David Terrill has been creating compelling illustration work for over 28 years. His journey has taken him from laboring in an Ohio steel mill, working as a freelance illustrator, to wearing many creative hats in various in-house design agencies. David's diverse and storied path led him to his ultimate destination as an Associate Professor of Illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute.
In addition to being a member of the illustration faculty at KCAI, David holds the part-time position of Creative Director/Director of Talent at C3, a leading family marketing and design agency. Terrill continues to create award-winning work and enjoys sharing knowledge of his craft through the lens of his professional experience while mentoring students for a career in an ever-changing creative industry.
David enjoys traveling with his wife and two children while recording their adventures in his sketchbook. Their most recent experience took them to China where they swam in the South China Sea, hiked the Great Wall of China (slept in an ancient watchtower), traveled 1,400 miles by train along the Chinese countryside, and resided in a Beijing Hutong.
Terrill has been the recipient of numerous honors, Among these recognitions: American Illustration, Communication Arts Typography Annual, The Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles and 3X3, The Magazine for Contemporary Illustration.
David has lectured at the ICON9 Educational Symposium: Radical Teaching; New Approaches in Pedagogy in Austin Texas and the University of Kansas Department of Design’s Hallmark Symposium Lecture Series. In 2017 David was honored with the inaugural Alumni Masters Award from Miami University, Regionals. David was thrilled to return to his alma mater to lecture about his career. David presented again at the ICON10 Educational Symposium on the subject The Sketchbook: Let’s Connect, in Detroit Michigan. He presented his paper with educators from the U.S., Canada, The United Kingdom, and Israel.
