Elio Leturia

Elio Leturia is a distinguished associate professor at Columbia College Chicago, where he has been shaping the next generation of journalists and designers for nearly two decades. With expertise in visual journalism, graphic design, and multimedia storytelling, Elio teaches a diverse range of courses, including publication design, video and photography storytelling, visual literacy, reporting in Spanish, and travel writing. As the advisor for the Hispanic Journalists of Columbia student organization, a chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Elio is deeply committed to fostering diverse voices in journalism.

Elio’s career spans over 30 years, with leadership roles in design and media at renowned organizations across the United States and abroad. As Creative Services Director at ¡Exito! and Design and Graphics Director at El Comercio in Peru, he redefined the visual identities of these publications through innovative redesigns and management of creative teams. His tenure at the Detroit Free Press saw him excelling as a Features Designer, where he art-directed and designed feature pages while contributing illustrations and freelance stories on topics like food, travel, and music.

Beyond his teaching role, Elio is an accomplished freelancer and consultant. He has served as Creative Art Director for Extension magazine, contributing art direction and editorial consultancy, and as a bilingual writer for publications such as Hoy and RedEye, covering arts, culture, entertainment, and the Latino community. His dedication to education extends globally; he taught "Taller de Narración Multimedia" at the Universidad de Málaga through a prestigious Fulbright Senior Award.

Elio’s work has earned recognition from esteemed organizations like the Society for News Design, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. A multilingual and multifaceted professional, Elio combines his love for the arts and communication to produce holistic content packages that seamlessly integrate words and visuals.

When he’s not immersed in teaching or creative projects, Elio enjoys engaging with theater, photography, and cultural exploration, continually drawing inspiration from the intersection of storytelling and design.