Before joining the Austin-based agency, Renan served as a Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy in both New York and São Paulo. There, he led global campaigns for Budweiser — including the 2022 FIFA World Cup — as well as regional work for Nike’s Olympic platform across Latin America. His portfolio also includes award-winning campaigns for Old Spice, Sprite, Heinz, and Prime Video.
Renan’s work has been recognized by the industry’s top creative shows, including Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Andy Awards, and the Art Directors Club. In 2023, he was named the third most awarded Creative Director at The One Show in Brazil, contributing to Wieden+Kennedy São Paulo being crowned the most awarded agency of the year by the Brazilian Creative Club.
Born and raised in Capinzal — a small rural town in southern Brazil surrounded by grasslands and cattle — Renan developed an early love for aesthetics, storytelling, and animal print. His career began in 2007, creating animated vignettes and illustrations for MTV Brazil. A year later, he was invited to contribute as a graphic artist to Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign and was named Young Graphic Designer of the Americas by DAAB.
Between now and 2030, which specific skills, technologies, or priorities will matter most in shaping the future of graphic design?
By 2030, the most critical skill will not be technical mastery, but curation and taste. As AI democratizes image generation, the value of a unique human perspective will skyrocket. The priority will shift from “how to make it” to “why we make it.” Designers must evolve into visual conductors, blending synthetic efficiency with human empathy. The future belongs to those who can harness technology not just to speed up production, but to build cohesive, soulful brand worlds that maintain the integrity of craft in an automated landscape.
What principles guide your design decisions?
My decisions are guided by the belief that craft is a storytelling device, not just decoration. Coming from a background of rigorous Brazilian art direction, I prioritize clarity and emotion, stripping away the unnecessary until the core idea shines through. Whether building a design system or a global campaign, every visual element must serve the concept. I look for the tension between the classic and the unexpected. Ultimately, an obsession with detail is how we signal respect for the audience; if it doesn’t add meaning, it doesn’t belong on the page.
Creative Comment: What AI Can and Cannot Do
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GDUSA Digital Magazine: April 2026
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