YO! I’m Mike Sturge—an industrial designer and lifelong sneakerhead based in Portland, Oregon. While my family jokes that I spend all day sketching shoes… they’re not entirely wrong. But I design much more than that. (Also, shoutout to cereal—the unsung hero of all-day meals.)
My journey into design started in an unexpected way. In fifth grade, my football coach, Steve Thompson, introduced me to Adobe Creative Cloud. That access sparked years of experimentation with Photoshop—color correction, image manipulation, and, eventually, dreaming up new colorways for my favorite sneakers. I wasn't just editing—I was storytelling through design.
When a life-changing injury sidelined my sports career in high school, I pivoted. In 2013, I launched LeftCoastLaced, a custom footwear brand that helped athletes — from pros to pickup regulars — express themselves through design. It kept me connected to the culture of sport, and made me realize design could be more than aesthetics — it could be identity.
That drive led me to earn a B.S. in Industrial Design from the Art Institute of Portland (2018), where I honed my craft and doubled down on exploring the intersection of sport, culture, and storytelling. Today, I continue to design with purpose — creating products that move with people, not just around them.
CV available upon request.