Keith Michael

Education and career

Keith Michael, a native of Brooklyn, New York, attended the Pratt Institute as an illustration major before shifting his focus to photography. He started as a receptionist at a photography studio and was promoted to stylist, assistant photographer, and eventually photographer. His photography has appeared in W, ELLE, GQ, and BlackBook magazines. He launched his own line of men's and women's clothing, which Andrea Cusick of Nylon magazine described as "natural, organic and lovingly hand finished." Michael earned a "Best Newcomer of the Year" nomination from Sportswear International, and his tightly tailored clothes are sold in high-end boutiques in Los Angeles and New York City.

Project Runway

Although his design focus is men's wear, Michael auditioned for Project Runway, a women's wear design competition on Bravo. He won the first challenge, earning immunity for the second, and host Heidi Klum told him on air that he might have won the third challenge but did not because he refused to make a dog outfit as part of the task. He was made team leader for the fourth challenge based on his sketches. During the episode "Reap What You Sew," designer Kayne Gillaspie discovered pattern-making books in Michael's room at the Atlas apartment and brought them to the producers' attention.

After other designers found out, a confrontation occurred, and Michael left the production for several hours, during which he accessed the Internet and e-mailed a producer. He was dismissed mid-challenge.

According to Tim Gunn, the contracts signed by designers state that pattern-making books and similar materials are not allowed on production, and designers may not leave without a production staff member. Michael's version is that the contract did not state pattern-making books were illegal, that the books were taken from him and later returned by an unknown person, and that he informed a production assistant he was leaving due to the confrontation and was allowed to go unescorted. He stated in his exit interview that he never used the pattern books to give himself an unfair advantage.