Robert Brinkerhoff was born in Okinawa to American parents and raised in Virginia. Since his arrival at RISD in 1996, his teaching has focused on illustration concepts classes and the synthesis of illustration and design. As an illustrator and designer, Brinkerhoff’s clients have included corporations, institutions of higher learning such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Brown University and Brandeis University, and regional and national magazines. His illustrations have stood out in numerous competitions sponsored by the University and College Designer’s Association (UCDA), the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Society of Illustrators, among others, and appeared in annuals such as Print, How and American Illustration. He has exhibited both nationally and internationally and has been awarded artist residencies in the US, Italy and the Republic of Ireland. Brinkerhoff has served as both the head of Illustration and chief critic for RISD’s European Honors Program in Rome.

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

• Editorial illustration

• Corporate and institutional illustration

• Illustration/graphic design history

• Artists' books

• Design process

• Painting

• Interdisciplinary studies

• Writing/criticism

Robert Brinkerhoff

Mathilde Varin is an illustrator from Grenoble who today divides her professional life between illustration and managing an architecture firm. After earning a high school diploma in visual arts, she pursued studies in linguistics. For 10 years, she worked as a communications officer in a performance venue before dedicating herself to freelance illustration.

She creates gentle and whimsical illustrations, inspired by fairy tales from around the world. A self-taught artist, she enjoys blending various traditional techniques (watercolor, ink line drawing, linocut…) and also uses digital tools to create, recompose, or add final touches to her work. Since childhood, she has never stopped drawing — the pages of her notebooks and meeting notes probably still bear the evidence! In 2022, she illustrated and co-published her first children’s book, Souriceau se sent mal (Little Mouse Feels Unwell), written by Ariane Pont.

Mathilde Varin

Silvina Rodriguez Picaro is a serial entrepreneur, international speaker, consultant, and author with over 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, and corporate communication. She founded SRP Communication & Brand Design, SRP Interactive, SRP Health Care Communication, SRP AI Solutions, and other companies, helping businesses—from startups to global corporations—craft compelling brand narratives and innovative marketing strategies.

As an Endeavor mentor, Silvina specializes in strategic marketing and brand development. She is also the author of several books, including 222 Tips for Doing Business on the Internet (2011), SRP: 20 Years 1000 Images (2012), Passion4Brands (2017), Get Ready to WOW! (2021), Ideaction (2024), and numerous media articles.

Her academic background includes a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), a Master’s in Corporate Communication from UCES, and an MBA in Marketing from Salvador University (USAL) and the State University of New York (SUNY). She further honed her expertise through Seth Godin’s altMBA and Scott Galloway’s Brand Sprint.

Early in her career, she worked at top advertising agencies in Buenos Aires and São Paulo, as well as in the marketing department of La Nación newspaper. Her work has earned over 100 industry awards, including the Silver Pencil, multiple Eikon Awards, American Graphic Design Awards, and the Iluminis Award for Excellence in Management Development.

She has also served as a jury member for prestigious art competitions such as the ADC 99th Annual Awards, Young Ones Student Awards (2019), United Way’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards (2020), Eikon Awards (2021, 2018, 2015), and SAMFY Awards XXIX (2013, 2012). Splitting her time between Miami, Washington D.C., and Buenos Aires, Silvina is fluent in Spanish, English, French.

Silvina Rodriguez Picaro