Part Portfolio, Part Workshop, and Part Mad Laboratory…

Silly Side Hustles was born to bring curious minds into the niche world of character design, without the high barriers to entry. Based in San Francisco, it started as a home for the puppet workshops, design lectures, and other delightfully odd creations of character designer Michael Schupbach, then morphed into something bigger: a sort of fuzzy “third space” for adults.

Here, you’re encouraged to tap back into your imagination, and see where your creativity takes you!

Founded by Michael Schupbach, a multi Emmy Award-winning designer and creative technologist who got his start at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in (year). Driven by a love of storytelling and craftsmanship, his work continues to be driven by a single goal: bringing to life characters that feel real, that audiences can connect with. Through puppetry, animatronics, robotics, creative direction, immersive experiences, and educational media, his career has brought to life some of entertainment’s most beloved characters.