About Me
Design / Animation / Director
Michael is a hands-on multidisciplinary Creative Director. For the last 15 years, he has been lucky enough to let his lifestyle passions dictate his career path and has immersed himself in a variety of design disciplines and creative environments. From large agencies like Translation and brands like Burton, Rocawear, State Farm and Wrigley’s, as Founding Partner of his own creative shop at DSTLLRY, to his current position in education technology as Chief Creative Officer at Qubed, Michael has taken the creative lead wherever he lands. Notably, he worked with Reebok at Arnell Group to launch their first non-sports partnership, a sneaker line, with music artists Jay-Z and 50 Cent and at Translation, worked to make Wrigley’s Doublemint jingle relevant to the Millennial generation with a top pop artist. These two examples were pinnacle points in the brand’s histories and Michael’s work directly contributed to these successes. At DSTLLRY, he worked with Equinox to set a new standard for Equinox’s fitness video content and won the 2012 IAC Outstanding Online Video Award for his yoga video with Briohny Smyth. Each experience has brought unique challenges and unique learning and growth opportunities. Whether it is working in design, music, fashion or sports, he thrives on thinking creatively and making it happen. He figures it out.
Michael’s career was built on a foundation of creative thinking and practical design skills, with a BFA in Design from Tyler School of Arts at Temple University. This has allowed him to be nimble enough to apply his skills anywhere and learn whatever new application or tool the job requires – from editing, animating, 3D renders, fashion shoots or the latest fitness wear trends. The hard skills helped his early career develop, but the real world challenges working with top brands, agencies and talent have honed his soft skills. He is an effective manager and inspires his teams to produce their best work and have fun doing it. He believes that ultimately, good work comes from happy people who know their passions.
Michael lives in Portland, Oregon with his dream girl and their 2-year old daughter and newborn son. When he’s not working you will find him surfing any chance he can get, drawing, immersed in any number of creative projects, DJing dance-offs for his daughter and refining his homemade brick oven pizza. He loves to travel and stay connected to nature and escapes the city for his wife’s hometown in the San Juan islands in the Pacific Northwest to recharge as often as possible.
Mobile: 646.354.3182
email: mongodshall@gmail.com
