Michael Hersrud

Specialization

Graphic Design, Audiovisual, Experimental Sound

Education

Rhode Island School of Design, RISD. MFA. Department of Graphic Design. 2006.

Brown University, Multimedia & Electronic Music Experiments. Cross-disciplinary program w/ RISD 2005.

University of Oregon. Post Baccalaureate Study. Letterpress Printmaking & New Media. 2003.

Minnesota State University, Moorhead, MSUM. BFA. Studio Art w/ emphasis in Graphic Design. 1996.

Biography

Michael Hersrud is a multidisciplinary designer, sonic artist and associate professor at VCUarts in Qatar. His exploratory practice involves audiovisual, automation, data, dérive, drawing, language, layering, looping, sound, surface and systems. The resulting projects, often collaborative, investigate experiences, interactions & phenomena. He is the co-founder of Sonic Jeel, a collaborative research lab investigating sound, noise, and electronic music within the context of Qatar and the Gulf region. The lab celebrates the interplay of the sonic and the graphic toward a new generation of interdisciplinary makers.

In addition to Michael’s creative practice, his scholarship investigates student-centered teaching and making through pedagogical-based examination. Domains of inquiry revolve around curricular development, modes of student engagement, cultural production, processes & tools for experimental image making, playful interactions, sound design, and ‘extra-disciplinary’ design praxis. He has taught at the university level for 18 years.

Michael has traveled to 50+ countries and enjoys making short films and film photography. Michael grew up in Minnesota (USA) and has worked as a freelance designer and digital/analog graphic artist for 27+ years.  He currently resides in Doha and Barcelona.

Research Interests

Modular Synthesis, Field Recording, Space Activation, Audiovisual

Publications

Sonic Jeel (Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S.). Zekreet. Double Vinyl Album of 21 Tracks in collaboration with Water With Water and select VCUarts Qatar students and alumni. The album was pressed, printed and delivered in March of 2021. The album will be released in October of 2021 as an online digital version with an option to purchase the vinyl.

Himsworth, Thomas. Amy Andres, Dr. Alan Weber, & Dr. Stephen Scott. “Art & Medicine: A collaborative project Between Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar & Weil Cornell Medicine Qatar”. Creative Director & Publication Designer. Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar. 2017.

Hersrud, Michael, Levi Hammett, Richard Lombard, & Simone Muscolino, (Co-Directors); Meike C Caan (Communications Director), Sara Shabaan (Designer), Lauren Mass (Writer). “#TakeMeWithYou: A Snapshot of Tasmeem 2015 3ajeeb!”. VCUQatar Communications, Doha, Qatar. August 2015.

Hersrud, Michael, Patty Paine & Jesse Ulmer. “The Donkey Lady: and Other Tales from the Arabian Gulf”. Publisher: Berkshire Academic Press. February, 2013. English. Hardcover & Softcover: 264 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1907784125. Book Publication. Co-Editor & Design Coordinator.

Hersrud, Michael, Levi Hammett. “Decentralizing the Classroom: Utilizing Network Theory, Collaborative Teaching, and Agile Development to Create a Soft-Structured Learning Environment”. Design Research Society 2012: Bangkok 2(2012):670-682. Print. Peer Reviewed Journal. ISBN 978-616-551-568-9.

Presentations

Hersrud, M. D. (Co-Author / Co-Presenter), Hammett, L. J. (Co-Author / Co-Presenter), 13th International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, “Putt-Putt Pedagogy: Making interaction design tangible through play“. Design Principles & Practices Knowledge Community, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, RU, Saint Petersburg, Russia. March 2019.

Sanders, Mark. “Syntax and Communication”. Chap. 5. “Typographic Design: Form & Communication“. 7th ed. “Tasmeem Doha 2011 Website”, Levi Hammett & Michael Hersrud. Fig. 5-31. Hoboken, New Jersey, USA: Wiley. 2018.

Hammett, Levi & Michael Hersrud . “Speculative Praxis: Expanding Traditional Graphic Design Practice for Emerging Economic Contexts”. Eleventh International Conference on Design Principles & Practices. Design Principles & Practices Knowledge Community. Institute without Boundaries, George Brown College. Toronto, Canada. 2017.

Hersrud, Michael, Levi Hammett, Richard Lombard, & Simone Muscolino, (Co-Chairs). “3ajeeb!: Tasmeem Doha International Design Conference” (Design Festival). Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. Spring 2015.

Hersrud, Michael, Patty Paine & Jesse Ulmer. “The Donkey Lady: Graphic Literature”. Tasmeem International Art & Design Conference 2013, Hybrid Making. HBKU, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar. March 2013. Presentation.

Hersrud, Michael, Levi Hammett. “A Case Study on Interactive and Time-Based Design from Doha, Qatar: Exploring New Methods for Teaching Technology-Centric Courses in Graphic Design”. Design Education 2.0: Teaching in a Techno-Cultural Reality. College Art Association Conference, Los Angeles, CA., USA. 2012. Paper Presentation. Audio Recording.

Exhibitions & Performance

Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S., Omar, H., Elawad, Sarah. When the World Closed, Shubbak Festival. A performance by Sonic Jeel “When the World Closed Shubbak Festival,” Shubbak is London’s biennial festival celebrating contemporary Arab Arts and Culture. The performance is live featuring artists from Khartoum, Beirut, Gaza, Doha, Marrakech on Twitch. Sonic Jeel worked in collaboration with Shubbak and Fadaa. Invited. Performed at AlHosh Gallery in Msheireb, July 12, 2021.

Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S. 9th Gwangju Design Biennale – 2021 Gwangju Design Biennale, D’Revolution. Sonic Jeelwas invited to exhibit at the Gwangju Design Biennale 2021 D’Revolution. The Biennale took place from September 1st to October 31st and featured artists from over 50 countries. The International Pavilion focused on the theme of ‘DUB’, a concept of creating new original art works by remixing and reinterpreting through a local context.  Chief Director and Curator Hyunsun Kim. Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, ACC, greater Gwangju area.

Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S. Jalsa Listening: Virgil Abloh “Figures of Speech”. A performance by Sonic Jeel in collaboration with Samman and Hemanth Madupu at the Doha Fire Station outdoor courtyard for a series of events related to the Virgil Abloh “Figures of Speech” exhibition. Invited by Maha Al Subaey, Program Coordinator at the Doha Fire Station. April 1, 2022.

Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S. InStudio Club Celebration. A performance by Sonic Jeel at Culture Pass Club Msheireb. Invited by Noof K. Al Heidous, Founder of Instudio Club, a private members only club for creatives in Qatar. The event highlighted the 1st Year Anniversary of InStudio Club and promoted the launch of Culture Pass Club in Msheireb by Qatar Museums. February, 22, 2022 (22.2.22)

Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S. 2022 VCUarts Qatar Fashion Show. Performance and audio production by Sonic Jeel for the VCUarts Qatar Annual Fashion Show. The show is in collaboration with DFI, the Fashion Department and Hadeer Omar. Sonic Jeel designed and produced all the audio for the show, including individual tracks for each of the seven seniors, the junior collection, the Kaftan collection and pre & post event happenings. Invited by Christopher Fink, Chair of Fashion.

Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S. Pop-Up Album Release at Studio 7 in M7. Msheireb Downtown Doha. Sonic Jeel released Zekreet, a limited edition double vinyl album available for purchase at Studio 7. The album artwork is by WaterWithWater and features a 3D animated cover and two custom pressed records. The 21 avant-pop tracks featured on Zekreet have been created in collaboration with artists in Qatar during a three year period.

Sonic Jeel (Hersrud, M., Muscolino, S.). 2022 Tasmeem Doha Radical Futures. Tasmeem Doha is an international, biennial art and design conference hosted and organized by VCUarts Qatar. Invited by the 2022 Tasmeem Co-Chairs. March 10, 2022.

Hersrud, M. D., Muscolino, S., Sonic Animations / Acoustic Flux: Doha Fire Station 2021. Sonic Jeel, Qatar Museums, Qatar National, Invited. Doha Fire Station, Doha, Qatar. (February 2021 – April 2021). Installation featuring contemporary audiovisual artists from Qatar. Curated by David Felipe Suarez Mira.Sonic Jeel has been invited by David Felipe Suarez Mira, a Sonic Curator and Artist in Residence at the Doha Fire Station, to partake in an exhibition of local artists exploring sound. This work is a select compilation of short audiovisual loops inspired by sensory experiences and vernacular languages of Qatar.

Hersrud, M. D., Muscolino, S., Omar, H., Tasweer Festival 2021 Fort Alkoot – And Thereafter. Sonic Jeel Collaboration, Qatar Museums, Qatar National, Invited. Fort Alkoot at Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar. (February 2021 – May 2021). And Thereafter’ is an experiential audiovisual and light installation designed as a contemporary response to the Al Koot Fort, which holds a unique and complex history since its construction in 1906. The project draws upon the area surrounding the fort and uses Souq Waqif and the Msheireb district as sources of inspiration, weaving together traditional and contemporary aspects of daily life, translating and transforming them into surreal immersive environments.

Hersrud, Michael. Orbital (a series of plotter drawing prints). “What If” group exhibition. Gallery 29 at the W Hotel, Doha, Qatar. Sponsored by The Year of Culture and Qatar Museums. January 2020.

Hersrud, Michael., Simone Muscolino. Nuqat Regional Workshop: Sonic Jeel. (Kuwait-based creative organization Annual conference, http://www.nuqat.me). VCUArts Qatar. 24 November, 2019.

Hersrud, Michael,. Polie Campiteli. OFFF Market. Museu Del Disseny de Barcelona (Design Museum). Barcelona, Spain. May 2019.

Hersrud, Michael., Simone Muscolino. Tasmeem Hekayat: Sonic Jeel Performance. (Students performed live audio experiments). VCUArts Qatar. 14 – 25 March, 2019.

Hersrud, Michael., Levi Hammett, Giovanni Innella, Simone Muscolino, Maryam Al Homaid, Nathan Davis, Hind Al Saad, Sarah Elawad, & Reham Ahmed. -162°C Trading Power, Doha. (Installation of 40 printers outputting procedurally generated visual content). The Fire Station, Gallery 3. 14 – 25 March, 2019.

Hersrud, Michael., Levi Hammett, Giovanni Innella, Junichi Kanebako, Simone Muscolino, Maryam Al Homaid, Nathan Davis, Hind Al Saad, Sarah Elawad, & Reham Ahmed. -162°C Trading Power, Tokyo. (Installation of 41 printers outputting procedurally generated visual content). Wieden & Kennedy (W+K+) Gallery, Tokyo, Japan. 13 – 20 December, 2018.

Hersrud, Michael. Uncharted Territories: Visions of Quasi-Stellar Objects (series of artist books and plotter drawing prints). VCUQatar Faculty Exhibition. Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar. January 2016.

Hersrud, Michael., “The Extreme Limits of Understanding”. Collaborative Artist Book. International Exchange. Curated and Published by James McPherson. Limited Edition Prints. April, 2015.

Funded Research Projects and Grants

Hersrud, Michael. Simone Muscolino. Sonic Jeel Lab for AudioVisual Exploration . Research Lab Funding (2020, 2021, 2022). Research Institute at VCUarts Qatar. Doha, Qatar.

Muscolino, S. (Principal), Hersrud, M. D. (CoPI), Hammett, L. J. (CoPI), Davis, N. R. (CoPI), Al-Homaid, M. Y. A. M. (CoPI), Clark, A. E. (Co-Principal), Innella, G. (CoPI), “-162° Trading Power,” Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. January 2019 – 2019.

Hersrud, M. D. (Principal), Muscolino, S. (CoPI), Hammett, L. J. (CoPI), Davis, N. R. (CoPI),

“Neon  Lights” (VCUQ-FRG / DB / 479 / 2018),” Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. 2018