citylikeyou — New York / Michael Deal

Michael was born and raised in Seattle, and has lived in New York since 2009. He’s done graphic and interaction design for Pentagram and Local Projects, and is currently a designer at the Google Creative Lab.

http://www.mikemake.com

Designer

Current city: New York

mikemake.com

New York / Place

Occasionally I'll look at the Manhattan skyline and wonder what it was like in 1931 when people around the world were saying, "Holy shit, did you hear what they just built in New York?" Just get up there and trip out about humanity. And be sure to keep an eye out for the unmarked locked door guarding a set of stairs leading to a hidden terrace that was originally designed as a fucking docking station for zeppelins.

New York / Shop

Strand is a castle of books. It claims 2.5 million new and used books, across 18 miles of shelves, cared for by 200 employees—so set aside a couple of hours. Plenty of art books and good prices. Get your healthy huff of that old book smell.

New York / Park

I read that the design of Central Park's curving spaces was a Romantic counter to the geometry of Enlightenment-era gardens. I heard this design was influenced by landscape painting, where its foreground, middleground, and background constantly shift as you walk the paths. I find new pockets and features every time I'm there. One of my favorite spots is with the Central Park Dance Skaters, a group that roller skates in circles all day to vintage electro funk. These characters generously lend you the feeling of being in your own 1980's New York film.

New York / Bar

Geek out over the massive menu of Belgian beer at Spuyten Duyvil. Relax in the backyard seating and say, "Ooh, I gotta remember this brew," without realizing you probably won't see it again elsewhere. Then cross the street to Fette Sau, a BBQ experience equally well designed because it's owned by the same couple, the Carrolls. Order from their wide selection of meat cuts, served by the pound on butcher paper. The sides shine too, with the best potato salad and best BBQ beans I've ever had.

New York / Writer

A Design Strategist with a focus on qualitative research, I have extensive global experience gathering and translating consumer insights that improve design on both emotional and functional levels. I champion users within the innovation process to create better experiences at home, work and play, while helping key stakeholders align on successful business strategies. Lately I've partnered with designers from every discipline to create a series of visual brand languages for a world-leading surgical robotics company. The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum published my book, "Design for Repair: Things Can Be Fixed," under the DesignFile imprint in May 2015. Metropolis, Fast Company, and Core77 have published my writing recently.

New York / Photographer

Nadya Wasylko is a New York based fashion and portrait photographer with a love for color and luscious, beautiful moments. Her photography has been published in New York Magazine, Dazed & Confused, Photo District News, The Guardian UK, Soma, Fiasco, Gloss and Bullett magazines, and featured on several publications including LINE a journal, Dazed Digital, The Ones2Watch, and the New York Times Style Blog.

New York / Photographer

Agnes Thor (b.1986) is a photographer and artist of Swedish heritage, now living and working in New York City. Her work has been exhibited worldwide and Mörel Books in UK published her debut book Aurora Borealis in 2010.

New York / Photographer

Justin James King is an artist/photographer living in New York City whose work has been shown internationally. He is currently working on a project that expands on his interest in landscape and memory, taking inspiration from the remnants of a devastating hurricane that changed the course of a river in rural Vermont. When he's not working in his studio or traveling to shoot locations he can often be found at one of these fine places.

New York / Designer

Based in Brooklyn, Monique was born and raised in Australia. She has a background in fashion design with a focus on creative development, from product concepts to brand identity.

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