Taking inspiration from contemporary art as well as nature and ancient architecture, he creates focused environments that operate as sophisticated backdrops to what is contained within them. As founder and creative director of the firm, Michael has developed ambitious residential, retail, cultural, and urban design projects, imparting a distinct identity to each. His residential and furniture designs, as well as hotel and resort developments, are conceived as spatial portraits reflecting the lifestyles and needs of his clients.

An innovator in Spatial Branding, the firm's signature approach to creating high-performance spaces uniquely suited to the brands it helps to develop, Michael has designed boutiques, showrooms, restaurants, and large-scale retail centers for prominent fashion icons and commercial clients worldwide. His expertise and passion for contemporary art have earned commissions from numerous galleries and museums, while his respect for and knowledge of architectural history are manifest in the preservation and adaptive reuse of important landmarks including New York’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and registered architect in New York, Florida and Nevada, Michael earned his Architecture and Art degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design. His thoughtful, award-winning designs have earned the Progressive Architecture Award, the National Design Award in Interior Design from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, a place in the Interior Design Hall of Fame, and dozens of awards from professional organizations. He lectures at numerous academic institutions and special events in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.