Bill Newkirk

Professor Emeritus Bill Newkirk joined RISD's faculty in 1975, and taught in the Experimental and Foundation Studies and Graphic Design departments during his tenure here. He studied Architecture and Graphic Design at RISD, receiving a BFA in Graphic Design in 1968.

Newkirk served as dean of the Foundation Studies division from 1989 to 1996, department head of Graphic Design from 2007 to 2011 and interim dean of the Architecture and Design division in 2011-12.

From 1968 to 1988 Newkirk was a senior designer with Malcolm Grear Designers in Providence. Projects included book design, corporate image, architectural signage and exhibit design. Since 1988 he has also worked independently on selected projects including logo design and architectural signs, with a focus on catalogs for individual artists.