Klaus Michel

Klaus Michel (b. 1963, Munich) is a Professor at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, Germany, where he has taught since 2002. He holds a suspended honorary professorship from Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, China. Michel studied industrial design at UDK Berlin (1985-1991) and co-founded design firms Jünger+Michel Berlin (1995) and 7.5 Projekt Berlin (1992). His professional practice focuses on holistic corporate identities spanning digital/analog applications, product design, and exhibition spaces.

Michel champions exploratory design – 'sketching in 3D' through hands-on experimentation, iterative refinement, and playful ideation. His research emphasizes:

• Material-driven prototyping and spatial experimentation
• Design pedagogy through trial-and-error
• Interdisciplinary competence in social and market contexts
• Furniture construction principles and technical design

He directs courses including Basics of Design/Furniture Construction and Design Competence, advocating for workshop-intensive learning and student competitions despite cautioning against academic pressure. Michel leads the design office Jünger+Michel Corporate Culture in Berlin, executing commercial projects alongside academic work.