Mike Monteiro

Mike Monteiro is the co-founder and design director of Mule Design, an interactive design studio whose work has been called “delightfully hostile” by the New Yorker. He prefers elegant, simple sites with clear language that serve a real need. He prefers that designers have strong spines. Recent clients include The National Audubon Society, Seattle Times, Open Society Foundations, and ProPublica.

Mike writes and frequently speaks about the craft and business of design. In early 2011, he gave a CreativeMornings talk entitled “F— You, Pay Me” that uplifted the downtrodden the world over and got designers to start minding their business. His 2014 talk, "How Designers Destroyed the World," about designers and social responsibility, was awarded 2014 Talk of the Year by Net Magazine.

He's written two books, both published by A Book Apart. His first book, Design Is a Job, published in 2012, about handling yourself professionally as a designer, is being incorporated as a textbook in design programs across the country. His second book, You're My Favorite Client, looks at the client/designer relationship from the client's side and deals with how to find the right designer, better work with them, and manage their moody selves. Both are delightful and fun to read.