ABOUT

self-taught designer; self-described “wasteworker.” michael douglas too isn’t of a long line of woodworkers or the product of an esteemed art school. he came to his current place of being through a fixation on materials and a passion to do better.

his background is as unconventional as his designs: university studies in biology and business administration, followed by nearly a decade in the environmental chemistry & hazardous waste industries, a career about-face working for modern furniture icon knoll inc., a shift to furniture repair and restoration and, finally, to designing and building his own creations in the most sustainable way possible — from waste materials and without the use of petroleum products throughout the manufacturing phase.

currently based in porto, mdt hopes his work can inspire current and future creators to change their perceptions of what is possible with waste and what happens when we prioritize sustainability over convenience through our creative processes.

cv highlights

selected exhibitions & residencies
2026 APPARATUS (group show), morto vivo, porto
2025 artist-in-residence, james castle house, boise
2024 paraphernalia (group show), tbg, new york

selected commissions & projects
2026 custom oversized coffee table, headboard & side tables for private client, porto
2025 custom table, desk and bar cart for private clients, porto
2023-24 custom tables, seating, bar tops, lighting, bookshelf & wine rack for VENN Canteen, porto

professional development & certifications
2026 LEED green associate, u.s. green building council (in progress)
2024 sustainable materials for design summer school, ELISAVA, barcelona
2017 CORe (credential of readiness), harvard business school online
2016 green AP, sustainable furnishings council

education
bachelor’s degrees in biology & managerial studies (double major), university of redlands, california