After 40 years of teaching, Hamilton has designs on retirement

Whether in the context of teaching, research or public service, good graphic design has been the focal point of Art Professor Philip Hamilton’s career at UW–Madison. After 40 years, he is retiring.

Hamilton first came to campus in 1964 after earning his master of fine arts from Indiana University and his bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1961.

He initially focused on bookmaking, printing and typography. As the computer began to make rapid inroads on traditional letterpress printing methods and design, Hamilton and his students explored how it could expand design possibilities. The challenge was to create works that had the visual depth of letterpress printing while fully utilizing the computer’s versatility.

In the 1970s, Hamilton helped guide the university’s public information program through creating a logo and design style to establish a unified institutional identity. The UW Marching Band still uses that logo.

In the early 1970s, when the University of Wisconsin and the state university system merged, Hamilton created a new symbol for the Madison campus. In 1984, Hamilton and Earl Madden, once Hamilton’s student and now art director at University Communications, organized “The Design Show,” an exhibition in four campus galleries that included works by international design artists with examples of 20 years of UW–Madison graphic art.

Hamilton has helped produce banners for the City-County Building, and he created posters for the annual listing of Dane County Arts and Craft Fairs. He designed projects for the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, including the poster “Everybody’s Ethnic,” a pictorial alphabet that celebrates cultural diversity.

As an educator, Hamilton provided guidance and inspiration to generations of students, many of whom have established careers in design and design education.

Hamilton’s interest in reaching a broad student constituency can be found in his commitment to helping oversee the organization and administration of the interdisciplinary course Design: Making Things Work. This project resulted from a collaboration of academic staff and design faculty from the schools of Education and Human Ecology, and the colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and Letters and Science. The course, which featured guest lecturers, gave students a broad perspective of contemporary design issues and the prospects for careers in design.

Hamilton received a Gerald A. Bartell Award in the Arts and the School of Education’s distinguished teaching award.

“Hamilton’s career as an educator and designer has led to the success of many students who are now influential educators and working professionals,” says Jim Escalante, chair of the Department of Art. “He will be missed greatly by his students and his friends.”

A reception in Hamilton’s honor will be held Tuesday, May 4, at 4:30 p.m. in Tripp Commons, Memorial Union. For information, contact Escalante, 262-1662, jaescala@education.wisc.edu.