Michael Kritzer
Designer, founder, believer in useful sculpture
Michael Kritzer has spent over 20 years turning ideas into objects that people actually want to live with. As the founder of dolop and the award-winning design consultancy Official Use Only, he's built a career on the belief that great design should celebrate both creativity and function—bringing joy to everyday life without needing to be the center of attention.
The journey
Born and raised in Atlanta, Michael's path to design began in the most practical way possible. His mother's baby clothes company, mother-maid, became his first classroom—where he learned that making beautiful things meant understanding every part of the process.
From sourcing materials and cutting templates to sewing, screen printing, and shipping, those early days handling every job in the building taught him something essential: good design starts with good craft and deep knowledge of how things actually get made.
After studying at the University of Michigan, Michael's career took him from San Francisco's innovation culture to Boulder's creative energy, Miami's vibrant design scene, and Seattle's tech-forward thinking. Each city left its mark, but it was San Diego's unique blend of laid-back confidence and serious creativity that finally felt like home.
Award-winning work
Michael's designs have earned recognition at the industry's highest levels, including multiple Red Dot Design Awards and an iF Design Award. His portfolio spans everything from computers and furniture concepts to high-end networking equipment and distinctive packaging.
Notable projects include:
- Herman Miller ME-1 (Red Dot winner)
- Island Router & Island Pro (Red Dot and iF Award winners)
- Sake Dolls stackable cup series (Red Dot winner)
- B-cycle bike sharing stations
- Dell computers during his time at One & Co
- Angel's Envy whiskey packaging at CP+B
He's also shared his expertise as a professor at the University of Washington's Industrial Design program, partnering with Microsoft's Creative Studio and office furniture company Hightower to mentor the next generation of designers.
Design philosophy
Michael believes the best products exist somewhere between art and utility—what he calls "useful sculpture." They should elevate their surroundings without demanding attention, blend seamlessly into daily life while bringing moments of unexpected delight.
"Great design celebrates both creativity and function. The best pieces are objects you're happy to see every day, but never tired of looking at. They make life a little better just by being there."
This philosophy drives everything about dolop—from the approachable customization options to the careful attention paid to how each piece feels in your hands and looks in your space.
The dolop vision
After two decades of creating beautiful products for other companies, Michael founded dolop to explore what becomes possible when a designer controls the entire process—from initial spark to final delivery.
It's a chance to prove that American manufacturing can be both sustainable and personal. That customization doesn't have to mean compromise. That beautiful objects can actually make the world a little kinder through programs like the sweetest slice.
Based in San Diego with his wife Svetlana and their children, Michael sees dolop as more than a product line—it's a demonstration of what thoughtful design and modern manufacturing can accomplish when they work together with intention.
Creating objects that bring joy, one little extra something at a time.