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School of Art and Design
College of Visual and Performing Arts

  1. School of Art and Design
  2. About
  3. Faculty and Staff
  4. Maria Grillo

Maria Grillo

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Title: Assistant Professor
Division: Visual Communications
Office Location: AB 314C
Email: mgrillo1@niu.edu
Website:  grillogroup.com

Educational Background

  • B.F.A., University of Illinonis Urbana-Champaign

Emphases

  • Design research and methodology—positioning, messaging, brand and communication design. 
  • 35+ years as a Professional Designer, Creative Director, Communications Design Business Partner, and Owner. 

Courses Taught

  • ARTD 201: Introduction to Visual Communication
  • ARTD 203: Interaction Design I
  • ARTD 312: Intermediate Visual Communication II
  • ARTD 405: Professional Practices in Design
  • ARTD 412: Advanced Typography 

Current Research

  • The development and refinement of tools and methodologies to help people (working across a range of media) cut to the core of content and concepts to create work that resonates with their audiences. And importantly, to help creative people effectively communicate the meaning and purpose of their work to others. 
  • Professional design projects through my communications design practice, Grillo Group LLC, where we put these tools and methodologies to work.    

Professional Leadership

Present

  • Northern Illinois University, Visual Communication, Assistant Professor, 2024–present. 
  • President/Owner/Creative Director, Grillo Group LLC, 1996–present. 
  • Treasurer, Society of Typographic Arts, 2025. 

Past Professional

  • VSA Partners Chicago, Partner, Grillo Creative Team Lead, 1992–96. 
  • American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Chicago Advisory Board, 1996. 
  • AIGA Chicago Public Service Chair, 1992-95. 

  • AIGA Education Committee, 1990–92. 

Past Teaching

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Art and Design, Visiting instructor 2009, Adjunct Lecturer 2021–2022. 
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Visual Communication Design, Adjunct Instructor 1992–2006. 
  • Syracuse University, Department of Visual Communications, Independent Study Master of Arts Program, Visiting faculty, summer of 1995, 1998, 2002, 2006. 

Honors/Awards/Publications

  • Fellow, American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), 2016. 
  • Award of Excellence, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), 2022, for best use of print/online publishing. Northwestern University, Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, client. 
  • National American Institute of Architecture (AIA) Honor Award, 2005, for signage and AIA Chicago Honor Award Interior Architecture, 2010 for interior and exterior signage, murals, and wall coverings. Hyde Park Bank, client. 

 Selected Exhibitions and Curated Collections

  • Man Lost, City of Gardens Gallery/Gallery 5, Plac Sejmu Śląskiego 2, Katowice, Poland, 2025. 
  • Faculty Exhibition, NIU Art Museum, School or Art and Design, 2025. 
  • CHGO DSGN: Recent Object and Graphic Design. Rick Valicenti Curator, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, City of Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 2014. 
  • Selected for inclusion in The Merrill C. Berman Collection of Twentieth Century Modernist Art and Graphic Design. 

Selected Invitational Lectures

  • Temple University, Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan, 2025. 
  • Michigan State University, 2018. 
  • National Museum Publishing Seminar: Creating and Sustaining a Great Client ⁄ Designer Relationship, 2012. 
  • University of Illinois Graphic Design Program Reunion, 2011.  

Selected Works

 

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