Rochelle Ratkaj Moser

OWNER/CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER RATKAJ DESIGNS, MADISON WI

Rochelle has always held steadfast to her mission: change the world with the power of design. After leaving a corporate position to go out on her own in 2015, Rochelle quickly gained momentum and fame for the quality of her work. By 2023, Rochelle was leading an agency focused on print and digital with a focus on providing changemakers, non-profits, mission driven brands and small businesses with powerful design.

Ratkaj Designs is a key partner to top organizations like Brain Injury Association of America, EdTrust-West, College Track, Renaissance Learning, among others. Ratkaj has led the team in amplifying messages to audiences otherwise excluded by traditional design and driving impactful change through the use of visual art.

Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed. The agency has won prestigious honors: GDUSA American Graphic Design Awards, Silver and Bronze awards at the Indigo Design Awards, AAF Addy Silver Award, and the GDUSA Digital Design Award. Most recently, Ratkaj Designs won the Netty Awards for the Best Agency of the Year and Best Digital Design Campaign.

TELL US HOW AND WHY YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS, AND SHARE ANY THOUGHTS ON WHY DESIGN CAN BE AN ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE TOOL?

I believe in the power of design. We as designers have the ability and responsibility to use our skills to impact the world around us in a positive way.

I’ve seen the power of design in its ability to change the world for one person and also for many. Good design drives people to move into action, to inform, and to educate. Powerful design gives you the ability to either hinder or help. I choose to help. I choose to think about the end user, to fight for their needs. I choose to design for those that get forgotten.

According to estimates from the World Health Organization, 1.3 billion people worldwide suffer from a significant disability. This is where I bridge the gap.

I, alongside my team at Ratkaj Designs, work with the philosophy that accessibility is a must, not an extra. We carefully weigh design options, educate ourselves on the latest in accessibility tools, and advocate with clients and organizations about the value of accessibility in design with each project. What good is a message if not everyone can receive it, after all?

GIVEN THE CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS AND CHALLENGES OUR SOCIETY NOW FACES, DOES THIS MOMENT IN TIME PRESENT ANY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES TO DESIGNING FOR GOOD?

Society focuses on inclusion, a lot. This ought to apply to how we disseminate information as well. Many organizations, though, haven’t given it much thought. Even with 508 compliance laws, many organizations are unaware of them or the best practices needed to comply. Here’s where it becomes our duty as designers to educate ourselves and produce designs that push the boundaries of narrative while adhering to the highest standards. We seek out methods to support the customer in further enhancing their accessibility for their WHOLE audience, and we educate our partners along the way.


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