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Fred Griffin Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Fred Griffin
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Delores Pierce-Haugland
March 23, 2025
One of the most effective teachers at Burnley ..and a wonderful sense of humor!!!
John Cospito
February 5, 2025
Learned Aton. Fond memories.
Diane Gillum
July 18, 2024
I was fortunate to be student at Burnley art school and have mr griffin as my teacher. A intellectual who was condescending. I was woefully ignorant about design,designing, but eager to learn. I think he appreciated my creativity! He was always patient and kind. Such fond memories of that time in his class. How one persons life touches another in ways not always easy to understand. He will always be in my heart. Anyway now mr Fred Griffin jr. you are in the presence of the greatest designer of all, the one who fearfully and wonderfully made you. Diane Gillum
David Bender
April 22, 2024
Dear Fred - you´re always here in my studio inspiring me to ask more questions. Love you.
Delores Haugland Nee Pierce at the time...1962
March 8, 2024
Fred Griffin was a foundation ...a way of analyzing ones work...a way too e forward and come up with a unique point of ones own view...and as a student at Burnley in the early sixties..well you who are still creating know! Fan Crawford started this memory. Delores Haugland Nee Pierce.
Anita Griffin
May 17, 2021
A quote from Fred’s last sketchbook. He wrote this one day after he got the diagnosis of his terminal cancer.
Friday February 26, 2010
"I became obsessed with sequencing. This obsession never faded. I have an impulse to know, unravel, depict, use and -better yet - tinker with and even create the design codes that constitute the software of design literacy. A living design literacy.
I want an automated strategy-design literacy-sequencing machine.
Mapping a looking-seeing-entire design code for rewrite, reprogramming visual elements and their integral qualities.
Image introduces many modifications to a graphic element of integration of codified elements. Technology allows simultaneous redundancy.
To look for analogies.
To see the connections.
To understand the context of meaning.
To learn from this realization the integration to respond.”
David Bender
April 22, 2021
This morning I was reading from Bill Cumming’s book, Sketchbook, and it took me back to those stimulating days at The Burnley School of Art where Bill and Fred taught. It was a pivotal moment in my life learning from both of these artists whose passion for their work was inspirational to me and for those fortunate to be their students. Love you Bill. Love you Fred.
David Bender
April 22, 2020
Happy Earth Day Fred! You were, and remain still, a force of nature. Think of you often
Catherine
March 10, 2020
Fred was my teacher at Bernley from 1979-81, my favorite class. I did not understand his eccentric way of teaching until the first day of the second year, i had a mind altering lunch and from that moment on i understood everything he was saying, I think about him often , thank you Fred for great memories and teachings.
Loral Morehouse
February 29, 2020
" Thank you Fred in Heaven, I still use what you taught me in all my work. You were so kind to me"
Loral Morehouse
Donald Sanne
May 22, 2019
Fred, You were one of the few who took me under your wing and nurtured me with not only your wisdom, but your fine sense of intellectual humor. You proved that all those rumors at Burnley were in error and your sense of value in your students, namely me, were spot on! I thoroughly enjoyed our heated critiques in which you and I left satisfied in the knowledge we both were right in our points of view. Thank you, Fred, for what you have given me in self-respect with the A-plus' you made me earn for the two scholarships I was awarded at The Burnley School of Professional Art. Praise the Lord for your time on this earth.
David Bender
April 22, 2019
Thanks for all your wisdom Fred Griffin. Think of you often.
Jody MacDonald
October 25, 2018
I only just discovered that "Mr. Griffin", as I called him at Burnley School of Arts in the 70s, had passed away.
He was not only a good human being, he was a "Zen master" who taught me how to take undisciplined, intuitive talents, and apply an amazingly extensive graphic code to create and put order to elements, with awareness and purpose. His style of "guided self-discovery" was PERFECT for me.
I am no longer a graphic designer, and yet his lessons remain as a lens through which I see the world.
Thank you, Mr. Griffin! I will never draw (or write about my current medium) a cow before I have understood it from inside out and every other angle/aspect of being. (A reference to the only admonishment I ever received from him, during summer school one distracted day.)
And my belated condolences to his family.
Craig Wright
March 22, 2016
Loved the 4 classes from Fred. I STILL use the principles he taught me, even hiring people that know them, because let's face it, they're fantastic.
I sincerely appreciate you Fred and Anita! See you on the other side.
==
Craig '95
Michelle George
June 4, 2014
It's 2014. I've been thinking about what I learned from Fred so I can make my 3D Collages have focus and interest. He lives on in our art.--Michelle George grad-1983
Matt Bepler
October 15, 2013
I graduated in 91, AIS. Great memories, had his class twice. And, tonight... I found this online to download his Design code for a class I am teaching tomorrow night. Principles are timeless. Very thankful to have known him... and also Anita!
A menu illustration that Fred influenced
Jeff Campbell
June 19, 2013
Fred had an impact in all that I viewed and influenced everything I ever did be it graphics, logos, illustration or painting. I'm about as good with words as I remember Fred being but here goes...He helped me see the flaws or happy accidents that occurred during the creative process were the laugh lines and broken noses showing through in our work. I credit Fred with helping me appreciate the organic nature in things, the emulsion of film, the pops of an LP on a turntable...everywhere you look, there is a grand composition waiting to be explored. On life's critique wall, you're the top left corner! Thank you Fred, you are remembered.
Jeff Pollard
February 7, 2013
As a first-year Burnley student, I was reasonably sure Fred Griffin was an alien... which I'm sure is how my own students view me since I preach Fred's "graphic gospel" myself all these years later.
Fred Griffin's teaching methods may have been a bit unorthodox, but his philosophy on design was, and is, dead-on and I'm a better designer for it.
Short of sporting a multi-pocketed vest and calling my students by their last names, I'm sure ol' Fred would recognize his influences that helped me become the designer (and teacher) I am.
Thank you, Fred.
Jeff Pollard, Burnley Class of '83
Julia Lewis
February 7, 2013
I attended Burnley Art School in 1976-1977. I was very intimidated by Fred and felt very challenged by his assignments. I did survive and what I learned has been with me to this day. As I look back on it now he was a really cool guy. I am still in the graphics profession and I love it. His talent and insight will be very much missed. Hopefully what he gave of himself to the craft will live on in those that he taught. I certainly will never forget him.
He lived a creatively curious life.
Von Glitschka
February 6, 2013
Fred was awesome! I started art school right when it was transitioning from Burnley to AIS. Fred and Anita were two of my favorites. We still tell Fred stories now. Shared a few in a presentation I gave at a design conference a few years back. Here is one slide with Fred in it. LOL
Dale Nordell
January 21, 2013
OK, so it was like this. I would show Fred a drawing or two of recent vintage, usually fairly complicated and highly stylized. Fred would point at some portion of the piece and ask me why I had done what I had done. I would delight in saying, at that point, "because I thought it looked good". Fred would take a short pause and then proceed to tell me why I had done what I had done for the next hour,............two hours.............................
Anita, you were my student in my the first class I taught at Burnley. You (and Nan) taught me how to teach. Fred taught me how to learn.
How grateful I am that I walked through the door and up those stairs so long ago.
Yasuyo Nohara
January 20, 2013
Whenever I asked questions, Fred pulled out the perfect example from his folders or magic pockets of his vest to answer them. Years after I graduated from AIS, he told me he does not have an example with him but will send it to me. A week later I received it in a mail, along with some copies of my old work from his class. I was deeply touched by his dedication as a teacher. Thank you Fred for helping me understand Graphic Design, I am so lucky I was your student.
Hatsumi Nakao
January 20, 2013
Great artist, teacher, and wizard, still inspire me nowadays....
Kathryn Ault Noble
January 17, 2013
One of the highlights of teaching for me was the times I spent talking design with Fred in the faculty workrooms. I always thought that I knew design, after all, I was teaching it! And I had worked with many designers over the years, but when I met Fred I knew I had finally met a true designer. Turning found objects into brilliant little sculptures, and those endless stacks of sketchbooks filled on a daily basis, and of course Fred's Design Code. He gave me one of the workbooks and it will be a treasure to me always. Thank you Fred and Anita for so much inspiration.
Dan Crawford
December 19, 2012
Fred was my first art teacher at Burnley when I started there in 1961.I will never forget him he took me under his wing Fred was a true teacher
alyssa lewis/hupy
November 18, 2012
i guess im not sure why im writing in this book. I do have vague memories as a child of all kinds of artists at my grandparents house. i believe one of them was fred griffin. I was looking on the web for anything that ties back to art and rita hupy and i ran across a design of freds that my grandmother quilted. Now that my grandfather has been gone for so long and my grandmother doesnt know who i am, im searching for what i missed as a young child.
Rich Lande
September 3, 2012
My own experience was being tag teamed by Fred and Anita. I had a first quarter typography and figure drawing class with Anita. She was a scout for Fred as I learned later. We had one of our mandatory fire drills and after wards I was walking up the stairs with the herd and Fred is on my right and he is up against the hand-rail and he grabs me by my right arm and says to me "Lande, work hard, there's a lot of...and then I got taken back and started not hearing his words and just started feeling his presence and this is how I was introduced to Fred Griffin. He handled the intro. So years later when people tell me my work has a "sense of place" or say my work is genius, I just tell them that I was touched on my right arm by genius, and that genius was Fred Griffin.
: Fred always told me to show motion in my illustrations.
: Bill always told me "No Masterpieces"
: Fred taught me contrast - big, small - rough, smooth, loud, soft - dark, light - positive, negative,
: Bill taught me to spread my wings, that everything was a stepping stone. My mother was a Chrisitan Scientist from Missouri as well so I got that message at home. Jonathon Livingston Seagull Stuff...
: Fred told me to draw everyday.
: Bill taught me to learn from critics.
: Fred taught me to visually think.
: Bill taught me to run with myself.
: Fred and Bill both taught me the value of a sketchbook,
: Fred and Bill both inspired me in my cartooning with young people.
: Fred taught me the 3:5 ratio which I have passed on to many over the years and use it for my own work to this day.
: I will always pass on what I learned to others.
Thank you Fred and Anita, and Bill.
Rich Lande
Visual Communications
86-89
Delores Pierce-Haugland
May 25, 2012
I am so sorry this great mind has left us. I attended Burnley in 1960-61 and Fred was THE
graphics guru. I learned so much discipline from his teaching. My condolences to his family, and also I must say, his spirit is like his paintings, levels and levels on skill mixed with intuition...and it will go on forever.
Delores Pierce-Haugland
Burnley 1960
Julia Lewis
April 11, 2012
I attended Burnley in 1976-77. I moved to Seattle from Alaska, just to attend Burnley. While I was very intimidated by Mr Griffin, he made a very positive affect on my ability as a designer. Thank you, Mr Griffin.
March 14, 2012
I had Griffin (as I referred to him) in the early 70s at Burnley. like many, he initially intimidated (my 18 year old mind). Later, he gave me confidence. I feel so fortunate to have had him as a teacher. Design on Fred.
-Kent Kirkpatrick
Circle, Square, and Triangle by Gary Lockard
Gary Lockard
November 3, 2011
November 2, 2011
Something I learned from Fred back in 1972. The definition of design: "The logical selection and arrangement of visual elements for order and interest." I have since dropped the word visual from that statement. This sculpture I did many years after art school is totally committed to another of Fred's "Three Basic Elements of Design" Circle, Square,and triangle. Gary Lockard, Sacramento
Jefferson Asbury
July 14, 2011
Fred was the most influential teacher I ever had. I graduated from The Burnley School of Professional Art in 1979 and I have had a successful career as a commercial artist and graphic designer ever since. It was not until I was working as a professional designer a few years after I graduated from Burnley that I realized I was instinctively using the Design Code he had taught me on a regular basis. Fred was the Milton Glaser of the Pacific Northwest.
"Design is the logical selection and arrangement of visual elements to create order and interest" - Fred Griffin
Sincerely Jefferson Asbury
David Bender
July 5, 2011
My experience with Fred was in the early seventies at The Burnley School of Professional Art. I was in my early twenties and really didn't understand much about what being a graphic designer was all about. In Fred's class I would write down everything and make many scribbles that tried to mirror what he was saying. Then I would look at my notes later and wonder what the heck was he talking about. I know this sounds familiar to anyone who was in a Fred Griffin class. Fred was abstract in his approach because he wanted you to consider the very essence of how to communicate with images. He understood that if you could grasp what he was teaching, you would have a foundation for design that would serve you a lifetime. I am indebted to Fred every time I pick up a pencil, pen or brush - he is with me in every mark. He has been one of my heroes for a long time now. He continues to be. Thank you, Fred Griffin, my teacher and friend.
Julie DonTigny
May 23, 2011
To appreciate Fred is akin to liking a good single-malt scotch - it can take a bit of time to understand its depth of character and brilliance and it is certainly not for the faint of heart.
And to Anita, you are such a lovely soul; I hope your memories will comfort you during this difficult time. Thank you both for everything.
Jeff Burger
May 20, 2011
I am fortunate to have known Fred as an esteemed teacher, colleague, and friend.
kathi wheeler
May 19, 2011
Oh Fred, how you influenced my design career. Oh sure, you confused me some too, but I got it...and every time I start a new design, your theory goes into the mix. I loved your vest of many pockets. Some thirty years later, I still have my little sketchbook with the basic principles in them at my desk. You were my "One Dominant Focal Point". May you rest in peace. Nothing you taught us will go unused.
Michael Jenkins
May 11, 2011
Fred scared the heck out me during the first couple of weeks in his class. I was wondering to myself ... "what's he talking about?" I remember him telling us ... "If you can't speak it, graphic it." Then all of a sudden it all became clear. There was a definite method to his "Griffinspeak" and those of us that got it, soared. He has always been there in my mind throughout my design career and still is. His approach to the marriage of nature to art and design inspired many talented people throughout his illustrious career, and I'm proud to have been one of them. Thank you Fred. You will be missed but not forgotten.
Larry Lindahl
May 7, 2011
Thank you, Fred Griffin, for being a special and unique teacher. You frustrated, inspired, challenged, and humbled, as you gave structure to my understanding of design. Your influence forever lives in my awareness whenever I design a book or look through the viewfinder of my camera. Your gift of teaching me to see the world deeply still beautifully resonates within my being over 30 years after my last class at Burnley.
john hansen
May 6, 2011
Fred -- We have unfinished business you and I. Your deep insights into the very nature of things yet unshared and the full blossoming of the verbal language that you have such a firm grasp on and incessantly insist on passing on to anyone who cared to listen, or not -- and that unwavering curiosity and quest for understanding that poured out into your many sketchbooks -- all riding on your beautiful wit and grace that was often missed by so many students and then of the highest value to so many over time.
We never did get that long overdue culminating meeting where you could translate for me the meaning of my own quests in light of your wisdom and study. I'll miss looking forward to that meeting and have to slowly adapt to the reality of your final rest like everyone else.
Thank you Fred for your confidence and your sharing and generous spirit, your encouragement and pushing me beyond my ruts. Thank you for those detailed explanations and bits of wisdom tinged with humor and fun. Thank you for being so intense in your life that you will live on in me and so many others.
I'm not a believer in saints but in your case I make an exception. Thank you Fred for your permanence.
David Mercer
May 6, 2011
Fred Griffin wore a vest of many pockets, filled to capacity with every imaginable marking tool. In the vest’s large back pocket resided his bulging sketchbook. Fred’s vocation was to share. Heaven help the innocent who asked for clarification of some arcane design point for in a fluid well-practiced quick-draw motion his sketchbook would appear and they would be blessed with a deluge of illustrated information. That response could at times be overwhelming. Personally, much of what I learned from Fred only made sense years later. Aha! moments still occur on a regular basis.
Fred wanted us all to become better and better artists and teachers. He opened our eyes to the essence of visual experience. He showed us that the basics of art, the common line, simple shapes and the relationships between them had immeasurable value and power similar to the mystical elements of physics. I believe he essentially wanted us to be better thinkers, analysts and human beings.
I hope his generosity that successfully inspired legions of truly conscious designers was rewarded with deserved personal satisfaction. I am the sum of many encounters, but treasure my years at The Art Institute of Seattle knowing Fred and Anita Griffin as the richest I have experienced.
Fred’s gone and we’re all of us richer for the benevolence that spilled from that sketchbook, yet poorer knowing we’ll never again bask in the glow of that friendly florid face framed by his silvery mane and beard. I love you Fred.
Doris Hernandez
May 5, 2011
Fred was a great teacher that will never be forgotten. His memories will live on through his students. He and Anita will always be in my heart. My deepest condolences to Anita the their family.
Annette Bauman
May 4, 2011
Fred was, is, my hero. I can never thank him enough for introducing me to design and for taking me under his wing. His insight and attention to detail inspired me, and countless others—while his sense of whimsy made us all smile.
When I think of Fred, my mind is flooded with images of four-sided shapes, hungry blue jays, recycled bugs, turtles and bat-eared cats, Design Code Cards, coffee paintings, cut paper and repositional glue, visual puns, undecipherable handwriting, sculpted critters with shy smiles, whittlings, a briefcase bursting at the seams, over-stuffed sketchbooks and well supplied vest pockets.
Fred was, without a doubt, one of a kind. I am incredibly fortunate to have known Fred, as well as Anita. If ever there were soul mates, it is the two of them. Memories of Fred and Anita seated front row at the AIS all-school meetings—sketchbooks at the ready—warm me to the core.
Fred, thank you for being you.
JER KOUKAL
May 3, 2011
Fred, met you 40 years ago. One of the most creative minds I have ever had the pleasure meeting. Original thinker and just a great guy. Thanks for being you.
Portrait of Fred Griffin done as class assignment by Deborah Freng in 1973
Deborah Freng
April 29, 2011
Fred Griffin hired me right after I graduated from WWSC with a BA in Art. I decided to go to Jess Cauthorn's Burnley School of Art just to be sure that my Liberal Arts education hadn't missed anything. Fred gave me a job cleaning and helping to organize his studio at 619 East Pine Street not too far from the school. My fondest memories of Fred were working on animation at Coffin & Company Studio and listening to both Jim and Fred brainstorming new and progressively more outrageous creative projects and mayhem. Fred paid me the princely sum of $6. per hour and I was in heaven. I still have a book he lent me by Bill Holm about Northwest Coast Indian Art. (I would like to return it to Fred's family.) I've attached a photo of a class assignment from Fall of 1973 when Fred, who still had RED hair back then, had all of us do an illustration of the "essence" of him. He was a happy, energetic, inspirational, wildly creative soul who made a positive difference to countless students and friends. Deborah Round Freng [email protected]
Sigrid Cannon
April 28, 2011
Fred is the best person I have ever known. His passion for design, bugs and creatures of all kinds will bring a smile to my face forever. I love him and will always carry him with me every day that I speak of design. He will be the angel sitting on my shoulder reminding me of his genius. My love and prayers for Anita and his family, and all those who had the honor of knowing him.
Sigrid Cannon
Michael Bristow
April 28, 2011
Fred was best teacher I've ever had. His rigorous investigations into the infinity of possibility continue to inform my thinking about art, and way beyond. His spirit, curiosity, and energy will undoubtedly continue to inspire many, many people for years to come. My condolences to you, Anita.
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