Michael has held design positions within architectural and interactive firms. He founded his practice — exoatmospheric — in 2006. Since then, Michael has provided design services for brand and identity, print, and the Web to clients such as The Smithsonian, The Ford Foundation, and Adobe.

In 2009, Michael began teaching print and Web design at the California College of the Arts (CCA), where his desire to inhabit design as an experimental practice was shaped by the collaborations, knowledge, methods, and experiences he shared with students and faculty alike.

From a professional and teaching practice characterized by breadth, Michael has shifted his focus to depth in graduate school — diving into the future of interactions and design. Immersed in the ambition and rigor of the MFA in Interaction Design program, he has reinvigorated his aesthetic sensibilities and devotion to craft, enhanced his pedagogy, but most importantly, become a prolific creator of highly-personal and experimental content.

Past Life

BFA, Studio Art, University of Massachusetts

Selected Projects

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  Cybernetics Final

  Students were required to critique a pre-existing interactive system of their own choosing by applying the models learned in class.

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  Fish Slaps A Baby

  Students designed a custom website for Fish Slaps A Baby and 15 unique blog templates inspired by the stories of 826NYC students.

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  Physical Computing Final

  Students were asked to devise a project that would allow them to use a semester’s knowledge about physical computing.

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  MoMA Smartphone App

  Students developed a set of prototype smartphone apps for the Museum of Modern Art.

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  Nike+ Visualizations

  Using data from Nike+ users in New York City who tracked their runs, students were asked to visualize a portrait of runners and bicyclists on the move in NYC.

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  Prototyping User Experiences: Semester Review

  The students were asked to produce a video to reflect upon the use of prototypes in the design process.

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  Starbucks Strategy Project

  Students were asked to design a new strategy for Starbucks to improve their retail store experience.