Vincent Wanga is a dynamic international design thought leader, creative keynote speaker, award-winning creative and executive, author of “The Art of Direction,” serial entrepreneur, and experienced brand consultant with an exceptional range of expertise over a distinguished two-decade career. Vince has strategically leveraged his rich cultural heritage, deep intellectual pedigree, and acute creative acumen across multiple industries—collaborating with a diverse constituency of clients and companies from the newly founded to Fortune 500.
His extensive experience includes projects for the City of DC, Google/NRG Energy, Marriott International, Gilead Sciences, GN Resound, SNCF America, Penn, Schoen & Berland, US Census Bureau, State Farm, University of Minnesota, World Bank Group, and a Michelin-starred restaurant group. As former vice president and head of creative for one of the fastest-growing technology startups in North America at the time, he oversaw corporate brand strategy and creative during unprecedented company growth from pre-Series A to an over $1 billion “unicorn” valuation.
With abundant aptitudes earned over the years, he looks at the world with a critical, creative eye while empathetically analyzing the eloquence and human consequence of our craft. Vince lives in Washington, DC, and Asheville, NC, with his dog, Okello. When he is not working on new business ventures, he passionately travels the world, collecting creative inspiration at the finest boutique hotels rewards points can buy.
What principles guide your design decisions?
Four specific things. Am I solving a problem (and not just a solution in search of a problem)? If the answer is no, you’re wasting precious time and resources. Trusting my experience, expertise, and intuition, and not letting that be distracted by trends, anecdotes, or groupthink. Honoring timeless design philosophies like Dieter Rams’ principles of design, that can stand the test of time and not fade away as soon as trends inevitably shift, as they say, nothing gets duller faster than the cutting-edge. Finally, backing my design instincts and intuition with research and data to ensure I’m solving for the business case and user/customer, and not just our fundamental need to create cool shit.