Andrew Sobol

Andrew Sobol, a Polish-born and Chicago-based creative director, designer, and educator, currently holds the position of Chair of the Department of Art and Associate Professor at Elmhurst University, where he also leads the Graphic Design program. He earned his MFA in Design, Interactive Media, Video & Audio Art from Northern Illinois University. With over eighteen years of field experience, Sobol has demonstrated expertise in creative leadership, branding, consumer packaging, and both print and digital design. His professional journey includes collaborations with major Hollywood and independent film studios, corporate entities, state, and federal governments, and nonprofit organizations. As an art director and creative director, Sobol has built and led teams, managed brands, developed product lines, and overseen multi-million-dollar budgets.

At Elmhurst University, Sobol is responsible for overseeing the entire Graphic Design program, including the development of its curriculum, which he has crafted to reflect the current dynamics of the industry. He designs and teaches courses that include a wide variety of pedagogical approaches— from interdisciplinary collaboration to augmented design sprints—integrating both traditional and contemporary practices.

Over his 18-year tenure as an educator, Sobol has developed and taught more than a dozen courses, including layout, typography, UX/UI interactive user experience design, package design, corporate identity, creative advertising, and portfolio.

In a notable collaboration with Rafael Blanco, Sobol co-designed and painted the “Be Bold Be Elmhurst” mural for the university’s 150th anniversary, a 200×30 foot artwork prominently viewed by over 1.5 million riders annually on the UP-W Metra line.

Sobol’s contributions to the field of design have been recognized with numerous international juried awards, including multiple American Graphic Design Awards from GD USA, Creative Quarterly

Awards, and several Graphis International Awards. His work has been published in magazines, journals, online platforms, and books, marking him as a distinguished figure in both the academic and professional design communities.

Courses Taught: ART216; ART316; ART416; ART226; ART326; ART426; ART490; ART125; ART154; ART254; ART354

View Professor Sobol’s portfolio.