After having produced more than 20 computer books and hundreds of articles for various trade publishers, Michael Fraase wrote the first internet books designed specifically for Macintosh and MS-Windows users (Internet Tour Guide series, Ventana Press 1993-94). Fraase’s internationally best selling Internet Tour Guide series demystified using the internet for non-technical readers while predicting the rush to cyberspace. He has appeared as a featured speaker at various conferences and has been a guest on nationally syndicated radio programs.
Michael Fraase specializes in information design and architecture, user experience design, publishing and content strategy, writing and editing, and general business and technology consulting.
Experience
1979 - present ARTS & FARCES LLC, Saint Paul, MN
Co-founder, partner, and editorial director
Saint Paul, Minnesota-based ARTS & FARCES LLC is a multifaceted publishing and professional services business specializing in editorial services, content strategy, information design and architecture, usability and human factors, and general business and technology consulting.
In continuous operation since 1979, the firm’s clients range from solo practitioners and successful startups to major design firms and Fortune 100 companies.
2006-11 University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
College of Design senior editor/ecommunications manager
Developed and directed the College of Design’s web and electronic communications efforts and online strategies in support of college-approved initiatives, academic departments and programs, and research and outreach centers.
2002-06 Utne Reader/Lens Publishing Company, Minneapolis, MN
Online managing editor and webmaster
Managed Utne Reader’s online content strategy and publishing efforts.
Education
1978-79 West Georgia College
MA humanistic psychology (incomplete; one foreign language credit required for graduation). 4.0 GPA.
1972-76 West Georgia College
BA humanistic psychology and philosophy (double major)
Publications
- ARTS & FARCES internet; ARTS & FARCES, 1993 - present
- Toward a user experience strategy; ARTS & FARCES, 2010
- Information Eclipse: Privacy and Access in America; ARTS & FARCES, 1999 (general nonfiction)
- Internet Membership Kit series (2 volumes); Ventana, 1994 (best seller, first suite of Internet productivity software with national connectivity)
- Internet Tour Guide series (3 volumes); Ventana, 1993-94 (international best seller, multiple translations; first non-UNIX-specific Internet books)
- Guide to the Macintosh Underground; Macmillan, 1993 (with Bob LeVitus)
- Rapid Reference Guide series (15 volumes); Irwin, 1992-93 (no-nonsense, 100-page guides to leading computing productivity applications)
- Structured Publishing From the Desktop: Frame Technology’s FrameMaker; Irwin, 1992 (first book about FrameMaker)
- Groupware for the Macintosh: A Complete Guide to Collaborative Computing; Irwin, 1991 (networking guide in the era when networking meant a long printer cable)
- Farallon MediaTracks: The Ultimate Training Tool; Irwin, 1990 (guide to Farallon’s computer training software environment)
- Hypermedia series (3 volumes); Scott Foresman, 1988-89 (introduction, methodology, and reference guides to using hypertext)
- MacWEEK (contributing writer) 1988-94
- MACazine (columnist, contributing editor) 1987-89
Videography
- Various independent videography productions and documentaries; 1979-82, various underwriters and self-financed productions
- Strange Apples: Creativity in Special Populations; 1980-82, underwritten by West Georgia College
- The Meaders Family: North Georgia Folk Potters; 1979-80, underwritten by the Georgia Council for the Arts, Georgia Humanities Council, and the Smithsonian Institution
Selected additional related professional activities
- Executive editor, ARTS & FARCES internet, 1993-present
- Deepening Online Deliberation conference invited attendee, The Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota, June 2005
- Excellence and Ethics in Journalism Foundation fellowship, The Media Center at API, Monetize the Web seminar, San Francisco, September 2004
- Convenor and Chair, House District 64B caucus, Green Party of Minnesota, March 2004
- Judge, Minnesota Magazine & Publications Association (MMPA) Publishing Excellence Awards, 2003
- Committee member; Caucus, Screening, and Endorsing Committee, Green Party of Minnesota, 2003
- Delegate, Green Party of Minnesota, 2002
- Expert witness, Jobs, Energy, and Community Development Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Technology, Minnesota Senate, 2000
- Expert witness Judiciary Subcommittee on Data Privacy and Information Policy, Minnesota Senate, 1999
- Featured speaker, “Workplace privacy and the Internet,” Business for Social Responsibility, 1998
- Minnesota Internet Services Trade Association (MISTA) founding board of directors, 1996-97
- Publisher and executive editor, Cyberspace Settlers Guide (internet publication), 1995-96
- Featured speaker, Internet World, 1993-95
- Featured speaker, Macworld Expo, 1993-96
- Apple Computer, Inc. certified developer, 1984-89
- Apple Computer, Inc. seeded HyperCard developer, 1987-91
- Publisher and executive editor, ARTS & FARCES Review (online publication), 1984-87
- Contributor, OWL Int’l. Introduction to Guide project (electronically-distributed hypertext publication), 1987
- Contributor, Minnesota Creative Source Book, 1988
- Cited as one of 200 most influential members of Mac community, 1988
- Contributor, MacTV 2.0, 1988
- Developed Telebit TrailBlazer Plus Disk, Telebit Corp., 1988
