Making
things.
Teaching
people
to.
20+ years as a working artist and college educator. Digital illustration, theatre design, motion graphics, painting — and 15 years bringing all of it into the classroom.
The practice and the pedagogy are the same thing.
I've never stopped making work. Digital illustration, theatre poster design, motion graphics, painting — my creative practice has run in parallel with my teaching career for over two decades.
That's not a coincidence. I teach what I do, and I do what I teach. When I hand a student a brief, I've lived that brief. When I critique their work, I'm drawing on current practice — not a textbook from five years ago.
I hold an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and have taught at DePaul University, Art Institute Online, DeVry University, and the Illinois Institute of Art. I'm actively seeking faculty roles where both sides of my work are welcome.
"The best thing you can be as a design teacher is still a designer."
Artist. Educator.
Both have been true for 20 years. Here's what each looks like.
The Work
Digital illustration, theatre poster design, motion graphics, mixed media painting. Working across mediums keeps the thinking fresh.
- Theatre & event poster design
- Digital illustration & comic art
- Motion graphics & video
- Painting & mixed media
The Teaching
15+ years of college-level instruction in web design, digital media, and communications — online, in-person, and hybrid.
- Web Design & Web Content Delivery
- Photoshop & Digital Imaging
- Motion Graphics & Digital Media
- Curriculum development & faculty training
Michael is a great teacher. Students love him for being fair and honest, yet he pushes them hard to reach new goals and helps them to succeed in a difficult business.
Jake Worley-Hood — Musician, Educator & Former Student
Looking for a professor who still makes work?
I'm actively seeking adjunct and full-time faculty positions in digital design, web communications, or media arts — online or in the Chicago area.