Apple pioneer, skeuomorph & protégé of Steve Jobs
4x reddot design award, RIAA platinum + Technical Grammy
• iTunes Music Store v1
• Garageband v1, iLife v1
• Jaguar, Panther, Tiger HIG
• WebAqua, WebMetal
(Grandfather of Dashboard & playlist sharing)
During my unparalleled design journey at Apple, I held a cardinal position in forging the design language that now stands as a hallmark of the brand. Getting to work with my heroes, I was guided directly by luminaries like Steve Jobs and rigorously trained by CKS, I immersed myself in Apple's core ethos, establishing a potent design philosophy still felt around the world.
I introduced webmetal and webaqua, pioneering skeuomorphic designs that transformed digital interfaces, solidifying my stance as a thought leader for design systems and standards development.
Under my leadership, iTools and .Mac came to life. I didn't only contribute; I drove the formation of the Human Interface Guidelines. I led key projects such the iTunes Music Store, and the inception of Apple's webmail service.
Music accessibility wasn't just a task; it was a mission I embraced head-on, ensuring a seamless melding of iPod with iTunes. The design DNA I infused is unmistakably evident in platforms like iLife, iWork, Final Cut Pro, Garageband, Logic Pro, and the initial versions of MacOS X.
I stand as the grandfather behind Dashboard and playlist sharing. Both innovations having reshaped the very fabric of digital interactions, especially in music, having sparked a revolution that would eventually lead Apple’s services business to be a $20 billion industry.
With these exceptional opportunities, today I channel my expertise into confronting and solving wicked design problems, especially those centered on social impact. My focus isn't merely to design; but to evoke change, to resonate with a socially responsible ethos. On this journey, I actively seek collaborations that mirror this aspiration, with a shared commitment towards improving upon the human condition.
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Each company needs to have a clear understanding of the key emotional connectors that tie audience to product. Michael's techniques have been proven to uncover connectors in order to inform a company’s overall business strategy while strengthening the ties between products, brands and audience for many breakthrough product experiences known to billions.
Michael's approach to humanizing the design process begins with translating unmet customer needs into product strategy. Through synthesis Michael conducts research, designs diagrams, and builds prototypes. Exploring the connection between experience and meaning in an accessible manner allows Michael to shift thinking and focus on meaningful and connected strategies for products and services so that his design work may connect with people in a more visceral way by gathering audience data to gain insights into how people live their lives.
bio: https://darius.design
substack: https://skeuomorphic.design
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