about
I’m a designer, maker, writer, and educator focused on protecting human depth and dignity as design and technology accelerate.
.experience
20 years
.location
New York City (EDT)
. travel status
Available
.hello
I explore design as power. I write and speak about the systems we build to accelerate humanity and the systems that can quietly control, exclude, or oppress. Design is everywhere. It shapes behavior, belief, and access. I choose to use it with intention, responsibility, and for the good of humanity.
.latest talks
.full bio
I’m Stanley Vaganov. I’m a creative director and strategist who believes design is not decoration, trend chasing, or surface level aesthetics. Design is a system of decisions that shapes how people feel, trust, remember, and act. I’ve spent over two decades working with founders, executives, and teams to build brands, products, and experiences that are grounded in truth, human behavior, and long term value, not hype.
My work sits at the intersection of brand, product, culture, and emotion. I help organizations slow down enough to see clearly, ask better questions, and make decisions that actually move the needle. I am not interested in producing noise, vanity metrics, or disposable visuals. I care about clarity, coherence, and meaning. The kind of work that holds up under pressure, scrutiny, and time.
Through Brutally Human, I partner with people who are serious about what they are building. Founders who want to lead with conviction. Teams who are tired of shallow frameworks and buzzwords. Organizations that understand growth is not just measured in revenue, but in trust, resonance, and longevity. I bring strategic thinking, deep creative direction, and a strong point of view to every engagement, whether that is shaping a brand system, reframing a product narrative, or guiding leadership through complex decisions.
I’m known for being direct, thoughtful, and uncompromising about quality. I challenge assumptions, cut through ambiguity, and help teams reconnect with what actually matters. I don’t sell formulas. I don’t promise shortcuts. I build foundations. The kind that lets companies scale without losing their soul.
In addition to client work, I speak and facilitate workshops on design, systems thinking, creativity, and the human cost of modern work. My talks are practical, grounded, and honest. They are built to shift perspective, spark better conversations, and give people language for things they already feel but cannot articulate.
If you are looking for someone to make things look better, I am not the right fit. If you want a partner who will help you think clearer, build with intention, and create work that actually means something, then we should talk.