Niko Courtelis
Adjunct Associate Professor
Niko studied graphic design at Pratt. He became interested in advertising while working at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Oregon. As a freelance creative director, he enjoys combining graphic design and advertising.
Portland is also where he joined several other artists to form Plazm, an eclectic design and culture magazine, design firm and type foundry. Plazm was recognized by ID Magazine as one of the world’s 40 most influential design firms. The complete magazine catalog is in the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, as is some of his own design work. He remains a principal at Plazm.
Niko has created advertising for brands including Nike, UPS, Heineken, Bushmills's, RCA, Diet Coke, Levi's and Macy’s. He’s earned recognition and awards in both advertising and design, including a One Show Gold Pencil, two-time Kelly Award Finalist, Art Directors Club Silver Cube and Young Gun Awards.
In 2010 the NYC DOT commissioned Niko to paint his NYCamo design on a 1,528 foot long bridge in Queens. Subsequently the design has been executed in four other locations.
He is the founder of the Greek Art Directors Club.
He likes to hang out with his daughter, cook, skateboard and knit.
And he has a three-legged turtle.
Niko teaches Advertising I T, Advertising II S11, Graphic Design I and Graphic Design II.
