Robert L. Peters

Robert L. Peters, [http://www.gdc.net/about/fellows.htm FGDC] was born on May 26, 1954 (in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada) to devout Mennonite missionary parents, the middle of three sons to survive infancy. His pacifist father (John Jacob Peters) was born in post-revolutionary Russia in 1920 (during the Russian Civil War amongst the White Army, Bolsheviks, and Makhnovist anarchists), narrowly escaping as a refugee émigré along with his nuclear family in 1926. (During the Second World War, John served Canada as a voluntary conscientious objector). Robert’s mother (Amanda Marie Peters [nee Reimer—direct descendent of Klaas Reimer] ) was born in Manitoba in 1926 by dint of an earlier Russian Mennonite immigration to the Canadian prairies in 1874.

Robert’s family moved to Europe in 1957, where he grew up as a third culture kid, schooled bilingually in Frankfurt, Germany and Basel, Switzerland. Following a one-year foundation program in art (Basel), he graduated from Black Forest Academy (Lörrach), and then attended a year of religious studies at Capernwray Hall (Carnforth, Lancashire) in the United Kingdom. He subsequently volunteered with Operation Palmbranch, an African relief mission based in Bavaria, Germany.

Peters immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada in 1974, where he worked as an artist and freelance illustrator, married Beverly Guay Pauls (a Canadian he had met while studying in England), and studied design (a two-year Graphic Design diploma from Red River College, and a certificate in Design Management from the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Administrative Studies). In 1976 (while still in school) he co-founded the design studio Circle Graphics (now [http://www.circle.mb.ca/ Circle Design Incorporated] ).

Under Peters’ direction (he remains active as the firm’s principal), Winnipeg-based Circle Design Incorporated ( [http://www.circle.mb.ca/ Circle] ) has helped hundreds of clients worldwide conceive effective strategies, implement distinctive corporate identities and brands, and deploy targeted information and communication tools. This work has been widely recognized and cited, has received more than 60 awards for design excellence, and may be found in numerous permanent collections. Of particular note are the dozens of Canadian postage stamps, first day of issue covers, and philatelic collectables that Circle has designed since 1998.

Since 1982 Peters has lived in an ultra-low-energy, passive solar house that he designed and built on a wooded acreage in Eastern Manitoba A lifelong conservationist and nature lover, Peters is also an avid rock climber and mountaineer (a certified Climbing Instructor with the Alpine Club of Canada), marathoner, canoeist, and outdoorsman.

Peters separated in 1999 (after a 25-year marriage) and divorced in 2001. More biographical information about Robert L. Peters can be found at [http://www.robertlpeters.com/ www.robertlpeters.com] .

Professional Activities & Affiliations

In addition to his work as a design strategist, practitioner, and consultant, Peters has been actively involved in design deontology, education, writing, speaking, organization, and professional advocacy throughout his career. In 1998 the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada named him a Fellow (the country’s highest professional standing in this field) in recognition for his work in professional development and international design advancement.

Peters has traveled extensively (more than 50 countries) and continues to be active globally in professional development and as a frequent design juror, policy advisor, guest lecturer, and author. He is passionate about design’s role in making tomorrow’s world a better place—by shaping culture, building respect for diversity, and furthering understanding among people everywhere. An in-depth 2004 interview with Peters appears on [http://www.netdiver.net/interviews/robertpeters.php Netdiver] .

Peters first became actively involved with design associations in the late 1970s through his development and co-authorship of the pro forma guide document re: conditions of engagement for designers published by the multidisciplinary Manitoba Chapter of the Association of Canadian Industrial Designers (ACID/M). He served on the executive of ACID/M for several years, and was elected president in 1984.

In the late 1980s, Peters was among a handful of Manitoban designers who orchestrated the formation of a provincial chapter of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada. He became [http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm GDC Manitoba’s] founding president (1990 to 1992), assisted in the formation of GDC chapters in Saskatchewan and Victoria, and served on the GDC National council until 1999. In 1998, he compiled the ‘Sample Contract and Standard Terms and Conditions’ for the GDC, a document which became the Pro Forma Agreement for designers across Canada. Since 2003 he has served on the GDC’s national Ethics Committee.

Following the 1991 Icograda World Design Congress in Montreal (at which he conducted creative workshops), Peters was designated as the GDC’s official delegate and liaison, representing Canada to the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda), at Icograda General Assemblies in Glasgow, Oporto (Portugal), Punta del Este (Uruguay), and Sydney between 1992 and 1999.

Peters was on the Icograda board from 1999 to 2005, serving as President from 2001 to 2003. Significant achievements during Peters’ six years on the Icograda board include: development of the NGO’s first web presence by means of a content-rich portal ( [http://icograda.org/ Icograda Website] ), rejuvenation of the network [http://icograda.org/members/members_types/articles125.htm ‘Friends of Icograda’] , conception and launch of both the Icograda Design Education Network (inaugurated on Icograda’s 40th anniversary and World Graphics Day, 27 April 2003, in Brno, Czech Republic), and the [http://icograda.org/media/index.htm Icograda Design Media Network] (launched in Istanbul, Turkey on 31 January 2004), co-organization of Icograda congresses in Seoul (‘Oullim’ 2000), Johannesburg, South Africa (‘Continental Shift’ 2001), and Nagoya, Japan ( [http://www.visualogue.com/ ‘VISUALOGUE’] 2003—with some 3700 delegates from 49 countries in attendance, the world’s largest ever congress of graphic designers). Peters also served as official liaison between Icograda and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 2001 to 2005.

Peters joined the board of the international humanitarian organization [http://www.designfortheworld.org/ Design for the World (DW)] in 2000 and was appointed as a Vice President in 2002; in 2004 he was named an Honorary Member of the [http://www.sbb-bienalebrno.cz/english.htm Brno Biennale Association] ; he was a member of the founding executive of the [http://www.icsid.org/about/IDA.htm International Design Alliance (IDA)] from 2003 to 2005. He serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the [http://designinnovationinstitute.org/ Design Innovation Institute (Dii)] , and is a member of the editorial advisory group of [http://www.geezmagazine.org/ Geez magazine] .

Teaching

From 1984 to 1986, Peters taught Creative Communications at Red River College, Winnipeg. Between 1988 and 1990 he was a sessional Graphic Design instructor at the School of Art, University of Manitoba; from 1990 to 1993 he was an Assistant Professor and Chair of Graphic Design, at the School of Art. Since the early 1990s he has been a frequent guest lecturer on graphic design and visual communication at schools in North America, Asia, and Europe.

Between 2004 and 2006, Peters was a regular guest lecturer at the [http://www.iciscenter.org/ ICIS Centre (International Centre for Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability)] in Hornbaek, Denmark.

In 2006, Peters was the recipient of the ( [http://www.hartford.edu University of Hartford’s] ) [http://www.hartfordartschool.org/ Hartford Art School’s] Georgette and Richard Koopman Distinguished Chair in Visual Arts. As a part of this assignment he taught a studio course in the Visual Communication Design Department entitled “Cause an Effect” consisting of topical modules relating to globalism and cross-cultural issues. One of the student projects arising from this engagement was the [http://www.mix06.com.au/home.html “Migrant Immigrant eXchange 2006” (MIX06)] cultural exchange project undertaken along with students of Russell Kennedy at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia with the aim of encouraging contemporary discourse between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous designers/ collaborators in Australia and the USA, in recognition and respect of both First Nation and Aboriginal culture.

Later in 2006, Peters spent four weeks in Melbourne as Designer in Residence at [http://www.monash.edu.au Monash University] , with a focus being the preparation and launch of the traveling exhibition [http://www.mix06.com.au/home.html “MIX06: One Step Back, Two Steps Forward.”]

In 2007, Peters served as External Moderator to graduating students at the [http://www.wsd.ac.nz Wanganui School of Design] in Wanganui, New Zealand.

elected Articles & Publications

From 1994 to 1997 Peters served as a member of The Design Sector Steering Committee, Human Resources Development Canada, and contributed to the strategic 1996 document prepared for the committee by Price Waterhouse: 'Shaping Canada’s Future by Design'
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/SCFBD-Summary-Eng.pdf Summary Report]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/SCFBD-Main-Report-Eng.pdf Full Report]

Peters has been a regular foreign feature contributor to [http://www.commarts.com/ "Communication Arts"] magazine since 1995, and has written in-depth articles on design in Russia, Japan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Australia, and New Zealand as well as reports on design congresses in Portugal, Uruguay, Australia, Korea, and Denmark.
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/CA_Russia.pdf Russia Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/CA_Japan.pdf Japan Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/CA_Brazil.pdf Brazil Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/CA_China.pdf China Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/Cuba_Si_CA.pdf Cuba Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/RLP_CA_OzArticle.pdf Australia Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/CA_NewZealand.pdf New Zealand Feature]
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/Era05_CA.pdf 'Era 05 Congress' (Denmark) Feature]

From 2002 to 2006 Peters served as editor of "The Graphic Design Journal" published by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada. He has also written numerous design articles, reviews, and opinion pieces for numerous international publications including, [http://www.howdesign.com/ "HOW"] , [http://www.appliedartsmag.com/ "Applied Arts"] , [http://www.printmag.com/ "Print"] , the AIGA Journal, "NOC" (Japan), [http://www.package-design.net/ "Package & Design" (China)] , and "Who’s Who In Graphic Design " (Switzerland). During his two-year presidency of Icograda (2001 to 2003), Peters wrote quarterly editorials for the international journal "BoardMessage."
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/?p=99 "BoardMessage" Archive]

In 2005, Peters authored the book "Worldwide Identity: Inspired Design from Forty Countries" ( [http://www.amazon.ca/Worldwide-Identity-Inspired-Design-Countries/dp/1592531873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216917278&sr=1-1 ISBN 1-59253-187-3] ) published by [http://www.rockpub.com/ Rockport] in partnership with Icograda, and compiled and designed at Circle. The book showcases over 300 identities from 40 Icograda member countries around the globe, and has been called “a stimulating source of inspiration, reflection, and learning—an international snapshot of excellence in identity design.” An editorial essay from the book was published in [http://www.commarts.com/ "Communication Arts"] magazine under the title ‘Identity Matters.’
* [http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/IdentityMatters.pdf ‘Identity Matters’ Article]

In 2008, Peters edited and published the book "Gray Matter Graffitti: remnants of collections lost… an early gallery from some alleyways & other by-ways" by Vancouver poet [http://www.samwreimer.com/ Sam W. Reimer] .

External links

* [http://www.robertlpeters.com www.robertlpeters.com] Peters’ personal website
* [http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba/designer1509.php GDC: Robert L. Peters] Peters’ professional GDC profile
* [http://www.circle.mb.ca Circle Design Incorporated] Peters’ Winnipeg-based design office
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592531873/102-3563717-2313733?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance "Worldwide Identity"] (Book reviews on Amazon)
* [http://www.netdiver.net/interviews/robertpeters.php Netdiver] An in-depth interview with Robert L. Peters

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