Barry Hansen

Barry Hansen – Designer

20+ years of experience designing for publishers and independent authors. I pique interest through visual concepts and evocative typography.

Overview

Personally, I'm an avid reader. Professionally, I'm an ad agency art director turned book cover designer with a penchant for powerful visual concepts. I'm also skilled at finding just the right typeface and designing effective type treatments, including hand lettering. The right typeface(s) can work like a movie soundtrack to subtly—or not so subtly—communicate emotion.


Some of my favorite genres for which to design are history, Christian, inspirational, and biography. I can recommend and work with Reedsy illustrators if needed for your project. I am skilled as well at finding and creatively combining existing imagery, or creating my own, to bring my concepts to life.


I've designed dozens of covers in 20+ years for publishers and independent authors. I am responsive, responsible and good with deadlines. I am happy to share my publishing experience with new authors.


In addition to covers, I design interiors for image-intensive print books. I don't do EPUB format. I can recommend some Reedsy typesetters who specialize in interiors for both print and EPUB. I can provide font information from the cover so the typesetter can tie in the interior with the cover design.


I also speak French and have designed French book covers for European readers.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Christian Non-Fiction History Inspirational
Fiction
Christian Fiction Historical Fiction
Languages
English
Awards
  • New York Art Directors Annual

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 1995 — Present
I work alone or as part of a virtual team, directly for clients or for publishers and advertising+PR agencies. I design books, album covers, logos, brochures, websites, and advertising for print and screen.

Intrepid Agency

Aug, 2012 — Present
Graphic design and advertising for a Salt Lake City, UT, public relations firm. I create online and print advertising, websites, logos, brochures, maps, etc.

Coates Kokes

Sep, 1989 — Sep, 1995 (about 6 years)
Worked at a small Portland, OR, ad agency with copywriters and creative director on ad campaigns; designed collateral such as logos, business cards, brochures, posters, and annual reports.

Knape & Knape

Jan, 1988 — Jun, 1989 (over 1 year)
Worked at a small Dallas, TX, ad agency with copywriters and senior art director to create ad campaigns for newspapers and magazines; designed collateral such as logos, business cards, brochures, posters, annual reports, and a hardbound book. Production management.

Portfolio

Falling to Heaven: Surprising Path to Happiness

James L. Ferrell

Cover Design
Bill Marriott: Success Is Never Final--his Life and the Decisions That Built a Hotel Empire

Dale Van Atta

Cover Design
She Stood for Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland

Loki Mulholland

Cover Design
The Immortals: The World War II Story of Five Fearless Heroes, the Sinking of the Dorchester, and an Awe-inspiring Rescue

Steven T. Collis

Cover Design
Christ in Every Hour

Anthony Sweat

Cover Design
The Slow Work of God: What the Past Can Teach Us about Loss, Grace, and Conversion

Rachel Cope

Deseret Book Co

Cover Design
Mark of a Giant: Seven People Who Changed the World

Ted Stewart

Shadow Mountain

Cover Design
I Sit All Amazed: The Extraordinary Power of a Mother's Love

Mikita, Steve

Deseret Book

Cover Design
Catastrophes and Heroes: True Stories of Man-made Disasters

Jerry Borrowman

Shadow Mountain

Cover Design
Home and Away: A World War II Christmas Story

Dean Hughes

Shadow Mountain Publishing

Cover Design
Heroes of Glorieta Pass

Hainsworth, Brad E

Deseret Book

Cover Design
Made with Reedsy
The Amazingly Convoluted Story of How George Met Ruby: A Latter-day Saint Family's Early American Beginnings

Hyer, Michael H

Round Valley Books

Cover Design
A World Without America: What Would Your Life Be Like If the American Revolution Had Failed?

Stewart, Ted

Cover Design Production Management
The Hymn of the Pearl

Lori Driggs

Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
[The Mansion, 100th Anniversary Edition] [By: Henry Van Dyke] [October, 2011]

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Invisible Heroes of World War II: Extraordinary Wartime Stories of Ordinary People

Jerry Borrowman

Cover Design
The Last Man at the Inn: One Man's Quest to Believe

R. William Bennett

Cover Design
Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman

Emily Watts

Cover Design
Echoes of Hammers and Spikes

Dozens of Utah's finest singers and musicians

Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management

Barry has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jeff B.

Jeff B.

May, 2025

Barry has been perfect for what I needed. I don't think that it was a coincidence that I was able to find him for the particular book that I am writing. I would highly recommend Barry to anyone. Thank you Barry!
Kemp L.

Kemp L.

Sep, 2024

Barry is extremely knowledgeable, professional and talented. Without question, he was the right person for my project.
Barry H.
Thanks, Kemp! I appreciate your review very much. I'm so glad we were able to work together on this project.
Mike H.

Mike H.

Aug, 2024

It was a pleasure to work with Barry. Not only did he provide an engaging and professional book interior and cover, he proved some very useful suggestions and recommendations that improved the book.
Barry H.
I appreciate this review, Mike. I enjoyed collaborating with you because of your professionalism, flexibility, and openness to suggestions. I was grateful to be able to give your exceptional resear...
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