Margo Chase
Margo Su Chase lost her life in an airplane accident on July 22 in Apple Valley. Margo was born February 20, 1958. Raised in Santa Barbara she was a graduate of San Marcos High and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. While enrolled in a Medical Illustration program at UC San Francisco her artistic muse led her away from her veterinary science goal to a distinguished career in commercial graphic design and typography.
Working first as a freelance designer, Margo founded Chase Design Group in 1986, building the company into a global agency with widespread influence. Her firm now has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and the UK and works for a range of clients from small startup companies to Fortune 500 firms.
Known for her beautiful hand lettering and expertly crafted logos, Margo brought her artistic eye to the entertainment industry creating award winning album covers and prominent logos for films and TV, then on to the world of packaging, interiors and even textile design. More recently, Margo and her firm brought fresh design and thinking to consumer brands for Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Califia Farms, Kind and PepsiCo. Chase Design Group’s countless design awards are a testament to her talent and leadership.
Margo taught and lectured at Art Center College of Design and California Institute of the Arts. She gave presentations at design schools and conferences throughout the country, inspiring several generations of designers, continuing to give back to the design community throughout her career.
Margo was a lifelong learner, an intrepid adventurer and a fierce competitor. These attributes led her to develop a passion for flying and aerobatics, taking to the sky to perform unusual maneuvers, competing nationally with precision and skill. She was quoted in an interview, saying, “I draw in the sky.”
Margo is survived by her husband, Patrick Dugan, her parents, Stillman and Nancy Chase, sister Jennifer (Chris) Pokorny, brothers Brian and Jeff (Zora) Chase, nieces Lauren (Norm) Wall, Holly Pokorny, Caroline Chase and nephews Eric Pokorny, Henry and Alan Chase.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, October 8 at Saint Barbara’s Event Center at 2:30 PM. Memorial donations may be made to NPR/KPCC, Wildlife Waystation of Los Angeles, or International Aerobatic Club.