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{{Short description|Indian designer}}
{{Orphan|date=March 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aaquib Wani
| image =
| caption =
| birth_place = [[New Delhi]], India
| occupation = Experiential designer, art director
| organization = Aaquib Wani Design
| known_for = Designing official sports kits for the [[India national cricket team]], [[2024 Paris Olympics]] Indian contingent, and [[2022 Asian Games]] Indian contingent
| awards =
}}

'''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.<ref name="Forbes2021">{{cite web |first=Benu |last=Joshi Routh |date=Feb 5, 2021 |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30-2021/aaquib-wani-bringing-technology-to-experiential-design/66271/1 |title=Aaquib Wani: Bringing technology to experiential design |website=Forbes India |access-date=2026-02-23 }}</ref> 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]].<ref name="IE2025">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Shweta |date=2025-01-09 |title=Inside the mind of Aaquib Wani, man behind Team India's Olympic kit, national cricket jerseys, and more |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/aaquib-wani-man-behind-team-india-olympic-kit-mens-cricket-jersey-design-9766577/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, he was included in the ''Forbes India'' 30 Under 30 list for Design.<ref name="Forbes2021" />

==Early life==
Wani was born and raised in New Delhi, though his family is from Kashmir. His father's involvement in the Kashmiri arts and crafts business exposed Wani to traditional artisans and intricate local designs during his childhood.<ref name="ElleMedia">{{Cite web |last=Bajpai |first=Shivpriya |date=2023-04-04 |title=Transcending Artistic Media With Aaquib Wani |url=https://elle.in/transcending-artistic-media-aaquib-wani/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Elle India |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="RollingStone2026">{{Cite web |last=Nair |first=Sharanyaa |date=2026-01-08 |title=Front Of House: The Backbone of Indian Concert Culture |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/front-of-house-the-backbone-of-indian-concert-culture/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="HT2023">{{Cite web |first=Kriti |last=Kambiri |date=2023-09-25 |title=Designer Aaquib Wani: Didn't go to college but my designs are at the Asian Games |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/htcity-delhi-junction/designer-aaquib-wani-didn-t-go-to-college-but-my-designs-are-at-the-asian-games-101695106363943.html |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="Forbes2021" /><ref name="RollingStone2026" /> In 2009, he joined the music magazine ''Rock Street Journal'' as a graphic design intern. By 2013, he had been promoted to the role of art director.<ref name="Forbes2021" />

In 2014, Wani joined Scenografia Sumant, a studio run by contemporary scenographer [[Sumant Jayakrishnan]]. There, Wani transitioned from print graphics to large-scale 3D spatial design, working on music festivals, weddings, and exhibitions.<ref name="Forbes2021" /> As part of Jayakrishnan's team, he represented India at the [[London Design Biennale]] in 2016.<ref name="ElleMedia" />

===Aaquib Wani Design (2018–present)===
Wani founded his independent studio, Aaquib Wani Design, in 2018, focusing on world-building, interactive installations, and experiential design.<ref name="TheHindu2024">{{Cite news |first=Varun |last=Rana |first2=Anurag |last2=Tagat |first3=Aatish |last3=Nath |date=2025-02-28 |title=World building is their forte {{!}} Eeshaan Kashyap to Aaquib Wani, the most wanted creatives |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/eeshaan-kashyap-tablescape-aaquib-wani-world-building-design-styling-doyel-joshi-neil-ghose-balser-tahir-sultan/article69265543.ece |access-date=2026-02-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="News182024">{{Cite news |first=Akshata |last=Shetty |date=July 30, 2025 |title=Aaquib Wani: A Good Set Is One That Expands The World The Designer Is Creating |url=https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/aaquib-wani-a-good-set-is-one-that-expands-the-world-the-designer-is-creating-9472660.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251105164358/https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/aaquib-wani-a-good-set-is-one-that-expands-the-world-the-designer-is-creating-9472660.html |archive-date=2025-11-05 |access-date=2026-02-23 |work=News18 |language=en-US}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref name="ElleMedia" /><ref name="IE2025" /> He also led the spatial design and brand identity for the international music festival [[Lollapalooza India]].<ref name="RollingStone2026" />

Wani also launched "Aaquib Wani Custom Wearables," an initiative where he partnered with local street sign painters and rural artisans to create hand-painted jackets and apparel, incorporating traditional styles like [[Madhubani art|Madhubani]] and [[Pattachitra]].<ref name="ElleMedia" />

====Sports apparel design====
Wani's studio has gained significant recognition for designing apparel for major Indian sports teams, aiming to embed cultural storytelling into athletic wear.

* Real Kashmir FC: Reflecting his own heritage, Wani incorporated traditional Kashmiri Kani [[Pashmina shawl]] patterns into the jersey design for [[Real Kashmir FC]].<ref name="Siasat2023">{{Cite web |last=Manikandan |first=Abhishek |date=2023-06-24 |title=Aaquib Wani and the jerseys that stay true to their roots |url=https://www.siasat.com/aaquib-wani-and-the-jerseys-that-stay-true-to-their-roots-2623482/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en}}</ref>
* Rajasthan Royals: For the 2023 [[Indian Premier League]], Wani designed kits for the [[Rajasthan Royals]]. The playing jersey was inspired by Rajasthan's traditional [[stepwell]]s, while the training kit featured ''[[jali]]'' (latticed screen) motifs.<ref name="Siasat2023" />
* Asian Games 2022: Wani designed the official tracksuits and sportswear for the Indian contingent at the [[2022 Asian Games]]. He sourced diverse regional motifs—such as [[Bagh print]]s, bamboo basketry patterns, and ''[[Telia Rumal]]''—inspired by [[Aditi Ranjan]]'s book ''Handmade in India''.<ref name="HT2023" />
* Indian National Cricket Team: Working with [[Adidas]], Wani designed the official match kits for India's men's and women's cricket teams. The [[One Day International|ODI]] jersey featured an [[Ikat]] pattern inspired by the tiger, while the [[Twenty20|T20]] jersey incorporated architectural arches from Indian heritage monuments and a tricolor shoulder design.<ref name="IE2025" /><ref name="Siasat2023" /><ref name="ForbesCricket">{{cite web |first=Mohsin |last=Kamal |date=Jun 21, 2023 |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/news/meet-the-man-who-designed-the-new-jerseys-for-indian-cricketers/85985/1 |title=Meet the man who designed the new jerseys for Indian cricketers |website=Forbes India |access-date=2026-02-23 }}</ref>
* 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.<ref name="IE2025" /><ref name="ElleOlympics2024">{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Ekta |date=2024-07-12 |title=In Conversation With Aaquib Wani On Designing Team India's Olympic Kit |url=https://elle.in/aaquib-wani-on-designing-team-india-olympic-kit-2024/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Elle India |language=en}}</ref>
* 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.<ref name="Tribune2025">{{Cite web |agency=ANI |date=Oct 8, 2025 |title=Aaquib Wani to design Ahmedabad Marathon jersey with community creativity |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sports/aaquib-wani-to-design-ahmedabad-marathon-jersey-with-community-creativity/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
* 2021: ''[[Forbes India]]'' 30 Under 30 for Design.<ref name="Forbes2021" />
* 2023: Featured in the ''Grazia'' Cool List.<ref name="Grazia2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.grazia.co.in/people/grazia-cool-list-2023-aaquib-wani-11453.html |title=Grazia Cool List 2023: Aaquib Wani |website=Grazia India}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wani, Aaquib}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian designers]]
[[Category:Indian art directors]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Aaquib Wani - Revision history

Camorabug at 18:59, 1 April 2026