Since founding Hansen Design Company in 1980, Pat has committed herself to excellence in all aspects of design and business management – earning international recognition for her role in promoting the value of design as a critical part of business strategy.

Working with clients such as Boeing, Microsoft, the University of Washington, Ernst & Young – as well as a host of smaller organizations – has earned Pat many happy clients and 100's of design excellence awards.

Pat is a frequent guest lecturer and juror for design shows around the country. For two years, she served as a member of the Strathmore Paper Company Design Advisory Council. Shortly after, Pat was honored with Media Inc.'s Person of the Year Award in Graphic Design and featured in a PRINT Magazine cover story. 

Acknowledged in 1998 by Graphic Design:USA, Pat was identified and featured as one of the nation's top ten women designers. In 2000, HDC was featured in HOW magazine. In 1987, Pat became the founding President of the Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). She then served four years on the National Board of Directors of the AIGA, in addition to a term as Vice President of its Executive Committee. In 2000, Pat was elected a Fellow of AIGA, based on contributions over the course of her career. In 2008, Pat was honored by the Seattle Show with a Legends Award for her work and for her contribution to the design community.

Pat received a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Washington, and attended the Kunst Gewerbeschule in Basel, Switzerland. She has taught at the University of Washington in the Graphic Design School.

Pat is very active in the community,  has served as President of the Rotary Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board of AIGA/Seattle. Pat  has also been active in Seattle Rotary and served on the Board of Directors and on several committees.