The founder of the company is John McMillan.

McMillan Design, Inc. is a small, privately owned, design company located in Gig Harbor, Washington. It concentrates its current efforts in manufacturing, improving and marketing the Sea Catch Toggle Release and other innovative products. Sea Catch products are now available in over 130 different models.

Quality customer service is assured since McMillan Design is a small company where inquiries and order expediting are handled with care. John is an avid inventor, industrial designer, and entrepreneur who has been committed to the design and development of the Sea Catch Toggle Release since 1986. Associates are available to assist with engineering services for unique product applications or product modifications. Sea Catch is computer generated and can be easily modified to suit most user's needs

Experienced in problem solving and design since the 1970's, John is an honors graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle. His background includes experience in the oilfield and commercial fishing industries where working against the elements of the sea and the obstacles and hazards of releasing lines under load is common. With the use of his computer and a tenacious spirit, he has broken the long-lasting hold by conventional pelican hooks on the release hook industry by developing a safer device which uses toggle linkage instead of leverage action to both lock and release an object under load.

The first Sea Catch products were put into commercial use by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in 1994. As the optimum design solution to the hazards of releasing an object or line under load and with hundreds of units in service and a long list of high-profile users, the Sea Catch has received nothing but praise from satisfied engineers and users world wide.

John was retired in December 2025, but may be able to assist inventors with design and product development services. A digital portfolio of his creative work can also be seen at this site.

John's civic activities include illustrating, designing and consulting for a number of several local efforts including Gig Harbor BoatShop, Gig Harbor's prominent historic maritime preservation effort where he is a founding member and treasurer.