Michael Novak was born in Los Angeles, and lived in New York City for ten years before moving to Portland in 2007—officially placing him in the category of “person most despised by native-born Portlanders.” Over a 20-year career, he’s been an editorial Art Director at Time Warner and Portland Monthly, as well as an illustrator, designer, animator, and storyboard artist. 

The highlight of Mike’s brief animation career was a year-long stint as a character layout animator on the Fox show King of The Hill, before he decided that drawing Hank Hill all day long was pretty damn boring. After the act of sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring put the kibosh on his freelance illustration career, he discovered design, which he loves.

His duties at Portland Monthly consist of making the magazine look and read awesomely, by designing covers, features, and pretty much anything else. In his free time he likes to sleep.

NEWS

How Slappy Cakes Took Portland Pancakes to Tokyo

Japan loves our do-it-yourself flapjacks.

03/22/2013 By Madelynn Vislocky

ONE SENTENCE STORIES

2013’s Dumbest Crime Story—And More!

Micro-stories about Portland's karaoke scene, sugar babies, and more.

02/20/2013

NEWS

Perfect Party March 2013

We gather the month's most fascinating Portland newsmakers around the table.

02/19/2013

BACKPAGE

School Stats Kids (Actually) Care About

Hint: They’re not the same as what parents care about.

01/25/2013

Article

Smelling A Story

Imaginary Authors creates a line of tale-telling perfumes.

01/25/2013 By Angela Sanders

TRAIL OF THE MONTH

Pocket Creek Ski Trail

A ski-haven away from the crowds

01/24/2013 By Brian Barker

ONE-SENTENCE STORIES

A Book-Infused Beer—And More!

Micro-stories about K-Stew's Portland secret, baby elephants, and Blazers karaoke

01/24/2013

Article

The Perfect Party: Super Bowl Edition

The guests we’d most like to watch the big game with

01/23/2013

MUDROOM

Perfect Party

The guests we'd most like to see at our dinner table this month.

12/20/2012 Edited by Zach Dundas

NEWS

Insider Secrets of a Dog-Show Champion

Portland's top competitive Pekingese prepares for victory.

12/12/2012 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

FOOD

Portland Restaurants' Awesome Sauces

Four of the best custom sauces in Portland, from mild to hot

12/12/2012 By Michael Zusman

MUDROOM

One Sentence Stories: January 2013

Micro-stories about racists, high schoolers making wine, and stink bugs

12/12/2012 By Zach Dundas

TROPHY CASE

Trophy Case: January's Best Local Stuff

A guide to Portland's coolest products and ideas

12/12/2012 Edited by Zach Dundas

ONE SENTENCE STORIES

Local Time Traveler…and More!

Micro-stories about space suits, beer, and Justin Bieber's chest baring.

11/21/2012 Edited by Zach Dundas

TRAIL OF THE MONTH

Alameda Ridge Trail

11/20/2012 By Brian Barker

Trail of the Month

Aldrich Butte Trail

10/16/2012 By Brian Barker

Business

How the Ace Hotel Creates Its Products

A look at the Ace Hotel's collaborations with local designers and makers

10/16/2012 By Martin Patail

Food

Portland's Weirdest Pickles

Five bizarre fermented products

10/16/2012 By Laura Lundberg

Article

The Perfect Party: November 2012

The guests we’d most like at our dinner table this month

10/16/2012

Tech Scene

Portland's High-Craft Tech Boom

What our thriving start-up scene owes to Portland's crafty culture and urbanism.

10/16/2012 By Will Lambeth