In addition to Michael’s creative practice, his scholarship investigates design pedagogy through the lens of student-centered teaching within non-hierarchical and agile classroom environments. Domains of inquiry revolve around curricular development, modes of student engagement, collaboration, cultural production, critique and assessment, processes & tools for experimental image making, playful interactions, sound design, critical and contextual making, and 'extra-disciplinary’ design praxis. He has taught 20+ distinct art & design courses at a university level.
In 2019 the Graphic Design Department at VCUarts Qatar implemented a new curricular model that allows more flexibility for students to direct their own educational experience. The model flattens the student-faculty hierarchy and enables a more dynamic studio exchange. The aim is for students to initiate their own creative practice in order to pursue topics & media relative to their own personal and cultural inquiry, especially given the diverse international setting. The new curriculum is based on four key pillars — research, making, collaboration & cultural literacy. Michael worked with a team of colleagues from Qatar and Richmond between 2016 and 2019 to develop and test ideas for the curricular model.
As part of the new curriculum, Michael was instrumental in restructuring the ‘History of Graphic Design’ course now named ‘Precedent Inquiry’. The new course framework and conceptual underpinning allows more flexibility to explore the influences and origins of contemporary design. The course moves away from a traditional timeline with a genre-based eurocentric delivery of content, and expands into dynamic non-linear and decolonized approach from a multinational and multidisciplinary perspective. The course also moved away from regurgitaing information via test taking as a form of assessment, and instead uses weekly critical writing assignments from personal & contextual point of view, employs a curatorial approach to investigate and learn content, and engages students in rapid research to spark dialogue and debate.
During his tenure at VCUarts Qatar Michael initiated and co-developed a digital print-lab & print-grid for all students & faculty; he co-developed an analog printlab in graphic design (for block printing and post-digital letterpress); he consulted on and co-devoloped a platform for faculty & administrative reporting; he has been actively involved in the co-creation of multiple Tasmeem art & design conferences; he has assisted with the curation of speakers for the Crossing Boundaries Lecture series; he has assisted with Technology Services to improve classroom experiences and integration of technology into teaching; he serves annually on MFA review committees and faculty promotion committees; and he has lead multiple community-based design outreach projects in partnership with local government institutions (such as the Year of Culture initiative highligthing cross-over culture beteween Qatar and other countries; and the One Second Campaign for safe driving habits and seat belt use, among others).
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