Design leader with 20+ years of experience bridging the gap between creative vision and operational rigor. I don't just design products; I build the systems that make design teams faster, happier, and more profitable. Expert in transforming chaotic workflows into scalable engines, I have a proven track record of reducing delivery times by 20% through automation and DesignOps implementation.…

Sergiu Ionut Vacarescu

Design leader with 20+ years of experience bridging the gap between creative vision and operational rigor. I don't just design products; I build the systems that make design teams faster, happier, and more profitable. Expert in transforming chaotic workflows into scalable engines, I have a proven track record of reducing delivery times by 20% through automation and DesignOps implementation.…

Available to hire

Design leader with 20+ years of experience bridging the gap between creative vision and operational rigor. I don’t just design products; I build the systems that make design teams faster, happier, and more profitable. Expert in transforming chaotic workflows into scalable engines, I have a proven track record of reducing delivery times by 20% through automation and DesignOps implementation.

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Language

Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan
Fluent
English
Fluent
Italian
Advanced
French
Intermediate

Work Experience

Head of Design (Owner) at Design W/ SV
February 1, 2006 - Present
As the head-level design leader, I specialize in design operations, system governance, and team enablement across both agency and product environments, providing senior design leadership and ensuring clarity across UX, brand, and digital systems, operating as an embedded partner rather than a task-based vendor.
Senior Creative | Design Operations & Team Lead at Octagram Creative S.R.L.
October 1, 2014 - December 31, 2025
Designed and implemented design operations frameworks, standardizing workflows and tooling, resulting in reduced delivery time and increased team productivity.
Senior Designer / Digital Design Lead at RedWorks / Hogarth & Ogilvy (WPP)
September 1, 2011 - April 1, 2016
Led multidisciplinary teams delivering global digital campaigns, improving design execution and establishing internal standards for consistency.
Senior Graphic Designer at ARTex Services
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2011
Provided design support for various projects and helped in developing design standards.
Graphic Designer at Attica Media (Playboy)
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010
Worked on graphic design projects, contributing to magazine layouts and promotional materials.
Art Director at thegoup Romania
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2008
Oversaw creative direction and design execution for various media projects.

Education

Faculty of Communication and Public Relations at David Ogilvy - Faculty of Communication and Public Relations
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2011
Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design at Coursera (Authorized by Google)
July 29, 2022 - January 21, 2026
Graphic Artist at "Cornetti" – Popular School of Arts and Crafts
September 15, 2002 - June 1, 2006
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Programming at University of Craiova, Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics
October 1, 2002 - June 1, 2005
Graphic Artist at "Cornetti" – Popular School of Arts and Crafts
September 15, 2002 - June 1, 2006

Qualifications

Foundations of Typography
January 1, 0001 - December 31, 0001
Graphic designer
January 1, 0001 - December 31, 0001
UX Design Techniques: Overview
January 1, 0001 - December 31, 0001
LogoLounge: Handmade Aesthetic in Logo Design
January 1, 0001 - December 31, 0001
Foundations of Logo Design
January 1, 0001 - December 31, 0001

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Consumer Goods, Non-Profit Organization, Government
    paper Schneider Electric: Shop in Shop 2.0 – Driving E-commerce Excellence

    Schneider Electric Shop in Shop is a customised e-commerce experience in a distributor’s e-commerce platform. The role of the Shop in Shop is to maximize the capabilities of the ecommerce platform in order to increase conversions by leveraging the Schneider Electric brand and associated brands.