Professor Emeritus William C. Brown (1933—2017)
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of a great Bruin—alumnus, professor, and mentor, William C. Brown, professor in the department of Design|Media Arts. Professor Brown was a gifted visual communicator who brought a deep knowledge of the worlds of graphic design and art direction into the classroom. He was also an instrumental figure in moving the department into its digital future, embracing new technologies while always maintaining a commitment to excellence and attention to craft.
He was a warm and supportive colleague, a role model to his students, and a tireless mentor to our alumni networks. He was proud of the fact that he had his B.A. and his M.A. from the same university to which he dedicated his teaching life. UCLA, the School of Arts and Architecture, and our department would not be what they are today without the contributions of Bill Brown's talents, intelligence, and support, and we are the lesser for his passing.
Bill Brown was a graphic designer, art director, illustrator, and design educator. He retired from UCLA in 1999.
In addition to being Creative Director of Bill Brown Graphic Design, Professor Brown was the graphics and signage consultant to Hardy/Holzmana/Pfeiffer Associates for the Los Angeles Public Library and to Adele Naude Santos and LDA Architects for the Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Center in San Francisco. He also served as executive creative consultant at Fattal & Collins and developed visual communications for ABC, CBS, NBC, Infiniti Division of Nissan Motors, Westinghouse Broadcasting, The Los Angeles Music Center, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers.
Bill Brown’s work has appeared in Art Direction, Print Magazine, Print Regional Design Annual, The Los Angeles Art Directors Annual, The Hollywood Television and Radio Society, The Society of Art Center Alumni, u&lc, and Idea International Advertising Art. The AIGA Design Annual, Graphis Packaging, and Graphis Design Annual have also published his work.