Micha Bentel is an interdisciplinary designer whose work explores the full spectrum of hospitality, from the scale of a single utensil to the architecture of entire dining environments. Bridging culinary arts and design, she brings a holistic perspective to how we experience food, space, and interaction.

Micha has a degree in industrial design from RISD and a degree in architectural history at Brown University, both with respect to food. It was always an interest and RISD and Brown allowed her to curate her studies to culinary design and history. Before conventional culinar training, Micha began her creative journey in Michelin-starred kitchens which exposed her to the mixing of food and design at a professional level.

Then, trained as a chef at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland and the Rome Sustainable Food Project run by Alice Waters in Italy, Micha studied to open a restaurant of her own but instead focused on individualized experiences. These formative experiences cultivated a deep understanding of sensory engagement, materiality, and craft—principles that continue to inform her work.

Her design practice has since evolved to include product, event, and spatial design. At Pinch Food Design and later as the Director of Design at Great Performances, Micha developed immersive, performative experiences that blurred the boundaries between service, spectacle, and storytelling. Her work reimagines the rituals of hospitality through choreography, narrative, and experimental materials.

Now pursuing a Master of Architecture at Columbia GSAPP, Micha focuses on designing spaces where hospitality functions not as a static program, but as a dynamic cultural exchange. From pop-ups to permanent installations, her work investigates how people gather, consume, and connect through food.

Whether designing a tool, a table, or an entire brand, Micha approaches each project as an opportunity to re-script the everyday—using design as a medium for care, critique, and conviviality.