D10 Notices, and classified invention compensation, he understands both the bureaucratic maze and the personal security implications. Mark can guide inventors through the government patent process while helping them understand the protective measures necessary to survive the attention that defense work can attract.
Why Inventor DIY Exists
Mark shares his story not to dwell on hardship, but to help others learn from his experience. Protecting your work is critical – through patents, confidentiality agreements, and vigilance. The world is full of opportunists, corporations, and even state actors who will take what you've created if you let them.
That is why Mark built InventorDIY.com. This site is meant to be a resource by inventors, for inventors – a place to avoid the traps and mistakes he made, to navigate the challenges of invention, and to succeed without losing everything in the process.