Cheers & Tiers: Christine Sheller on Finding Your Place

This episode highlights Christine's journey from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and offers a fascinating glimpse into how design leadership communities can shape careers and create lasting connections.

Author

Rachel Elnar
March 22, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

In our latest episode of “Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold,” we had the pleasure of catching up with Christine Sheller, SVP of Experience Research and Design at O3 and Associate Adjunct Professor at ArtCenter College of Design.

From Outsider to Leader

Christine’s AIGA journey began in college, but she initially felt like an outsider. “I remember feeling like a total outsider when I first joined because I was working while I was in college at Motorola,” she recalls. “I had an in-house job... and when I would tell them I was working at Motorola, they were like, ‘Are you working on phones?’“

It was Nick Prestileo who changed everything for her. “It was Nick who really held my hand at an event where I didn't know anyone and he made inroads for me,” Christine shares. “The next thing you know, I started volunteering, and then very shortly thereafter, I joined the board.” This simple act of kindness transformed her relationship with the design community and set her on a path to leadership.

Translating Leadership into Impact

Beyond the fun memories, Christine shares how her AIGA leadership experience directly influenced her professional work. After attending a session led by Andy Epstein, the “O.G. in-house guru,” she felt seen and understood as an in-house designer.

“I felt for the first time that I really felt like seen and heard and understood,” she explains. This inspired her to launch an in-house design initiative in Philadelphia, which grew from small studio tours to a full-fledged conference featuring speakers like Alex Center from Vitamin Water and Will Gay, Design Director from Disney.

“So many wonderful ideas for programming and connecting with community came out of those retreats,” Christine reflects, also mentioning how she brought in the “[Has Heart]” veterans project after seeing them present at Grand Rapids.

West Coast Dreams and New Beginnings

Three years ago, Christine made a bold move to Los Angeles, partly inspired by a Debbie Millman workshop. “I did a workshop with her in person in 2019... where you know, it’s her Design Journey program that she repurposed from Milton Glaser. And I committed to paper this life that I wanted to live,” she explains. “90% of what I committed in that journal came true.”

Now teaching at ArtCenter College of Design and working with a consultancy, Christine embraces her new West Coast life while still feeling connected to her Philadelphia roots. “I feel like I’m still a tourist here,” she admits, with us teasing her about constantly visiting local attractions: “She’s everywhere. Every weekend she’s somewhere.”

A Lasting Impact

The conversation with Christine reveals how design leadership communities don’t just shape careers—they shape lives. From professional opportunities to personal friendships, the connections made through these experiences continue to resonate years later.

As Christine puts it: “I’ll feel forever grateful to AIGA. It’s just transformed my career and my community and how I connect with people.”

Want to hear more stories like Christine’s? Subscribe to Cheers & Tiers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll have more episodes featuring your friends and your favorite design leaders, sharing their journeys, challenges, and triumphs.

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