We first met Michael Costello as a finalist on Project Runway; but his success certainly did not stop there. Project Runway, which he describes as a “stressful but unreal experience”, was only the beginning of the 33-year-old Los Angeles based designers climb to fame over the past few years. The experience gained from the show taught him how, “…as a designer you really have to push yourself, and it’s hard to wake up everyday and be ready to create. But being around all of the energy of the judges, and other designers helped make the entire experience worth every moment.” Now an established designer, Michael Costello talks to Designow about his philosophy as a designer, his collaborations and his plans for the future.