Mikale Kalis

 

Mikale Kalis is a multidisciplinary designer and artist whose creative practice bridges graphic design, experiential design, architecture, and visual art. With more than two decades of professional experience, Mikale has contributed to a wide range of organizations, including Whole Foods Market in Seattle, the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and the internationally renowned design firm Pentagram in New York City. Their work reflects a commitment to blending conceptual rigor with meaningful, human-centered outcomes.

Currently, Mikale works as an independent design director specializing in experiential design and branding. Their portfolio includes the development of branded environments, immersive experiences, wayfinding systems, brand identities, and comprehensive branded communications. They craft cohesive spatial narratives that elevate user engagement and deepen the emotional resonance of a brand or experience. Whether designing a physical space or a visual system, Mikale’s approach is rooted in human-centered design and guided by a deep understanding of user experience.

As an artist, Mikale creates interactive installations, functional art objects such as furniture, and richly textured mixed-media paintings. Their creative work is driven by the belief that designed environments and sensorial experiences can profoundly influence perception, behavior, and well-being. Much of their artistic practice investigates themes of identity, exploring how design and art can cultivate empathy—for both the Self and Others. Integrating principles from psychology, environmental design, and aesthetics, their interdisciplinary projects often blur the line between utility and expression.

Mikale is returning to Winthrop University as an Assistant Professor in the Graphic Design department, where they will teach both two- and three-dimensional design courses. In this role, they aim to foster creativity, critical thinking, and experimentation in their students, drawing upon their extensive professional and artistic background. Mikale holds a Master of Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where they developed a systems-based design philosophy that continues to inform their work today.