Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele Emmons. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michele, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve known since childhood that I was meant for a creative life. I was constantly drawing and painting, and in high school, my passion expanded into fashion design. I was offered a full scholarship to SCAD, but at the time they didn’t offer a degree in fashion, so I began my studies in Madison, Wisconsin. There, I quickly realized sewing and textile science weren’t my true medium. I transferred to SCAD, where I earned my BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Fine Art.

From that point forward, my career unfolded in chapters — all creatively driven. I spent decades as a Senior Art Director, designing annual reports for companies like Royal Caribbean and BF Goodrich, and later co-founded a successful design firm focused on branding, paper promotions, and storytelling campaigns. My work has always blended function and creativity, from print to interiors to sculptural lighting. And now, I’ve returned full circle — making painting my primary medium.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a designer, storyteller, and artist — and I’ve spent my entire career living at the intersection of art and design. My journey has always been guided by a love of form, space, material, and message.

My first job in the creative industry was creating ads for local businesses at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It was there I discovered the joy of building compelling narratives for small businesses. But I knew I wanted more. I set my sights on the West Coast, eventually scoring interviews with top firms, including Nike. I had no experience with the software required at the time, so I taught myself Quark and Illustrator over a weekend using “For Dummies” books — and aced the test. That scrappy determination has carried me through every stage of my career.

I became a Senior Art Director at an annual report firm where I worked directly with CEOs, shaping complex financial information into visual narratives. It was a pivotal moment — I developed a strong ability to sell ideas and craft stories that resonated.

From there, I co-founded my design agency, Function:, which thrived for over two decades. As Creative Director, I led the development of paper promotions, swatch books, and brand campaigns with a strong narrative thread. We built a niche in building materials — flooring, gypsum, brick, ceiling systems — and found ways to turn commodity products into emotionally resonant campaigns. One of the projects I’m most proud of was a ceiling tile campaign that urged architects to consider how acoustics affect the lives of students, patients, and workers in their spaces. It was thoughtful, heartfelt — and effective.

After years in the interior market, we saw a need for more authentic lighting, and created Crosland + Emmons, a line of sculptural ceramic lighting launched at AD Design NY. We collaborated with interior designers to create pieces that were equal parts function and art — and that experience reignited my passion for fine art.

Along the way, my husband and I opened several restaurants, and I built each brand and space from the ground up — designing everything from the identity to the artwork on the walls. Those canvases, created to support the storytelling of the space, became the bridge to where I am now.

Today, painting is my primary focus. My work draws from everything I’ve learned — typography, print, design — and brings it to the canvas. I am approaching my painting career in a similar way as I did for my agency – building my business focusing on the interior design market, in both residential and commercial space, offering original abstract works that combine mixed media, type, and storytelling. Each painting is designed to invite the viewer into a deeper narrative. My approach is grounded in design, but expressive, tactile, and emotionally resonant.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I believe art has the power to transform spaces — not just visually, but emotionally. My mission is to create work that helps people feel something in their environment. Whether it’s a canvas or a lighting installation, I want to build a narrative that connects.

Design taught me how to solve problems with purpose, but painting allows me to explore the unknown. My goal is to merge those two worlds — structure and freedom — to create art that feels both grounded and expansive. I approach each piece as a visual story, where every layer, texture, and element has meaning. For me, it’s about creating moments of reflection, intrigue, and connection in the spaces we live and work in.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience has been at the heart of every chapter of my career. Starting out, I had to fight for every opportunity — whether it was teaching myself new tools, pitching to big clients, or starting my own agency from scratch.

Building Crosland + Emmons was a leap into the unknown. We spent years in the studio experimenting, refining, and figuring out how to translate sculptural ideas into functional lighting. There were many moments of doubt — wondering if the pieces were good enough, if designers would respond. But we kept going, and that persistence paid off.

Now, as I pivot into painting full-time, I’m again starting from the ground up. It’s humbling to begin again — to build a new audience, define a new brand, and trust that the work will resonate. You have to keep showing up, stay open to new opportunities, and believe in what you’re building — even when it’s slow.

It’s about staying the course, making work you believe in, and letting the rest unfold. Each chapter of my journey has required resilience, reinvention, and risk — but those are also the things that have fueled my growth as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://medesignworks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/me_abstractstudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-emmons-dehaven-84a40512/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MEAbstractStudio

Image Credits

Michele Emmons