How one Clevelander walked into Sears think[box] and built a business, a mission and a movement

It took Michael Crawford a full year to visit Case Western Reserve University’s Sears think[box] after a friend suggested he give it a try. It was love at first sight. The very next day, the world shut down for COVID-19.

Michael Crawford was raised on the east side of Cleveland and aims to provide opportunities for youth in his neighborhood.

Crawford, who is from the east side of Cleveland, was undeterred, set on exploring the potential opportunities the center offered. Now, more than six years later, he has become a fixture in Sears think[box]. Despite not having a direct connection to the university, he is well-known by students and staff alike.

Crawford is the epitome of what Sears think[box], the largest open-access innovation center and makerspace in the United States, offers for the broader Cleveland community. He has successfully launched a business making custom laser-engraved headstones, caught the attention of notable celebrities with his personalized memorabilia cases and supported community leaders by designing intricate award plaques. Going by Lil Mike—a nickname he’s worn since childhood—Crawford has amassed more than 58,000 followers on Instagram, where he shares his creations.

“One of the things that makes Sears think[box] so special is that our community members don't simply use the space—they help shape it,” said Claire Dorsett, executive director of Sears think[box]. “They bring new perspectives, life experiences and creative challenges that enrich our culture every day. Our students learn just as much from entrepreneurs, artists and makers like Lil Mike as they do from one another, and those relationships create a more vibrant, collaborative innovation community for everyone.

A business is born

After COVID-19 shut Sears think[box] down, Crawford bought miter and table saws, teaching himself how to operate them. During that time, he helped a cousin build a deck.

However, he longed to work with the laser cutter—the machine that had captured his imagination most—again. When Sears think[box] began allowing community members to submit their designs for student technicians to cut on their behalf, Crawford jumped at the chance. It wasn’t the same as doing it himself, but he was grateful for the opportunity. 

When Michael Crawford met Cardi B, he gifted her a 3D-printed figure of her with a laser-engraved wooden box.

After the space’s doors reopened to the public following the pandemic, Crawford found more than equipment—he found unmatched support. He remains in disbelief at the kindness staff and students extend to him, their ready willingness to teach and help in any way they can.

Walking through any floor of the Richey Mixon Building, nods, greetings and smiles are sent his direction by nearly all he encounters. 

“This is my first home because I'm here more than I am at home—it’s a family thing,” he said. “That's what I love about this place and the people here.”

As he was learning how to apply the skills he gained on various machines in Sears think[box], Crawford’s accountant asked if he could create headstones. He wasn’t sure, but he knew he wanted to find out. He bought five slabs of granite, brought them to the center and tested it out. The first four didn’t work. The fifth did. That’s all Crawford needed. He called his accountant back.

“Once I got that one correct, I knew it was on,” he said.

Sears think[box] remains the functional home for his business. His headstones often offer families more than a way to remember their loved ones—they also have the potential to bring them together. For one pair of sisters who hadn’t spoken in years, Crawford said, the headstone for their loved one gave them a chance to reconnect.

Crawford said he’s started to feel like a therapist for the families he works with, becoming a source of support and a listening ear in their most difficult times.

“I like to hear the life stories of their loved ones,” he said.

Reaching the stars

Though much of his day-to-day work is emotionally charged, Crawford flexes his creativity by making unique, custom memorabilia for local celebrities and pop culture icons.

Michael Crawford shared a 3D-printed figure he made of Missy Elliott at a special event.

He got his start making a custom, laser-engraved sneaker display case for comedian and actor Kevin Hart. 

That interaction jumpstarted a series of events that would land Crawford an invitation to rapper Missy Elliott’s private party in Manhattan to celebrate her 2023 induction into the Rock and Roll of Fame. Though the pieces he makes for celebrities often begin as gifts, Elliott turned into a client, ordering five of Crawford’s 3D-printed figures with hand-painted details and custom laser-engraved wooden display cases commemorating her artistic influence.

“When she received that gift, she lit up and told me I motivated her,” Crawford said. “To hear that coming from somebody I grew up listening to, it's just amazing and I know think[box] is the reason why I'm in this position.”

That position includes collaborating with such celebrities as comedian and actor Chris Rock, rapper Cardi B and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

However, his first collaboration with a notable artist came in high school. Though his name had yet to permeate pop culture, mgk was a classmate and friend of Crawford’s. Together, they worked on music—Crawford’s first artistic venture.

Fittingly, mgk, whose name is Colson Baker, was among those Crawford has gifted a custom creation.

Giving back to the community

Driven to share the power of creativity and making with the community, Crawford founded nonprofit L.O.V.E (Learning to Overcome Violence and Envy). 

Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell (Ward 9) commissioned a plaque from Michael Crawford to recognize Warren Morgan, chief executive officer of Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

He regularly hosts free workshops for local youth to visit Sears think[box] and learn how to use a variety of tools and machines, such as the CNC machine, laser-engraver and heat press, to make puzzles, mugs and more. He also brings in samples of his own work to spark their creativity and encourage them to think about how they can use their new skills.

Local leaders also have called upon Crawford to create commemorative pieces. One such piece was a plaque commissioned by Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell (Ward 9) to recognize Warren Morgan, chief executive officer of Cleveland Metropolitan School District, for his commitment to arts and the community.

In the future, Crawford hopes to expand his nonprofit. His vision is to create a space outside of the city where youth can get away from day-to-day challenges and spend time learning skills they can use in the future, just like Sears think[box] did for him.

“I say think[box] changed my life—and I know people say that a lot—but it really changed my life from scaling my artwork to starting a business,” he said. “Dreams are possible. You just gotta really believe in them and go for them.”