Aaquib Wani

Aaquib Wani is an Indian experiential designer and art director based in New Delhi. He is the founder and creative director of Aaquib Wani Design. Wani is recognized for integrating traditional Indian heritage and crafts into contemporary spatial and apparel design. He has designed official sports kits for the India national cricket team, as well as the Indian contingents for the 2024 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Asian Games. In 2021, he was included in the Forbes India 30 Under 30 list for Design. Growing up, Wani struggled with academics and failed the 11th grade twice. Despite having no formal education or collegiate training in design, he took a keen interest in music and art, participating in his school's orchestra.

Career Early career (2006–2017) Wani's career in design began through his passion for music. From 2006 to 2014, he was the lead guitarist for a thrash metal band named Phobia. To help promote the band, he began designing their merchandise, album covers, and gig posters, which eventually led to design requests from other musical acts. His work is noted for blending modern aesthetics with traditional Indian art forms. For Isha Ambani's wedding events in Udaipur, his studio conceptualized the "Swadesh Bazaar," a craft exhibition featuring 108 traditional Indian crafts. For this project, Wani brought 150 artisans from West Bengal to create intricate decor using sholapith. Rajasthan Royals: For the 2023 Indian Premier League, Wani designed kits for the Rajasthan Royals. The playing jersey was inspired by Rajasthan's traditional stepwells, while the training kit featured jali (latticed screen) motifs. Paris 2024 Olympics: JSW Group commissioned Wani to design the official ceremonial and athletic kits for Team India at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The designs were conceptualized around the diverse terrains and topographical landscapes of India. Ahmedabad Marathon: Wani designed the official jersey for the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon, utilizing community-sourced design ideas and incorporating visual elements inspired by recycled plastic bottle caps to promote sustainability.

Awards and recognition 2021: Forbes India 30 Under 30 for Design.