About

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© 2026

Michael Michalski is a brand-focused designer based in Chicago, Illinois. As a designer, Michael works in all mediums and sees the value of design in all mechanisms. He has worked in a handful of industries, including automotive, print publication, interactive web, electronics, and healthcare. One of Michaels's greatest strengths is championing his peers. He cultivates a rich environment of compelling designers to push each other and bring forth excellent work.

Education

Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
MFA, 2D Design
2025

Columbia College Chicago (Chicago, IL)
BA, Graphic Design
2022

Employment

Adjunct Professor of Instruction (Graphic Design)
Columbia College Chicago
08/2025 – Present

Special Lecturer / Faculty Professor of Design
Oakland University
01/2024 – 05/2025

Creative Director
MyCare Medical
05/2025 – 05/2026

Co-Director
HARD RETURN
07/2025 – Present

Creative Director
Village Medical
2023 – 2025

Senior Designer / Art Director
Oak Street Health
2022 – 2023

Senior Designer / Art Director
Newark Electronics
2021 – 2023

Senior Designer / Art Director
Premier Farnell
2019 – 2021

Exhibitions

RETURN TO RETURN, HARD RETURN
Chicago, IL | 2026

RUMISSING (Solo Exhibition)
HARD RETURN
Chicago, IL | 2026

FORCE OF HABIT (Two-Person Exhibition with Daniel Lee)
HARD RETURN
Chicago, IL | 2026

SWEAT HEX
HARD RETURN
Chicago, IL | 2025

Singular Disruption
Chicago, IL
2025

Graduate Degree Exhibition
Cranbrook Art Museum
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2025

Off Kilter
Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2025

Queer Show
Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2025

Poster Show
Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2025

Flat Space
Inflatable Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2024–2025

Annex XXX Show
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2024–2025

Dunning Exhibition
The Center for Mad Culture
Chicago, IL | 2024

Memorial Vol. 1 (Publication)
Chicago, IL | 2024

Selling to the Smiths
Frank Lloyd Wright Smith House
Bloomfield Hills, MI | 2024

Awards

Guest Lecturer
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2026

Conference Speaker
STA Transitions Conference
2026

Conference Speaker
TypeCon
2025

STA 100: Top 100 Designers
Society of Typographic Arts (STA)
2025

Guest Lecturer
Columbia College Chicago
2024

UCDA Design Award – Publication Design
University & College Designers Association (UCDA)
2023

STA 100 Winner – Typographic Excellence
Society of Typographic Arts (STA)
2022

Titan Health Awards
Village Medical at Walgreens
2022

Platinum – Consumer Health Product/Services Video
Platinum – Health Marketing Campaign
Platinum – Integrated Marketing Campaign

Last Updated 09.01.2026

With Perforated Pressure Bleeds

Heartworm

As Hard as it is for me, I know that it's harder for you

I’m Sorry I Keep Saying I’m Sorry, But I’m Sorry

The Farewell Celebration

RU Missing

ON-OFF Altered Damage