Design 21: Social Design Network

Michael Etter is an artist, educator, and activist who works in—and at the intersection of—graphic arts and publishing, media communications, and grassroots organizing. Michael’s work reflects his personal philosophy, which embraces the punk rock movement/d.i.y. ethic and uses the power of the creative process to transform community life. Motivated by the desire to improve communications for the organizations he believes in, Michael chose to advance his skills at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. In addition to a BFA in Graphic Design with honors from Art Center, he holds an Internet Design Certificate from San Francisco State University’s Multimedia Studies Program, and a BA in Communications and English from California State University Fullerton. He has also interned with Pentagram Design in Los Angeles and SkyrocketWeb Design in San Francisco.

He is currently working as the Senior Designer at Payless ShoeSource as they shift their brand and develop strategic partnerships. He is leading the co-branded design initiatives.

He is moving to Portland. OR to start working with Ziba Design as one of their Senior Communications Specialists. www.ziba.com

Michael is also the founder of the arts education organization, re:Active. Located in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, re:Active teaches youth the power of the creative process through the production of a zine about cultural issues. The zine serves as an independent voice for local youth. In 2004 youth at re:Active produced their first issue, re:sidue. He is the author and designer of "Long Division", held in the Getty Research Institute’s Book Arts collection and on the slate for release by Gingko Press in 2007.

He has also completed the design of a coffee table style book of old punk rock flyers titled, "Punk is Dead, Punk is Everything" the follow-up to Gingko Press' best-selling, "Fucked Up and Photocopied".

Specialties: publication/editorial design, book design, branding and identity, seasonal/trend direction, magazines, annual report design, music related industries