About
Hazen Creative is an independent design practice specializing in editorial systems, identity, and communication design.
We create visual systems for organizations requiring thoughtful, information-rich communication across print, environmental, and digital contexts. Our work spans editorial design, identity systems, publications, exhibitions, packaging, signage, and institutional communications.
We place an emphasis on typography, sequencing, information design, and systems with a keen eye for consistency and optimization across multiple formats and applications.
Testimonials
Shawn is immensely talented and you’ll find no designer with as much versatility. Shawn is super communicative, extremely flexible and fast, full of great ideas—and just a pleasure to work with. Can’t recommend him highly enough.
Allison Arieff
Editorial Director, “MIT Technology Review”
I can’t imagine being able to (or wanting to) do my job without Shawn. He is patient with a great sense of humor, and people seek me out to ask who does our design and to compliment his work.
Nichole Cooper
Marketing & Communications Manager, Theatre and Interpretation Center, Northwestern University
Not only did Hazen Creative meet my expectations, but Shawn Hazen proved as dynamic a thinker as anyone I worked with. I couldn’t be happier with the work Hazen Creative has done for us and the end result of our partnership.
Isaac Perry
Darklight Studios, Paradox Media
About Shawn
Hazen Creative was founded by designer Shawn Hazen, whose career spans editorial, branding, exhibition, and communication design at several of the industry’s most influential companies and publications.
Shawn began his career at MetaDesign in San Francisco, where he worked across print and digital media, developing a systems-oriented approach to visual communication. He later joined Chronicle Books before becoming the founding Senior Designer at Dwell magazine, helping shape the publication’s visual identity during its formative years.
He subsequently worked as an Art Director at Apple, developing design solutions across packaging, retail, collateral, and digital media, and later served as Design Director at Remedy in Chicago, leading identity and branding work for clients in the health and wellness sector.
Founded in 2008, Hazen Creative continues today as an independent practice based in Seattle, focused on editorial systems, identity design, exhibitions, publications, and institutional communications.
Shawn’s work has been recognized by Communication Arts, Print, I.D., and the Society of Publication Designers, and has appeared in numerous design books and industry publications. He has also taught design in both San Francisco and Chicago.
Hazen Creative is based in Seattle and works with clients locally and internationally.
Selected clients include Apple, Dwell, Chronicle Books, MIT Technology Review, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Northwestern University, and organizations across publishing, technology, architecture, education, and culture.
The Process
Every project is different, but they all follow these same basic steps:
Exploration
We start with a focused brainstorm—discussing goals, expectations, and possible directions to explore.
Design
We create three or more distinct design directions. You respond, we discuss, and a clear creative direction begins to take shape.
Refinement
The chosen concept evolves over a few rounds. We fine-tune the details, establish the final direction, and prepare final files for handoff.