Valle named Printastic! Educator of the Year

 Screenshot from the Nov. 3 virtual PPI Print Rocks! awards ceremony

Philippe Valle, a 20-year employee of North Idaho College, has taught and mentored countless NIC students to prepare them for jobs in the graphic and web design industry. As associate professor of graphic design and the longtime coordinator of NIC’s graphic design program, Valle’s influence on the industry in the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane metropolitan region runs deep. Anyone in marketing in the area likely knows Valle. They’ve either been taught by him or worked with or employed at least one of his former students.  

Valle’s efforts on behalf of students were recognized in early November when the Pacific Printing Industries Association named him the PPI Printastic! Educator of the Year during the annual PPI Print Rocks! Awards presentation. PPI, a trade association that promotes individuals and businesses in the print and trade industry, has members in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah and Washington.   

Tammy Weatherly, PPI director of northwest member services said Valle was chosen for his outstanding support of ExploreVizComm, an initiative of the PPI Educational Trust that provides career education to promote a strong, future workforce in the print and graphics industry, and for his work in the education of graphic design and printing.  

“He is driven to instill a passion for creativity and design in his students,” Weatherly said. “His students have competed in several national design competitions, including ExploreVizComm, and several students have come away with considerable prize winnings.”  

Weatherly shared some of Valle’s personal history. Born and raised in the French Alps, Valle lived in both Nice and Marseille in the south of France before moving to Paris where he worked on multimedia design projects ranging from art exhibits to entertainment promotions to music magazines and publishing. He performed trainings wherever he was employed and developed a knack for teaching the art of visual language.   

“Valle’s focus is on providing his students with real-world, practical and relevant experience by constantly adapting the curriculum in order to maximize his students’ full potential in the ever-changing, technical world of graphic and web design,” Weatherly said.  

Valle maintains it is his students who deserve the credit for their accomplishments, Weatherly said. She noted a slogan that has taken root at NIC’s graphic and web design department: “Different years, different students, same results.”  

“We are so proud of Philippe and his accomplishments,” said NIC Business and Professional Programs Division Co-chair Jason Gray. “The graphic and web design students have achieved tremendous success under his leadership and guidance. Philippe’s ties to the community and industry partners are a prime example of how we strive to serve students in the classroom while also supporting them in achieving their career goals.”

Valle said he considers it an honor to be recognized in this way by his industry peers.

“Design is universal language and has no borders,” Valle said. “Our design department faculty at NIC share the same goal, to get students well-trained and employed in a high demand technical and creative industry.”   

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