- Roz Chast (B.F.A. 1977) - cartoonist
for the New Yorker
- David Macaulay (B.Arch. 1969)
- writer/illustrator, The Way Things Work (1988)
- Seth MacFarlane (B.F.A. 1995) - creator of the animated series Family Guy and
American Dad
- Nicole Miller (B.F.A.
1973) - fashion designer with eponymous brand
- Martin Mull (B.F.A. 1965, M.F.A.
1967) - actor/comedian; frequently appears on Hollywood Squares
- Gus Van Sant (B.F.A. 1975) - film
director, won Best Director and Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival for Elephant (2003), nominated for Best Director Academy Award for Good Will Hunting
(1997)
The Talking Heads were formed at RISD in 1974.