Elevating Design: Africa Creative’s New Independent Arm

africa Creative, a prominent agency known for its innovative campaigns, has announced the launch of Africa DSGN, a dedicated design division. This strategic move underscores the agency’s commitment to design as a core pillar of its identity adn service offering. The new entity will operate both as an internal resource for Africa Creative’s clients and as an independent studio, collaborating with brands that do not directly compete with the agency’s existing portfolio.

Leadership and Vision: Guiding Africa DSGN into the future

Africa DSGN will be spearheaded by Bruno Valença and Hugo Aranha, under the guidance of Sergio Gordilho, partner, co-president and CCO of Africa Creative. Valença,a 16-year veteran of Africa Creative,brings a wealth of experience,having risen through the ranks from design assistant to design/ECD head. Aranha, with seven years at the agency across three cycles, complements Valença’s expertise with his background in art direction, political marketing, and international design projects.

If the design is a global trend, in Africa it has always been a culture. Now, we take another step to transform this pillar into an independent arm, prepared to create together with brands as ambitious as our history, says Sergio Gordilho, partner, co -president and CCO of Africa Creative.

Sergio Gordilho,Africa Creative

Beyond Aesthetics: A Strategic Approach to Design

Africa DSGN aims to transcend traditional design practices by integrating strategy and connection into its core beliefs. The studio emphasizes the importance of crafting identities that resonate with consumers, blending artistic skill with data-driven insights.this approach reflects a growing trend in the design industry, where user experience (UX) and data analytics are increasingly informing design decisions. According to a recent report by Statista, the global UX design market is projected to reach $49.6 billion by 2025, highlighting the increasing demand for strategic design solutions.

The design is not only appearance, but strategy and connection. We turn the identity into desire, mixing crafts with data, intuition with the method, emotion with reason, says Hugo Aranha, Head of Design of Africa Creative.

Hugo Aranha, Africa Creative

Integrated Creativity: The Africa Creative Advantage

Being part of Africa Creative provides Africa DSGN with a distinct advantage: seamless integration with the agency’s creative resources. This synergy allows the design studio to develop impactful solutions that leverage both creative intelligence and strategic design principles. Bruno Valença emphasizes the studio’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and expanding its reach.

Being part of an agency like Africa gives us a unique advantage: we work in an integrated way, combining creative intelligence and design to build shocking solutions. We want to expand this vision and bring design even further, says Bruno Valença, also design manager.

Bruno Valença, Africa Creative

State-of-the-Art Facility and Future Growth

Africa DSGN operates from a dedicated space within Africa Creative’s headquarters, equipped with cutting-edge technology and designed to foster creativity and collaboration. With a current team of eight professionals, the studio plans to expand its workforce by 50% by the end of the year, solidifying its market presence and enhancing its capacity to handle new projects. This expansion reflects the agency’s confidence in the potential of Africa DSGN and its commitment to investing in design innovation.