Designer and Educator
Steve Quinn was educated at the University of Colorado (CU) and Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI). At CU there was an emphasis on design process, methodology and design problem solving in general. While there he was introduced to graphic design, and then decided to pursue that more specifically at KCAI. The roots in problem solving and methodology are strong and influence his approach to design. At KCAI there was more of an emphasis on design aesthetics, typography, and design history. This combination of problem solving skills and aesthetics leads to effective design solutions that are visually engaging.
After leaving KCAI, Steve started teaching design at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD). While there, he did design work for the school, as well as started his own freelance design office, solving problems for many Wisconsin companies and organizations, both big and small.
After about 6 years at MIAD, he moved to teach at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and continued to do various freelance work. While at UWM he was hired by a design firm in Racine Wisconsin, Renquist Associates. While there Steve worked with several corporate clients. At UWM Steve met Harry Wirth, a fellow professor, and collaborated with him to work on design for the Wisconsin Society of Architects, new identity, magazine design, and conference promotion. Harry then moved to Northern Illinois University, which lead to Steve being introduced to the school and subsequently hired as a full time contract teacher.
After two years at NIU, Steve decided to leave teaching and focus full time on design, opening his own business, Quinn Design, in Milwaukee with an office in downtown Milwaukee. This was very successful and lead to many great projects with great clients in the Milwaukee area, and Wisconsin. The success here drew the attention of Samata Associates in the Chicago Area, and Steve was hired to lead a new video design focused area of the firm. In the early years of digital video, Steve honed his skills of video production and motion design.
This was expanded upon in the subsequent years, and video and motion design became a component of the services offered by Quinn Design.
In 1999 Steve was asked to return to teach at Northern Illinois University, and has been teaching there ever since.
In 2000, Steve, along with student at the time Chris Von Ende initiated Seek, a design conference at first targeted toward students, but now attracts both professionals and students.
Select Client List
Kimberly Clark
Johnson Controls
Fort Howard Paper
Firstar Bank
Past Basket Kitchen Design
Brunswick Corporation
GATX Corporation
City of Chicago Cultural Affairs Office
Lee Hecht Harrison
Milwaukee Ballet
American Red Cross
Theatre X
Boy Scouts of America Chicago Council
Boy Scouts of America Milwaukee Council
ComputerLand Corporation
Wisconsin Society of Architects
Hoffman York Compton Advertising
Uke’s Harley Davidson
Tandberg Corporation
Publications, Exhibitions, Awards and Service to the Profession
Seek Conference Director
2000–2017
Coordinate speaker selection, conference planning, direct and develop promotional design with student collaboration (until 2016).
Tenure Reviewer
University of Wisconsin Parkside
Kenosha Wisconsin
I was an outside reviewer for a tenure promotion candidate in the design area.
November 2015
Launching the Imagination
Fifth Edition 2015
Author: Mary Stewart
Featured interview regarding the design process, views on design, and my work in web design. Featured images of the Past Basket Design website I designed, as well as a separate notation and image of work, Christmas Memory Poster.
Academic Paper Presentation Reviewer
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
AIGA Educator Series Conference: Intent/Content
Nashville Tennessee
December 2006 to June 2007
Panel Discussion Participant
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
AIGA Educator Series Conference: Intent/Content
Nashville Tennessee
June 2007
Academic Paper Reviewer
National UCDA (University and College Designers Association) Design Education Summit
Northern Illinois University
May 2008
Graphic Design Basics
Fourth Edition
Author: Amy Arntson
Thomson Wadsworth, Publisher
May 2005
One Plus One Logo Design Published
Launching the Imagination
Second Edition 2005
Author: Mary Stewart
Christmas Memory Poster Selected for Publication in the text and on the cover.
Jury Panel Member Student Design Competition
Illinois Institute of Art Schaumburg
May 2004
Inform: A Journal of Design Awareness
Issue 30 Spring 2004
Published by AIGA Chicago
Published Article: Solid Liquid Gas: Author Control, User Control and a Future for Graphic Design
Consultant for NIU Education Department Web Site
Enhancing Success for Student with Disabilities
January to June 2004
Northern Illinois University, Jack Olson Gallery
Visual Communication Faculty Show
October 2-October 16, 2004
Five pieces exhibited: Nature and Design web site,
Fries Frame Stationery, Scentimental Gardens Newsletter,
Christmas Memory Poster, Milwaukee Ballet Poster
Northern Illinois University Faculty Salon
NIU Chicago Gallery
January to February 2004
Three pieces exhibited: Fries Frame Stationery, Scentimental Gardens Newsletter,
Nature and Design Web Site
Juried Paper Presentation
International Graphic Design Education Conference
Design: Refining Our Knowledge Design
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
October 30-November 1, 2003
Presented a paper entitled, Solid Liquid Gas: Author Control, User Control and a Future for Graphic Design. The conference was attended by design educators from around the US, as well as England, Brazil, Korea, Canada, and Cuba
Northern Star Newspaper
SA Site Draws Critics
October 30, 2003 issue
I was interviewed by the Northern Star reporter Mike Runestad regarding my professional evaluation of the new Student Association web site. My quoted comments formed a basis for the article in reference to section 508 compliance, usability issues with the site, and graphic design criticism of the site typography and concept.
Invited Tenure Reviewer
Loyola University
September 2003
AIGA Chicago Education Chair
May 2001 to January 2004
AIGA Chicago Roundtable Focus Group Panel Participant
May 2003
Education Chair Representative
AIGA Annual Meeting Student Scholarship Presenter
June 2003
Northern Illinois University Art Museum
Gallery in Chicago
NIU School of Art Faculty Salon
January 9-February 14, 2004
Three pieces exhibited: Nature and Design web site,
Fries Frame Stationery, Scentimental Gardens Newsletter
AIGA Design Education Conference “FutureHistory” Planning Director
University of Illinois at Chicago
January 2002–October 2002
This was the first of five Design Education Conferences sponsored by AIGA.
I lead and coordinated the conference including speaker selection, organize paper reviews, and conference logistics.
NIU School of Art Faculty Salon
August 26 – September 20, 2002
Biennial exhibition of NIU School of Art tenure and tenure-track faculty.
Video Design work exhibited which included motion graphic design, corporate video design and experimental video work.
NIU School of Art Faculty Salon
November 2 – December 15, 2001
Biennial exhibition of NIU School of Art tenure and tenure-track faculty
Three poster designs exhibited.
Exhibit of New Faculty of the NIU School of Art
August 27-September 21, 2001
Exhibit of new NIU School of Art faculty hired in the past five years.
Three poster designs exhibited.
Emmy Award 2000
Chicago Free For All Program Open
Public Affairs Category
AIGA Chicago fps 1996
An Exhibition of Videos by Designers
Several videos selected for presentation
Type Directors Club Award 1994
Typography 16
Video Design, Neo
Design Milwaukee Design Competition 1992
Four Signature Awards
Plus 17 other awards
Communication Arts
January 1992
Chicago AIGA Design Exhibit
ID Magazine
Annual Design Review 1991
Honorable Mention for Exhibit Design
ID Magazine 1992
Annual Design Review
Honorable Mention for Exhibit Design
Corporate Identity 6 Book
Award of Excellence 1990
Letterheads 15 Book
Expression 3 letterhead design 1993
Milwaukee Sentinel Newspaper
August 14, 1992
Review of Milwaukee Ballet Poster
Aldus Magazine
1992
Gallery Section Selection
Art of Design 1988 Gallery Show
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Several pieces part of a curated design exhibit.
Print Magazine
Regional Design Issue 1983
USGS Poster design.