Putting humanity at the center of design

Michael O’Bryan

Founder of Humanature

Michael O’Bryan is an expert practitioner and budding researcher in the fields of community development, organizational culture, and human well-being. He is the Director of Learning at the Village of Arts and Humanities and an Innovation Fellow at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation. Michael joined the Career Studies faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music in 2019. He is also a lecturer in city planning at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design and serves on the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Commission on the Arts.

Michael is the founder of Humanature, a consultancy working with nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies to transform how they understand and support human development, interaction, and performance. Past and current clients include NeighborWorks America, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Strada Education Network, and the United Negro College Fund. Michael has spoken about his work at such venues as Cornell University, SOCAP, and the Apollo Theater in New York. In his free time, Michael enjoys reading, making music with his friends, and serving on the boards of local philanthropic and non-profit organizations including the Samuel S. Fels Fund, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the Union Benevolent Association, and Project440.