003: Christine Sheller of AIGA Philadelphia

She championed in-house design before it was cool—and made community feel like home. As SVP of Experience Research & Design at O3 and former president of AIGA Philadelphia, Christine Sheller forged in-house design advocacy, launched a scholarship fund, and connects communities across coasts. Her path includes late-night retreat stories, unexpected mentors, and the kind of legacy that starts with “you’re not alone here.” Key TakeawaysCommunity sees the unseen: Even as an in-house newbie, Christine found belonging through mentorship and events—especially thanks to allies like Nick.Retreats build real bonds: From coast-to-coast friendships to surprise room drop-ins, retreats are where connection reveals itself.In-house designers need each other: A breakout talk turned into tours, exhibitions, and a sold-out conference proving the need for a dedicated in-house community.Creativity thrives on spontaneity: From sliding down stairs to impromptu suite parties, fun is where trust grows.Teaching is legacy-building: Christine now bridges worlds—from her past Philly chapter work to L.A. teaching and helping through design in real time.Episode Chapters02:21 – Early AIGA beginnings: Christine joined AIGA in college while working at Motorola. Despite feeling like an outsider among agency folk, she persisted, connecting through events and a welcoming fellow—Nick Prestaleo.  05:05 – Retreat revelations: Her first leadership retreat in Minneapolis (circa 2010–11) was where connection truly clicked—and coast-to-coast friendships began.  10:01 – Suite-party shenanigans: At the Grand Rapids retreat, a guest named Monica wandered into Christine’s suite—armed with whiskey and lost, introducing them all to design’s legendary serendipity.  14:22 – Stairs as slides: Late-night hijinks continued when Christine and her friends decided a carpeted staircase was best enjoyed seated—and winding down on their butts.  17:46 – In-house design spark: Inspired by a breakout talk from in‑house guru Andy Epstein, she launched an in-house initiative that included studio tours, open houses, and ultimately, a sold‑out conference.  20:40 – Has Heart & design for vets: At a leadership retreat, she met AIGA’s Has Heart presenters and helped match veterans with designers via a traveling Airstream collaboration.  24:30 – Life becomes coast-to-coast: During the pandemic, Christine relocated to L.A., now teaching at ArtCenter and consulting. She fell in love with city life—mixed with the nostalgia of Philly’s tight-knit community.  26:39 – Living the L.A. dream: Christine embraced the West Coast fully—from visiting Universal Studios to seeing Public Enemy live, even connecting with Flavor Flav on social media.  31:31 – AIGA LA feels alive: She continues to stay involved, noting how active and welcoming the L.A. chapter remains—even for trivia warriors like herself.  36:38 – Giving it all back: Christine emphasizes how design and teaching remain her ways to help—monitoring the evolving industry and engaging with the community however she can.  About Our GuestChristine Sheller is SVP of Experience Research and Design at O3 and an adjunct professor at ArtCenter College of Design. A Philadelphia native, she led AIGA Philly as president, spearheading initiatives such as the in-house design movement and a scholarship fund. Her professional journey spans building award-winning UX teams across fintech and advising the next generation through teaching and mentorship.  FeaturingGuest Christine Sheller, connect on LinkedIn | ADPListHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedInSupport the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates