On September 27, 2025, the Philadelphia design community lost one of its founding members, a leader, educator, and creative force: Bob Warkulwiz. Bob’s life and legacy are deeply woven into the story of AIGA Philadelphia, from its earliest days to its present form. We honor him not only for his groundbreaking work, but for his enduring commitment to building our local design community.

Bob Warkulwiz was a Philadelphian through and through, born and raised in Kensington. His talent was evident early on, earning him a full scholarship to Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. That opportunity became a launching point for a distinguished and multifaceted career in design.

Client works: GoPhillyGo, The Arthur Jackson Co., Berger & Montague, Bell Atlantic, Juris Placements, Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz

In his early professional years, Bob worked at TV Guide and Bruno Mease before launching his own studios, Baseline Studio and later Warkulwiz Design Associates. Over the next 40 years, he established a respected practice known for its clarity, visual chops, and distinctive voice. His studio’s creative output earned recognition from the New York Art Directors Club, GDUSA, the Philadelphia Art Directors Club, and IABC. His work also appeared in leading industry publications such as PRINT, Graphis, HOW, and Communication Arts. His client list reflected both prestige and diversity, including Citibank, Hess Oil, Aramark, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. One standout project was the branding and digital work for GoPhillyGo, a multimodal transit planning initiative for the Philadelphia region that reflected Bob’s interest in designing community infrastructure.

“I worked at Warkulwiz Design Associates upon graduating from Tyler. He knew how to work with creative egos. He taught me to defy the norms and break all the rules. Much of the design studio culture at SK Designworks was heavily influenced by Bob’s management style. Work hard and party harder.

The last time I saw him he took me to John’s Roast Pork. I don’t like pork but I ate half of that giant sandwich cuz Bob said it is the best in Philly. Then he drove around Kensington where he grew up and showed me where his parents’ seafood shop used to be, his high school, the spot where he kissed his first girlfriend. Bob always questioned established norms and found ways to push them. And that made him a great mentor.”

– Soonduk Krebs, SK Designworks Founder

But Bob was more than just a practitioner, he also built institutions. In 1981, he joined a small group of local designers to help establish AIGA Philadelphia as the organization’s very first chapter. He served as Vice President in the chapter’s early years and took on the President role in 1985. During his leadership, AIGA Philadelphia developed a stronger identity and clearer sense of purpose within the city’s changing design landscape. He was instrumental in shaping its voice and culture.

“I recall being at an AIGA Design Conference and seeing Bob there, many years after beginning on the Philly board together. He inquired about teaching, so I suggested he come teach with me at Philadelphia University. He became a trusted friend and colleague. Always good for a laugh, anyone who knew Bobby knew his sense of humor. And if you didn’t know, he was going to tell you. That’s when he would call me “Franuk” and I called him “Bobby.” We shared many stories, many laughs, and some trips.”

– Frank Basemen, Former AIGA Secretary and Education Director, Current Jefferson University Professor

Bob’s long-term contributions were publicly recognized in 2014 when AIGA Philadelphia highlighted him in its founding leadership timeline. In 2016, as part of the chapter’s commemorative poster exhibition celebrating 35 years of AIGA Philadelphia, his studio contributed a poster that captured the independent spirit of the local design community.

A poster designed to commemorate AIGA Philadelphia’s 35th year as the original chapter. It won a silver medal in the Graphis Posters Annual in 2019.

Today, Bob’s name appears alongside fellow founding members like Alina Wheeler in the chapter’s archival record of past leadership. His influence helped create the continuity and community that defines AIGA Philadelphia to this day.

Bob was also a beloved educator and mentor. For more than 15 years, he served as an adjunct professor of graphic design at Drexel University and Philadelphia University, now known as Jefferson. His students remember him for his candor, humor, and the depth of his industry knowledge. In classrooms and critique sessions, Bob created space for emerging designers to challenge themselves and grow. He nurtured talent, encouraged risk-taking, and modeled what it meant to be a design professional with both technical rigor and heart.

“Bob was a long-standing faculty member in the Graphic Design Program at Drexel University who made a lasting impression on everyone he worked with. He was widely liked by students who had the pleasure of enrolling in his courses, where his real-world perspective as a practicing graphic designer helped inspire and guide young designers. His commitment to teaching and mentorship was evident in how he fostereda supportive learning environment and the impact he had on the program. Bob will be greatly missed within our program, as well as in the graphic design industry and AIGA Philadelphia communities.”

– Bill Rees, Drexel University Program Director, Graphic Design

Outside the studio and the classroom, Bob was many things: a father, a husband, a teacher, an athlete, and a storyteller. His quick wit, his unmistakable mustache, and his love of cooking are just some of the details that friends and family will continue to recall. He brought warmth, curiosity, and generosity into every part of his life.

A cookbook he designed of his family’s personal recipes

Bob Warkulwiz’s passing leaves a significant void in Philadelphia’s design community. What he created through his work was only one part of his legacy. Equally lasting are the institutions he helped build, the people he mentored, and the standards he set for how design can serve a community. His early leadership in AIGA Philadelphia will continue to resonate for years to come.

As we reflect on his life, we carry forward his example: to build relationships, to share knowledge, and to create design that matters.

We are especially grateful to our volunteers, our membership and everyone one of you reading this email. Wishing you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

2026 Mentorship Program

2026 Enrollment is now CLOSED. Program will start by end of January. Want to know more? Read about the full program here.

About the Mentorship Program

The AIGA Philadelphia Chapter has offered a Mentorship Program since 2010. Initially, we engaged with practitioners primarily in the Philadelphia area, but in recent years we’ve begun offering this program to anyone in the United States to be taken advantage of in the virtual sense. Each mentoring relationship is unique: together mentors and mentees set their individual goals, drawing on the experience of the mentor and the aspirations and interests of the mentee.

Support the Next Generation of Designers

The Alina Wheeler Memorial Scholarship provides annual financial support to undergraduate design students. Awards go directly to students and can be used for tuition, housing, or other essential needs. AIGA Philadelphia is dedicated to nurturing creative talent and building a strong future for the design community and we need your support. Join us in creating a sustainable scholarship fund for aspiring Graphic Design students in our region.

In 2023, we lost a cherished member of our community, Alina Wheeler: author, consultant, entrepreneur, mentor, and a founding member of AIGA Philadelphia. Alina was a visionary leader and a passionate advocate for design, serving in various roles within AIGA and leaving a profound impact on all who knew her. To honor her legacy, the AIGA Philadelphia Board of Directors renamed our scholarship fund in her memory. The Alina Wheeler Memorial Scholarship stands as a tribute to her lifelong dedication to design and education. Help us continue Alina’s legacy. Make a difference today by contributing to the Alina Wheeler Memorial Scholarship.

Past Winners

Click here to see previous winners.

Since our founding in 1981, we have worked tirelessly to provide access to high-quality programming, education, initiatives, and public art installations and host community workshops that bring people together. Our efforts have reached thousands of residents across Philadelphia, helping enrich our city’s cultural fabric and inspiring the next generation of designers.

However, we need your support to continue our work and expand our impact. We rely on the generosity of individuals like you to sustain our programs and keep our doors open to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Your donation will directly contribute to:

• Quality Programming: Offering low-cost events like personal branding series, design system education, personal development, locally sourced,  and wellness events.
• Workshops: Providing safe, inclusive spaces for people to create and collaborate on continuing their self-worth such as our figma workshop and new for this year, a student mock interview workshop.
• Designer Support: Offering resources and opportunities for local designers to find the tools they need to develop their craft and share their work with the community.
• Initiatives: Our first-ever design census, UX mentorship program, and more.

Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, and your contribution will help us continue to be there for the community.

Author: Cait Kearney

Creativity, community, and the electric sports pride of Philadelphia converged at AIGA’s Eagles Poster Design Contest and Watch Party, hosted in partnership with Two Locals Brewing and with support of the Philadelphia Eagles’ design team. 

“Philly vs. The World”–the theme of the event–embodied that electric pride and went beyond just football. It was a celebration of how Philly creatives continue to break expectations, claim space, and make our voices impossible to ignore.

“We laughed, danced, screamed, and (maybe) cried together all in the name of sports and creativity,” said Giselle Duran, AIGA Philadelphia’s Social Media Engagement Director who conceptualized and coordinated the event. “We were beyond proud to showcase the work of 17 talented designers, and the community’s response was absolutely incredible.”

The event raised $800 for AIGA funding and reinforced that design has the power to bring people together across industries, interests, and communities.

Championing Local Designers

Seventeen AIGA members participated in the event’s poster contest, including AIGA 2024 Scholarship Recipients Teva Dang and Lauryn Samson.  

Contestants exhibited an impressive range of graphic art and design skills, from custom illustrations to lettering to photomontages. Just as impressive were their abilities to convey the grit and zeal of the city’s “Philly vs. the World” mindset. 

“The world is a tough place, but the people of Philadelphia never stray too far from the love for their city,” said Malayna DiPlacido, first-place contest winner. 

[Photos that were used in Instagram carousel of the winning posters]

DiPlacido cleverly included the tagline “Philly vs. All Youse” on her poster, which she illustrated star Eagles player Saquon Barkley juking a Cowboys defender. 

The poster contest winners were:

• 1st Place: Malayna DiPlacido
• 2nd Place: Kayleigh Saboja
• 3rd Place: Hannah Effinger

AIGA loved bringing designers together for a fun evening, while also supporting their work. It is this empowerment that lies at the heart of AIGA’s mission. 

“Being in a room filled with local creatives and having my poster displayed amongst 16 other talented designers made for an incredible night,” said Saboja.

Fostering Partnerships

The design competition and watch party kicked off a new partnership between AIGA, Two Locals Brewing Company, where the event was held, and the Philadelphia Eagles’ design team.

Two Locals Brewing Co., located in West Philly, is Philadelphia’s first black-owned brewery, and, beyond serving tasty, well-crafted beverages, works to show the community the opportunities available in the brewing industry. 

This event was the first of many accomplishments for us. From conception to execution, our partners supported our vision and provided the resources to make this the event of the season.

– Giselle Duran – ‘24-’26 Social Media Engagement Director 

Additionally, the Philadelphia Eagles’ design team made a generous donation in support of the event, including commemorative picture frames and signed memorabilia to distribute amongst the winners, and a private collection photobook celebrating Super Bowl LIX, “Brazil to Broad St.,” signed by #33 Cooper DeJean, to raffle off.

Lastly, AIGA wouldn’t be the community-driven organization we are if we didn’t highlight a local small business vendor. Not only did attendees participate in live voting to determine the winners, but they also had the chance to shop for new Eagles merch from a Philly-born and bred clothing brand, The SideMoney Company.

AIGA is grateful for all the individuals and organizations that contributed to making this event possible and a success! Go Birds!

Click below to see more of our event.

See our upcoming schedule of events and subscribe to our Calendar Page on Luma to be notified about our upcoming events.

We’re looking for new Board Members.

We invite you to apply for an open Board position with the AIGA Philadelphia Board. All positions are volunteer positions. The term is January 2025 – December 2026.

Our Review Process

As part of our ongoing effort to remain diverse, equitable, and inclusive, all identifying markers (name, school, business, etc.) will be removed from application materials to allow for the most objective review of skills and experience. The AIGA Philadelphia Board will review these edited documents to determine the best candidate for the position.

Board Requirements

• Attendance of one board meeting per month
• Five hours per week (rough estimate)
• Attendance in as many events as you can
• Attendance in two board retreats (all-day events) a year
• You have experience with Google Drive and Slack (strongly preferred)
• You have experience serving on a volunteer nonprofit board or an existing committee. Bonus points if you’ve previously served on an AIGA local chapter board. 
• You are eager to contribute to the local creative community
• You believe relationship-building and stakeholder engagement are essential to the growth of the chapter
• Strong business acumen with a broad understanding of fundamental business principles
• Experience in a leadership role or vital coaching role
• Ability to set overall strategy and drive process improvement
• Commitment to a two-year term in the position to support the design community
• All new board members will be expected to attend group anti-racism training within the first 90 days on the board.
• Membership with AIGA

Open Board Positions:

We are currently refining our board role structure to better align with the evolving needs of our chapter and community.

Board positions will reopen soon.

If you’re interested in future leadership opportunities, we encourage you to:

• Join a committee
• Attend events and connect with current board members
• Subscribe to updates about future board openings

Serving on a committee is often the best pathway to board leadership.

Why Served?

Being a board member is more than responsibility and something productive to do in your spare time—it’s a commitment to our design community in Philadelphia. It’s the dedication to see design continue to grow, adapt, thrive and improve. It’s the desire to bring new initiatives, speakers, designers and inspiration to our membership.

Application process

Self-nominations are welcomed, and encouraged. Nominees need not be an AIGA member at the time of nomination, but will be required to join AIGA as a member if elected. To nominate yourself or someone else, please prepare a PDF document with the following information, and email it to info@philadelphia.aiga.org

• Nominee’s name and nominated position
• A resumé or CV highlights and brief bio
• A short statement (200 words max) describing why the candidate would make a valuable board member
• Two references we may contact for more information

Letter of recommendations are welcome and encouraged

Not ready for a two-year commitment? We’re always looking for volunteers to join us. To learn about other volunteer opportunities or if you have questions about any of the above board positions, please reach out to us at info@philadelphia.aiga.org.

Congratulations to our AIGA Philadelphia Fellow for 2017, Allan Espiritu!

The AIGA Fellow award is the highest honor an AIGA chapter can bestow upon one of its members. It is a means of recognizing designers who have made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within our local and regional design community as well as in our Philadelphia AIGA chapter. The areas of education, writing, leadership and reputation, as well as the practice of design are given equal consideration in measuring significant contribution.

A longstanding member of AIGA Philadelphia for twenty years, Allan Espiritu, served our chapter as President from 2011–2013. In his tenure, our chapter opened our first headquarters, SPACE, a gallery in Old City. He was also instrumental in bringing the AIGA Leadership Retreat to Philadelphia in the summer of 2013. We are grateful for Allan Espiritu’s continued support and involvement in our chapter and the local design community. Join us in honoring him at a party in May 2017 to toast to Allan’s continued success. We will also host an exhibition of his work. Details to be announced soon. Congratulations, Allan!

About Allan Espiritu
Allan Espiritu, founder of GDLOFT PHL, is a Philadelphia-based, award-winning graphic designer and educator. Espiritu received his BA in graphic design from Rutgers University-Camden and his MFA in graphic design from the Yale University School of Art.

Espiritu’s work has been published and acknowledged by AIGA, GDUSA, UCDA, Graphis, Communication Arts, Print Magazine, HOW, STEP, the Barnes Foundation, and the Art Directors Club. His work has also appeared in Gestalten and Rockport publications.

Espiritu heads the Graphic Design concentration program at Rutgers University-Camden. He served as President of the AIGA Philadelphia Chapter from 2011 to 2013, after serving as Programming Director and Vice President.

Allan’s portrait by Eric Sison Photography.

AIGA Philadelphia Fellows
Mark Willie – 2014
Rosemary Murphy – 2012
Lanny Somesse – 2010
Laurie Churchman – 2009
Frank Baseman – 2008
Joel Katz – 2002
Ken Hiebert – 2001
Hans-U Allemann – 2000
Alina Wheeler – 1999

Congratulations to AIGA Philadelphia President, Lauren Dougherty, on being named a Philadelphia Business Journal’s Outstanding Director for 2017. The Philadelphia Business Journal believes that behind every great company or organization is a great board of directors—people who are committed and tireless in the pursuit of excellence. In today’s competitive environment, high performing and talented directors have never been more important, which is why the Philadelphia Business Journal honors Outstanding Directors annually. Now in its fifth year, the program is sponsored by EY and Cozen O’Connor, along with the National Association of Corporate Directors, Philadelphia Chapter.

Lauren was honored at a black-tie reception on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the Union League of Philadelphia. Lauren has served on the Board of AIGA Philadelphia for eight years. Her leadership has helped AIGA Philadelphia build a strong and engaged Board of Directors, reach record membership highs, diversify programming, improve communications and better connect with the city’s greater creative community.

See the full list of winners and view the event photo gallery.

Be heard, be counted. Design Census launches December 1, 2016

Google and AIGA are pleased to announce the inaugural Design Census—an open-source platform for understanding the complex economic, social, and cultural factors shaping today’s design practice.

It’s free and open to everyone, and the goal is to empower the design community to take charge of its professional development and happiness. Over the years, AIGA has conducted an impactful salary survey, the results of which helped define the value of design, and was shared among professionals across all design disciplines. This year, in partnership with Google, the survey broadens its scope and aims to capture information and insights beyond salary information—including work habits, lifestyle, education, professional development, and beyond.

Another unique component of the census is the accessibility to the data, open to the entire design community. We invite designers and organizations from around the world to take the data to interpret and publish their own reports, and even generate visualizations of the data results. The final data, reports, and visualizations will be displayed in an online gallery at designcensus.org for the global design community to share and ultimately gain insights to the growing role of design in the world. This is your chance to participate and become an active member of this community project. The census opens December 1, 2016 and closes December 16. Until then, join the official census mailing list at designcensus.org to receive updates and information about the census.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be heard, be counted, and be a part of this global effort.

Include some closing text, personalizing the context of this note with the importance of participation. Examples:

“We here at “BIG DESIGN AGENCY” or “BIG CREATIVE ASSOCIATION” are truly excited by the potential of this project. Please consider participating in the survey today, and help the“BDA/BCA” community make an impact on this important work. Thank you.”

designcensus.org, open December 1–16, 2016