Originally from the New York tri-state area, Michele Damato received a B.A. from Iona College and an M.S. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute. While at Pratt, she studied typography with Tony DiSpigna, a partner in the legendary studio of Lubalin Associates and a master of Spencerian script.
Michele also interned with Milton Glaser and traveled to Israel after winning the national poster competition “Israel at Fifty” sponsored by the Israeli Consulate in New York. She was also invited to present her work to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Damato taught full time at Syracuse University and the Art Institute of Houston, where her students won several Graphis, AIGA, and other national/regional design awards. Classes she has regularly taught and created curriculum for include typography, annual report, film/poster design, and publication design. Damato also taught at Texas State University and Houston Community College. She brings her passion for design history, typography, and social/cultural research into her design and teaching pedagogy.
Damato has more than 15 years experience working as a graphic designer and senior art director for small boutique design firms, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. She has collaborated with many clients, including AT&T, BNP Paribas, Reuters, L'Oreal USA, JP Morgan, The Washington Post, Merrill Lynch, the Asia Society, and Time Warner.