Scroll down to see my obituary. First what I wrote myself and was posted on FaceBook by my family. After that, what was posted in The Salem News.
Hello, Everyone!
I have enjoyed reading all the updates...so it must be my turn.
57 years seems a long period to cover in one E-mail, so I will just do some highlights.
I earned my BFA from UCONN in 1964. Then off to UCLA for graduate school. I got my MA in 1966. I would have had a PhD. I finished all the curriculum requirements for a doctorate, but ran out of money for another year to write a dissertation and, to fulfill a new requirement at UCLA, pass a fluency test in German! I had enough trouble with learning French in High School.
I then taught at a small college in New Jersey for five years. Group W, Westinghouse Broadasting (WBZ in Boston) hired me to direct some shows, co-produce a couple more, and do some set design work. I stayed with Group W for several years. I got married in 1971, and found the demands of the television world and being married didn't mix well. I moved on to the corporate world, working first for the Gillette Company (best employer I ever had), started my own consulting company for a few years, and then on to Digital Equipment Corporation as Global Director of Design and Corporate Identity.
I have two children, Ben - aged 41, and Rebecca - aged 34. No grand children. Ben is the Technical Director and Production Manager for the Boston Ballet. Rebecca is a zoo keeper and recently spent a month in South Africa getting certified in African Wildlife management.
I was divorced in 1994. At about the same time Digital went out of business. I began a new career developing a Professional Development Program for the Design Management Institute. I did seminars and workshops all over the world (North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. I was traveling the world about 35 weeks each year.
At age 63 I began yet another career. I have written several books on Design Management, and have been a regular columnist for several design magazines. I also became an adjunct professor of design management for Suffolk University's Executive MBA program in Innovation and Design.
I have written several case studies on Brand Management and design for Harvard University.
Finally, at about age 71, I sort of retired. Now I direct 3 different television shows for MHTV (Marblehead Community Access Television). One of them, "Up for Discussion" won an award last year as the best community access television show on public affairs in the U.S.
I also now work for the M'Head Chamber of Commerce two days a week in the Information Booth (paid position and really fun for an old codger.)
I have been blessed with two wonderful and talented children, the ability to travel the world, a number of exciting and rewarding career moves, and hundreds of really good friends all over the world.
I hope to see many of you in August at our 75th birthday party.
Peter Phillips
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Obituary:
Peter Phillips
Services for Dad will be held Monday April 15th at 10:30 AM at Church of Saint Andrew in Marblehead.
Dad wrote his own obituary and here it is in its entirety for you to read.
PETER L. PHILLIPS
June 22, 1942 – March 21, 2024
Peter L. Phillips, 81, a life-long resident of Marblehead, died on March 21st.
Peter was the son of the late Raymond A. and Edna M. ( Peterson ) Phillips of Marblehead.
He attended Marblehead Schools, graduating with the Marblehead High School Class of 1960. He earned a Master of Arts Degree from the School of Theatre, Film & Television, University of California at Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the University of Connecticut. He had also completed the curriculum requirements for a PhD in Fine Arts at UCLA, and completed post-graduate studies at the University of Colorado, and The University of Michigan School of Management.
Peter L. Phillips was an internationally recognized expert in developing corporate graphic design management strategies and programs. He had more than thirty-five years experience as a senior corporate design manager, a design consultant, author, workshop leader and lecturer. He distinguished himself in the corporate world as a Design and Promotion Manager for the Gillette Company and as Director of Corporate Identity and Design for Digital Equipment Corporation. In both positions he had global responsibilities for managing strategic graphic design functions.
Peter’s corporate career crossed several industries. In addition to his Gillette and Digital Equipment Corporation assignments, he was a television director and producer for Group “W” Westinghouse Broadcasting (WBZ television in Boston), Director of Promotional Program Development for Stanmar Inc, and president of his own strategic design management firm.
As a consultant, Peter developed numerous global design strategy programs for many Fortune 500 companies. He also advised corporations on re-structuring, and re-positioning, their in-house corporate graphic design groups.
Peter took a highly pragmatic, business-based approach to all of his assignments, believing that graphic design, and the management of corporate graphic design functions, are problem solving disciplines rather than simple aesthetic exercises.
He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the prestigious Financial World Gold Trophy for design of the Best Annual Report in the United States, as well as for development of promotions, promotional material design, communications, and for designing and implementing effective brand management systems.
Peter was the author of “Creating the Perfect Design Brief: How to Manage Design for Strategic Advantage,” 1st edition, 2004, and, 2nd edition, 2012, Allworth Press, as well as the Spanish, Portuguese, Persian and Estonian language versions of this same book. He was also the author of “Managing Corporate Design, Best Practices for In-House Graphic Design Departments,” Allworth Press, 2015, and the author of "Principles of Managing the Corporate Design Department," a section of the anthology “AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design, Allworth Press, 2008, and numerous articles for the Design Management Journal.
He was also a contributor to the books, Careers by Design by Roz Goldfarb, Allworth Press, 2001, Revealing The Corporation, by John M.T. Balmer and Stephen A. Greyser, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2003, and UX Best Practices, Processes, and Techniques: Achieving Impact with User Experience, by Helmut Degen and Xiaowei Yuan, McGraw-Hill, 2011.
Peter Phillips was a columnist for both Graphis magazine, and New Design magazine. The British Design Council engaged him to create a knowledge cell and video on design briefs for their Web-site.
Peter developed teaching case studies on brand management for the Design Management Institute (DMI), in collaboration with the Harvard Business School, which are distributed worldwide by the Harvard Business School.
He was an Adjunct Professor for Suffolk University’s Executive MBA program in Innovation and Design.
He was an honorary director of the Hong Kong Jewelry Designers Association.
Peter founded the Design Management Institute’s Professional Development Program, and developed and conducted workshops and seminars for graphic design management professionals worldwide.
Along with Professor Emeritus Stephen A. Greyser of the Harvard Business School, he was the co-developer, and co-presenter of a Senior Executive Workshop program entitled: Strategies for Developing, Maintaining, and Sustaining a Powerful Brand.
He was a frequent guest speaker for a wide variety of organizations in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. Topics included: “Creating the Perfect Design Brief,” "Developing and Implementing Strategic Global Design Programs," "Managing the Corporate Design Department," and "Selling Strategic Design Up the Corporate Ladder."
Peter spent his retirement writing, and was active with MHTV (Marblehead Community Access Television.) He was the director of the award winning show “Up For Discussion,” Marblehead Community Counseling Center’s show “Perspectives on Life,” “Facing the End of Life,” and, “Facing: Challenging Parenthood.”
He was also the director of “Salem Happenings,” a production of SATV (Salem Access Television.
He worked for the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce as a staff member at the chamber’s Information Booth during the summer season.
Peter leaves a son, Benjamin J. Phillips and his wife Kirsten Leonard. A daughter, Rebecca L. (Phillips) Hollenbeck and her husband Chris Hollenbeck. A grandchild, Natalie Hollenbeck. He also leaves a brother, Raymond A. Phillips III of Florida, his wife Gwendoline, a niece Melinda Phillips Zumski and her wife Kathy Zumski, of San Francisco, a nephew, Duane L. Phillips and his wife Lisa, of Michigan, and Steven Lewis and his wife Paula, as well as their families. He is also survived by his former wife, Sybil “Billie” Phillips of Marblehead, several cousins and their families.
A lifetime member of the Church of St. Andrew in Marblehead, a memorial service will be held there April 15, 2024 at 10:30 AM. His ashes will be scattered at sea.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of Saint Andrew, Episcopal, Marblehead, MA.
Peter L. Phillips
June 22, 1942 - March 21, 2024
Marblehead - Peter L. Phillips, 81, a life-long resident of Marblehead, died on March 21st. Services honoring him will be held at the Church of St. Andrew's (135 Lafayette Street, Marblehead) on Monday, April 15 at 10:30am.
A graduate of the Marblehead High School Class of 1960, Peter earned a Master of Arts Degree from the School of Theatre, Film & Television, University of California at Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the University of Connecticut. He was an internationally recognized expert in developing corporate graphic design management strategies and programs, as well as the author of Creating the Perfect Design Brief and Managing Corporate Design (Allworth Press).
The son of the late Raymond A. and Edna M. (Peterson) Phillips of Marblehead, he leaves behind a son, Benjamin J. Phillips and his wife Kirsten Leonard; a daughter, Rebecca L. (Phillips) Hollenbeck and her husband Chris Hollenbeck; and a granddaughter, Natalie Hollenbeck. He also leaves a brother, Raymond A. Phillips III of Florida, his wife Gwendoline, a niece Melinda Phillips Zumski and her wife Kathy Zumski, of San Francisco, a nephew, Duane L. Phillips and his wife Lisa, of Michigan, and Steven Lewis and his wife Paula, as well as their families. He is also survived by his former wife, Sybil "Billie" Phillips of Marblehead, several cousins and their families.To send flowers to the family of Peter L. Phillips, please visit Tribute Store.
Published on April 8, 2024
In Memory of Peter
In Memory of Peter
In Memory of Peter
