Dr. William Burgard

Biography

Bill Burgard is a Lecturer II at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. Initially hired to teach illustration, he has become a major contributor to the core drawing program, focusing on honing observational skills and rendering conceptual ideas. Burgard's professional commissions cover a wide range of identity designs and permanent building installations. He served as the art director for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival for twelve years, designing the festival’s collectible large-format posters and mixed media wall displays for the University of Michigan Health System, which include permanent displays in public areas of the medical school hospital. His work also prominently features portraiture, with numerous commissioned portraits engraved in a style that honors individuals making significant donations to the university. He has illustrated for a wide array of national clients, including Sports Illustrated and Starbucks. Notably, in 2010, Burgard became an associate artist for the United States Mint, creating commemorative coins honoring Helen Taft for the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner.

Research Interests