Brian Madlangbayan believes great brands start with a simple question: who are we really talking to, and how are we serving them?

 

As a Creative Director and Brand Strategist with over 20 years of experience, he builds brand identities, campaigns, and design systems that answer that question with clarity and conviction. His work transforms complex institutional ideas into stories that resonate—helping higher education, professional services, and purpose-driven organizations connect meaningfully with the people they serve.

 

Brian's career began in Los Angeles and San Diego, where he cut his teeth as an in-house designer—first at an international music and radio company, then as Senior Graphic Designer at UC San Diego. These early years shaped his understanding of how design works within organizations, balancing creative vision with strategic goals. He later expanded his practice in Northern California's agency world, working as a freelance Art Director across multiple creative studios. This blend of in-house and agency experience gave him fluency in both the creative and strategic sides of brand development.

 

During his time in higher education, Brian led the launch of 11 university co-branded partnerships, developing cohesive visual and messaging systems that aligned institutional values with global marketing strategy. It's the kind of work that requires equal parts creativity and systems thinking—bridging brand vision with real-world implementation.

 

A former college football player and coach, Brian approaches creative work with the same discipline and team-first mindset he learned on the field. Based in San Diego and deeply influenced by epic storytelling, architecture, music, and film, he's drawn to work that builds worlds and creates meaning—understanding what motivates people to build brands that don't just look good, but genuinely matter.