Born and raised in northern Mexico, Vlad Garza earned his degree in design and advertising at CEDIM. In 2006, he moved to New York City to lead design at Shecky's Media, a startup focused on print and digital city guides for NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami.

He then founded Page, a design magazine that became Mexico’s top publication in its field, collaborating with BMW, Knoll, and Louis Vuitton on print and digital experiences. In 2010, he joined Danilo Black in NYC as a Senior Designer, leading research and design for projects like the American Airlines app, Singapore Today’s digital platforms, and American Express’ roundtable app. His redesign of MasPorMás earned him the Award for Excellence in Design from the Society of News Design.

In 2012, he completed the Design Thinking program at Harvard, further shaping his approach to human-centered design and strategic problem-solving.

In 2013, he launched degraphique, a creative studio specializing in brand identity, UX/UI, web design, and social media strategy. He worked with companies like Headspace, Uber, AT&T, and Vic AI, shaping visual identities and digital products. His approach blended strategy and storytelling to create brands with a strong market presence, extending across digital experiences and social platforms.

By 2020, he became Head of Design at Fohr, rebranding the company, overhauling the product, and building a team across UX research, brand, and product design. In 2022, he joined Octane11, directing a full UX/UI redesign, developing a scalable design system, and leading brand and product design teams.

In 2024, Vlad joined Manta AI, an AI-driven startup founded by economist Roland Fryer, as Head of Design. He led a full brand transformation, established the company’s design system, and refined the product experience to bridge AI and human-centered design.

With a career spanning design leadership, strategy, and innovation, Vlad operates at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and user experience. Whether building scalable design systems, mentoring teams, or shaping the role of AI in design, he is focused on creating impactful, forward-thinking digital experiences.