Michel
Brokke is…
… an independent thinker, your mirror, a father, a friend, an opponent, a chatterbox, a mediocre birdwatcher, and everything else that would not fit on a polished résumé.
For some, Michel is a useful nobody in the world of hospitality design. After studying Hotel Management, he obtained a Master of Business Innovation in Imagineering. He then spent years working on hotel concept development and spreading the sense and nonsense of “design thinking” within organisations. Today, he is a senior lecturer and researcher at Breda University of Applied Sciences.
Design
In 2017, Michel realised he was living a life largely dictated by the expectations of others. So what do you do? You sell your house, resign from your job, wave goodbye to your partner, and start again. People affectionately call that “a drastic decision”.
From that moment on, Michel did everything he could to think independently. Along the way, he discovered that sharing stories about design encouraged people to live more freely.
And so, Michel immersed himself more deeply in a broader interpretation of hospitality design, viewed through the lens of science, art and philosophy. He writes and speaks on this theme, both on and off stage. As a lecturer and researcher, he shares his observations with students and professionals alike.
Jennifer stands beside him and, when necessary, gives him a gentle push over the edge. His son is his greatest guru. His smile is disarming and, when he wakes at three in the morning, with a single look he reminds Michel that he does not matter at all. That, in its own way, keeps a man free from his ego.
Michel lives in Haarlem and prefers a substantial book, a good lunch, or a walk on the beach to sitting in a train or car. Yet from time to time he ventures out to meet his beloved students and fellow seekers of design, like you. He much prefers face-to-face conversation to digital bells and whistles. Feel free to call him, or simply keep dreaming: either way is perfectly fine.
Behind the scenes
Two people keep the circus running: Jennifer and Michel’s son.