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.
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.
“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
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.