As a design leader and educator, Phil Hamlett unites creative minds to common purpose through the transformative power of design. He is currently the Executive Director of the School of Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, a unique academic institution with a large, diverse student body and a pioneering online program. In this setting, he does everything from teaching classes to establishing the strategic agenda for the School. His students emerge as advanced design practitioners and go on to acquire positions at leading studios and technology companies in the Bay Area and around the world. Prior to joining the Academy in 2004, Phil led design studios on both coasts, creating award-winning work for clients large and small. He is a past president of the AIGA San Francisco chapter, a former AIGA national board member, and is currently an advisor to San Francisco Design Week. As the founder of Compostmodern and as a charter member of the Winterhouse Institute Founder’s Circle, he guides the development of sustainable business practice within the design community and helps articulate the value of design education for social impact.
