Philosopher & Strategic Aesthetics Consultant
I’ve spent over 20 years exploring aesthetics as a philosopher, studying how beauty shapes our thinking, behavior, and flourishing—in life and work.
As a consultant, speaker, and philosophical counselor, I help people and organizations apply aesthetic thinking in strategic, meaningful ways. I guide teams in aligning their values and spaces, and I work with leaders who want to bring more creativity, clarity, and beauty into what they build.
What I Do
I speak at conferences, lead workshops, and collaborate with businesses that want to go deeper than trends or surface-level design. I’ve spoken at events like Digital Fashion Week NYC, the Intentional Spaces Summit, and Beauty & Sustainability, and I’ve been a guest on podcasts like Beauty at Work. Most recently, I delivered my “Aesthetics at Work” workshop for the company Arcaea, helping their team explore how aesthetic thinking can transform workplace culture. (View Michael’s speaking one-pager.)
I also co-edited the first academic book on Digital Fashion (Bloomsbury), and I’m currently writing Is Your Business Beautiful?—a book about integrating aesthetics into brand, culture, and environment.
My writing appears in places like ArchitectureBoston, BeautyMatter, Madame Blue, Splice Today, The Venetian Letter, and a monograph by architect Suchi Reddy.
Programs and Facilitation
In collaboration with the Executive Design Studio, I’ve facilitated sessions for executives on art, fashion, and aesthetics. And together with Bella Zhang, I created Aesthetic Paths to Flourishing—a program that helps people reflect on their aesthetic values and redesign their habits with intention and beauty in mind.
Background & Education
I earned my PhD in philosophy from the University of South Carolina (2014) with a focus on aesthetics, philosophy of art, and political thought. Since then, I’ve taught at Boston University, Boston Architectural College, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Based in Boston, I run the Aesthetics Research Lab, a space for exploring how aesthetics permeates everyday life and why that matters. I also write a newsletter that bridges current issues with the history of aesthetic philosophy, all in an accessible, conversational tone.
Collaborations
Endorsements
“I’ve taken several classes from Michael Spicher. I can’t say enough about his abilities. He’s a wonderful teacher and a sensational speaker. He presents his material in a clear and concise way that makes his subjects understandable and relevant to all his students, no matter their level of prior knowledge or experience. He’s a personable, articulate man with a terrific sense of humor. I would go to one of his classes or attend one of his lectures in a heartbeat.”
–Gary K. Wolf, Creator of Roger Rabbit
“Michael Spicher is one of a kind. He has a unique perspective on the power of beauty, and aesthetics generally, for the broader culture. He brings a philosopher’s mindset to bear on understanding things most of us take for granted, and he’s a very effective speaker on these topics. Any business, and any association of business people, could benefit in new ways from hearing his take on the impact that beauty can have on everything we do. Attention to the aesthetic is a force multiplier, and understanding it well is key for flourishing in our time.”
–Tom Morris, Keynote Speaker and Philosopher
“I have been extraordinarily impressed with Michael’s talents: keen insights and creativity in solving problems and working well with the team. He is very comfortable speaking in a myriad of venues, and handles challenging people issues and questions from all types of education backgrounds and personalities. I highly recommend him for work in any venue.”
–David L. Thomas II, CEO of Scarlet Imaging LLC
“Michael is an excellent and inspiring speaker. His talk illuminated the value of aesthetics for contemporary business practice, showing how considering beauty is relevant for business competition and success.”
–Jadranka Skorin-Kapov, Director, Center for Integration of Business Education & Humanities
“Michael is a brilliant thinker and one of the best speakers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Michael’s approach to aesthetic studies is revolutionary and interdisciplinary. His knowledge spans several industries, which also makes him perfect as a moderator.”
–Martina Frattura, Lighting Designer and Founder of The Beauty Movement
“The aesthetic dimension of business and business leadership is more than a matter of appearances. It is a matter of insight and the essential underpinnings of what we perceive, how we think and what and how we create. Michael Spicher’s insights run deep and he communicates them from a place of active inquiry. He is a scholar, but also an explorer, an honest broker of ideas and well worth listening to.”
–John Cimino, CEO of Creative Leaps International
Michael R Spicher, PhD 