Graphic design is about listening, and then responding aesthetically, to what you hear. Design is a form of communication that relies heavily on empathy and feeling to convey an accurate message to an audience. Roberta Hansen is a good listener. A prairie born designer, Roberta has experience working both in an advertising agency and on her own as a freelance designer. She has had a hand in many design projects ranging from creating local show posters, to orchestrating the 2013 “Go Anywhere” campaign for Folkorama (a major Winnipeg festival).
After receiving a degree in Psychology and English from the University of Winnipeg, she went on to pursue the three year diploma for Graphic Design at Red River College. Roberta worked for two years as a freelance designer in conjunction with her job at a Winnipeg-based design agency. In September 2014, she left her job to pursue freelance work full-time. One of the first major pieces she completed independently was a 25th Anniversary box-set and campaign for JUNO Award winning singer/songwriter Steve Bell’s latest album, Pilgrimage. Another highlight was being nominated by the WCMAs for Album Art of the Year for her work on Let It Lie by The Bros. Landreth. Other musical clients have included JP Hoe, Del Barber, Blake Burgland and Chris Ulrich.
For a designer, apart from designing book covers and wine labels, creating album art and concert posters is the dream. When asked how she fell into such a favourable career path, Roberta credits the music scene in Winnipeg: “It’s a close knit community, where we all support each other creatively. This city is passionate about the arts and I feel extremely thankful to be a part of it.”