Studio Michael Schmitz (SMS) works at the intersection of society, design, and education. As an interdisciplinary studio, we believe in the transformative power of design. Together with partners from various fields, we develop projects that combine social relevance with design excellence. Our goal: to create a more sustainable world with a sense of purpose – through design that not only shapes but also assumes responsibility.
As part of Soli-Party we offer free design work in solidarity with projects, organizations, and initiatives dedicated to anti-fascism, equality, and universal human rights. Let’s talk!
(T) +49 162 73 99 448
(M) hallo@studiomichaelschmitz.de
(W) www.studiomichaelschmitz.eu
(I) Instagram
Partners
2023 – , netzwirtschaft, Freelance Designer, Berlin
2022, share, Freelance Designer, Berlin
2021, Bureau Bordeaux, Freelance Designer, Hannover
2021, Studio Jasper Eisenecker, Freelance Designer, Hannover
2021, Eobiont, Freelance Designer, Berlin
2018 – 2023, happen.studio, Freelance Designer, Mainz
2017 – , Heinrich-Boell-Stiftung, Graphic Designer, Mainz
2017 – , Studio Michael Schmitz, Cologne
2014 – 19, Designlabor Gutenberg, Grafik-Designer, Mainz
2013 – 16, Designlabor Gutenberg, Research Assistant, Mainz
Education
2019, M.A. Information Design, Design Academy Eindhoven (n.f.)
2012 – 16, B.A. Communication Design s.c.l., Hochschule Mainz
Teaching
2019, Hochschule Mainz (editorial design, "the city of the future")
Selected Clients
Andre Frere Editions, Marseille
Architektenkammer RLP, Mainz
Arte Store, Antwerp
BNN, Tokio
D2d Publishing, Krakau
endboss gmbh, Hannover
Fachstelle Bildungsallianzen gegen rechte Ideologien, Dresden
Gutenberg-Museum, Mainz
Haldern Pop Festival, Rees
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung RLP, Mainz
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sachsen, Dresden
Inform GmbH, Aachen
Innenministerium Niedersachsen, Hannover
Junges Ensemble Theater Rüsselsheim, Rüsselsheim
Kaltern Pop Festival, Kaltern
Niggli Publishers, Berlin
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence
Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung RLP, Mainz
Gabriela Tethalova (artist), Berlin
Thomas Pirot (photographer), Mainz
tisix.io, Köln
Ventil Verlag, Mainz
Viktor Huebner (photographer), Tromsø
Non-Profits
CSD, Grevesmühlen
Frappant eV, Hamburg
Help Here eV, Hamburg
Seebruecke, Berlin
Shifting Narratives, Torino
Selected Exhibitions
2025, TDC71, Takeo Paper, Tokio, JP
2025, TDC71, Gallery of graphic design - ASP, Gdansk, Poland
2025, TDC71, AuRoi Gallery, Paris, France
2025, TDC71, Location05, New York City, US
2024, Rencontres Arles, France
2023, Paris Photo 2023, Paris, France
2023, Rencontres Arles, France
2022, Paris Photo 2022, Paris, France
2021, TDC66, Las Naves, Valencia, Spain
2021, TDC66, Helen E. Copeland Gallery, Bozeman, US
2021, TDC66, BAU, Barcelona, Spain
2020, TDC66, Exshop gallery, Lille, France
2020, TDC66, Biblioteca Central de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
2020, TDC66, The Cooper Union, New York City, US
2019, In Close Range, ClampArt, New York City, US
2019, Gute Gestaltung, DDC, Frankfurt, Germany
2019, RISD Grad Show, Convention Center, Providence, US
Publications
2024, how communication design works, Niggli Publishers → (EN)
2024, was kommunikationsdesign kann, Niggli Publishers → (GER)
2020, グラフィックデザインにおける秩序と構築 築, Bnn Tokio → (JP)
2020, Porzadek w projektowaniu., D2D Krakau → (PL)
2019, Structuring Design, Niggli Publishers, Salenstein → (EN)
2018, Ordnung in der Gestaltung, Niggli Publishers, Salenstein → (GER)
Selected Awards, Grants
2025, Certificate of typographic excellence, TDC71, New York, US
2025, European Design Awards, Silver Winner, Tallinn, Estonia
2024, VG Bildkunst, Publication Grant, Bonn
2023, BIFA, Budapest Int. Foto Award, 1st Place - Professional Book, Hungary
2023, BIFA, Budapest Int. Foto Award, Gold Winner - Best Documentary Book, Hungary
2020, Certificate of typographic excellence, TDC66, New York, US
2019, Award: Publishing, DDC 20, German Designer Club
2018, German Design Award: Nominee Newcomer
Lectures, Workshops
2025, »nice’n easy« Workshop, KITeGG, Hochschule Mainz
2022, »Talk with Studio Nina Reisinger« Lecture, IU Berlin
2020, »Super Horse Club« Workshop, HBK Braunschweig
2020, »Designing Books« Lecture, HTW Berlin
2020, »The Horse Club« Lecture, Johannes-Gutenberg-Uni Mainz
2019, Contrasts Workshop, Hochschule Mainz
2019, Blind Spots Workshop, Hochschule Mainz
2018, Men Who Love Men, Cup Club, Mainz
2018, Motivation+Aktion Lecture, Hochschule Mainz
2017, Meta Politix Lecture, Chaos Computer Club, Leipzig
2017, Heimat Schwarz-Weiss, Workshop, Darmstadt
2016, Heimat Schwarz-Weiss, Walpodenakademie, Mainz
Contributions and Features
2025, slanted.com, »How communicationdesign works« →
2025, Typografische Gesellschaft München, »Basiskompetenz und Herausforderungen des Kommunikationsdesigns« →
2024, PAGE N° 03 2024, »Was Kommunikationsdesign kann«
2022, Neo Nature, HTW Berlin, Magazine
2021, Arte Antwerp, »Covid-19 Design Challenge« Magazine
2020, www.call-for-creatives.com, »Motivation+Aktion« →
2020, The World’s Best Typography, Typography 41
2020, www.booooooom.com, »The Americans I Met«
2019, slanted.com, »Structuring design«
2019, itsnicethat.com, »The Americans I Met«
2019, DDC Gute Gestaltung 20 Yearbook
2018, TGM Muenchen, »Ordnung durch Raster«
2018, form N°279, 10–18a
Studio Michael Schmitz (SMS) works at the intersection of society, design, and education. As an interdisciplinary studio, we believe in the transformative power of design. Together with partners from various fields, we develop projects that combine social relevance with design excellence. Our goal: to create a more sustainable world with a sense of purpose – through design that not only shapes but also assumes responsibility.
As part of Soli-Party we offer free design work in solidarity with projects, organizations, and initiatives dedicated to anti-fascism, equality, and universal human rights. Let’s talk!
(T) +49 162 73 99 448
(M) hallo@studiomichaelschmitz.de
(W) www.studiomichaelschmitz.eu
(I) Instagram