Robert Peters

Robert L. Peters was a seminal Canadian graphic designer and educator whose career spanned nearly five decades, leaving an indelible mark on both national and international design communities. Born on May 26, 1954, in Steinbach, Manitoba, he grew up in a Mennonite missionary family and spent formative years schooling in Frankfurt and Basel, experiences that infused his work with a multicultural sensibility. After completing a foundation art program in Basel and a diploma at Red River College, Peters co‑founded Circle Design Incorporated in 1976, a studio that would win more than 60 awards and become renowned for designing Canadian postage stamps and first‑day‑of‑issue covers. His dedication to sustainable living was evident in 1980 when he designed and built Solace House, an ultra‑low‑energy passive solar residence on a wooded Manitoba acreage. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Peters taught Creative Communications at Red River College and graphic design at the University of Manitoba, mentoring countless students and later serving as a guest lecturer across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. His leadership extended beyond academia; he served as president of the Manitoba branch of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, and from 2001 to 2003 he was President of Icograda, representing the global design community in dialogues with UNESCO and WIPO. Peters also contributed extensively to design literature, authoring Worldwide Identity: Inspired Design from Forty Countries and editing The Graphic Design Journal, while maintaining a regular column in Communication Arts magazine. In addition to his professional achievements, he was a committed humanitarian, holding vice‑presidential duties with Design for the World and acting as an ambassador for the International Indigenous Design Network. Peters’ legacy endures through his prolific body of work, his countless publications, and the many designers he inspired until his passing on May 8, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer.