Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Hazelrigg.
Hi Robert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After two years at Brookdale, Hazelrigg transferred to Rutgers University to continue his studies in graphic design and programming. The late 1980s and early 1990s marked the desktop publishing revolution, aligning perfectly with Hazelrigg’s interests. His dedication and innovation at Rutgers led him to create custom scripts for design applications, earning him a job offer from Connors Publishing even before graduating.
At Connors Publishing, Hazelrigg’s ability to automate processes and his design talents allowed him to climb the ranks rapidly. When the publishing company decided to sell off its division, Hazelrigg transitioned to working at ad agencies, further diversifying his skill set. His adaptability and commitment to excellence shone through as he worked for companies in various industries, including real estate and medical education.
In 2008, Hazelrigg decided to take a leap of faith and venture into freelance work as a graphic designer. His portfolio began to include impressive projects for clients ranging from local businesses to major corporations like Citibank. He designed a 90-page quarterly newsletter for Citibank, distributed worldwide in multiple languages. His journey has been marked by his relentless pursuit of excellence and staying ahead of industry trends.
His portfolio is large and comprises of three memorable designs. One became a staple in every household’s medicine cabinet, another achieved viral fame, and the third, even after two decades, remains an indispensable fixture for hotdog vendors on the streets of New York City.
Hazelrigg’s humor came through as he created a viral meme featuring Chris Christie, inspired by the sight of the former governor cheering for the Cowboys at a Giants game. The meme quickly gained widespread attention, prompting a call from the Trentonian newspaper, which sought permission to use it. With an enthusiastic nod, Hazelrigg granted consent, propelling the image onto the national stage. It swiftly propagated across the internet, reaching over 200 websites, including ESPN and the NFL network.
Another of Hazelrigg’s creative endeavors extended to designing a Band-Aid box. This project endured an 18-month journey through the meticulous approvals process at Johnson & Johnson before finally gracing store shelves across North America.
While serving as the creative director at Foxtons (formerly known as Your Home Direct and later rebranded as YHD Foxtons), Hazelrigg masterminded diverse advertising and marketing initiatives with a generous $13 million budget. These initiatives spanned newspaper ads to unconventional guerrilla marketing tactics. His accolades included posters he designed showing up in the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (with Jim Carrey) and the remarkable guerrilla marketing campaign that involved hotdog cart umbrellas—a campaign that showed up in the popular HBO series “Sex and the City” and remains a fixture on the city streets.
What sets Hazelrigg apart is his commitment to continuous learning and innovation. He has cultivated long-standing relationships with industry giants like Apple and Adobe, even becoming a beta tester for Adobe products. This unique connection has enabled him to stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
As we delve deeper into Hazelrigg’s career, we discover an intriguing chapter where he transitioned from traditional graphic design to embracing the digital age and even ventured into artificial intelligence. It all began with a freelance project for Sims Corporation, a clothing store chain, around 2006. His client introduced him to a then-emerging platform called Facebook, suggesting they experiment with coupons. Skeptical at first, Hazelrigg gave it a shot, and it turned out to be a resounding success, with 50% of coupons coming from Facebook.
This experience opened his eyes to the potential of social media and digital marketing. Hazelrigg began using Facebook for his projects and quickly gained a substantial following. By 2010, he had amassed 17,000 followers and was teaching others about social media. His expertise led to speaking engagements and an exciting journey into the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I started nearly 40 years ago, every design was created by hand — ink, paper, paint, markers, and more. Then computers arrived and changed everything.
Learning new software has always been a passion of mine, but the constant wave of evolving technologies makes it challenging to stay ahead of the curve. It feels like every 2 to 4 years there’s a new way to market — from print to digital, to social media, and now AI. Marketing is in a state of constant evolution, and adapting to each shift has become part of the craft.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It’s hard to choose just one highlight. A banner I designed hung at the 1996 Olympics for the world to see. My product packaging designs have been on shelves in stores across North America. I’ve created a global publication for one of the world’s largest companies. And I’ve had the privilege of working with clients on every continent except Antarctica.
But honestly, the greatest success isn’t any single project — it’s being able to work with clients I truly enjoy while still having the time to spend with my family.
What does success mean to you?
I get my success through my clients’ success. If I do a good job, they grow
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roberthazelrigg.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert_hazelrigg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGraphicsGuy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberthazelrigg/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Roberthazelrigg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-graphics-guy-west-long-branch-2?osq=The+Graphics+Guy
