Nacho Montiel

When you meet Mrs. Montiel-O'Donnell in person, she often introduces herself as “Nacho,” adding“ like ‘Nacho Momma,’” or “like the chip.” She is most commonly known in her circles and to her students by her design business + nickname -- Nacho of Nacho Momma’s Designs.  To build rapport + create immediate ease + comfort with new contacts, she often introduces herself as such, giving those new acquaintances permission to call her as her friends do. 

Nacho proudly embraces her identity as a barrier-removing, design-sharing force, holding the distinguished title of a Registered Yaqui Tribal Member. In addition to being a design educator, community artist, and graphic designer, her guiding principle involves harmonizing organizational requisites with marketing goals, seen through the empathetic lens of accessibility. Her mission unfolds at the intersection of art, agency, and justice, where she endeavors to connect with individuals, offering inspiration and the ability to envision alternative futures.

As a designer, Nacho's consistent mission has been to empower others and foster connections through her creations. Drawing inspiration from historical design movements such as the Bauhaus Students, Russian Constructivists, and various feminist, environmentalist, and anti-racist initiatives, she aspires to catalyze positive change, whether for a small mom-and-pop shop or a global corporation. Nacho staunchly believes that everyone deserves the transformative power that design can provide.

Hailing from Arizona, Nacho earned her Bachelor's Degree in fine art and launched her commercial art career in her home state. Beginning within an in-house team, she later expanded to ad and web agencies before establishing her freelance design firm. After 15 years, inspired for a career change, Nacho pursued and earned her master’s degree in Community Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art. This program, emphasizing art education with a social justice focus, led her to also serve as a Program Creator and Director at the Open Works Makerspace in East Baltimore during her master’s studies. These academic and practical experiences further refined her perspective on the potential and application of multimedia digital art platforms for budding designers and artists.

Throughout her extensive career, Nacho has refined a versatile skill set encompassing communication, collaboration, and creativity. This expertise is underscored by her significant roles, notably serving as the Community Engagement Vice President and later as Co-President of the Chicago chapter of AIGA. In these capacities, she played a pivotal role in establishing their flagship "Ask & Give" event series. Presently, Nacho remains steadfast in her dedication to imparting these valuable skills to students, guiding them as they prepare for successful careers in their chosen medium or platform, both within and beyond the classroom.

As a current Willenborg Teaching Fellow, Nacho continues to enhance her teaching approach by integrating more civic engagement into her syllabi and action plans. Her goal is to foster a robust culture of collaboration among Graphic Design students, the campus, its departments, organizations, and fellow students.