Graphic designer Michael Willis is bringing the underground to your wardrobe and record shelves

Much to our envy, designer and visual artist Michael Willis lives and works between London and Sydney, where he recently moved after becoming interested in the city’s grassroots scene. Michael’s graphic design studio — which operates under his name — knits together the worlds of music and fashion.

Despite starting out with a degree in illustration, these days Michael is more concerned with fostering a design-led approach, his skill reflected in a client list that includes Kenzo, Vevo, Mould Map, Nike, Warp Records, Copson, Asos and Deus Ex Machina for whom he has created identities, graphics, campaigns, videos, artwork, tarot cards and a whole wardrobe of t-shirts.

Michael’s roots lie firmly in the underground, with many of his designs making reference to the ‘90s rave scene. But that’s not to say that Michael is stuck in the past: his work is constantly pushing at the forefront of grime and techno scenes. Dystopia trickles out of his neon-drenched designs, in places incorporating nihilistic text from George Orwell’s 1984. Clearly not one for sleep, Michael is also founder and editor for experimental platform worldwide-x.net which he describes as “a progressive publishing and collaborative network supporting new art, music and mode worldwide.”