Dan Mureșan and the Art of Meaningful Design

Explore the story of Dan V. Mureșan, multidisciplinary designer and founder of Kanavu Studio, where design becomes strategy and vision becomes clarity.

Dan V. Mureșan is a multidisciplinary designer and founder of Kanavu Studio, where design is not just about aesthetics, but applied strategy. With a clear vision and well-structured processes, he helps emerging brands and creative spaces define themselves, express themselves, and grow sustainably.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence to make those who don’t know you yet curious?
Dan Mureșan: I am a designer working at the intersection of form and meaning, with a dual specialization in interior design and brand design – a combination that allows me to build coherent identities, from the physical space to the visual and strategic dimensions. The guiding principle in my approach is the search for the idea that says more than it shows.

C&B: If we were to trace the narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key defining moments?
Dan Mureșan: Looking back, I think the defining moments weren’t necessarily the spectacular ones, but the quiet turning points: when I turned down a “secure” job to continue on my own, then when I invested in doubling my specialization with a seemingly different but deeply complementary direction, and most recently, when I decided to build Kanavu not as a portfolio, but as a vision. Every step was a choice, not a coincidence.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment so far in your journey and how did you overcome it?
Dan Mureșan: The period of professional (re)definition after burnout caused by constant multitasking and a lack of clear direction. I overcame it by stopping the race and sincerely asking myself what gives me meaning. From that moment on, decisions became easier to make.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Dan Mureșan: Yes – the idea that design can bring order to invisible things: thoughts, unclear directions, hard-to-express emotions. The context resonates internally. My dream has always been to help people recognize themselves in their brand or space – to feel at home in what they create. And “home” is where you can leave your mask at the door and be yourself.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you’ve transformed?
Dan Mureșan: At first, I was a visual “problem solver”, detail-oriented but unsure of my own voice. Today I focus more on process, direction, and the real impact of well-thought-out work. I no longer seek to impress, but to help through clarity and depth. The most important part of my work is not how beautifully I draw, but what kind of questions I bring to the table.

C&B: If we were to ask your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Dan Mureșan: They’d probably say I’m demanding with meaning, but relaxed with form. That I ask a lot of questions before offering solutions. And that I care – about people, their vision, and how they feel in what I create for them.

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Dan Mureșan: Building Kanavu as a studio with its own identity, not just an extension of myself. It was both a strategic and emotional decision: transitioning from “freelancer with projects” to “visionary founder.”

C&B: How did you develop your leadership style or decision-making approach? Was it natural or learned?
Dan Mureșan: A mix of both. Intuition helped a lot, but I learned along the way how important it is to create a clear framework: with good questions, space for feedback, and a vision we can all align with. I take important decisions slowly, but meaningfully.

C&B: What do you think sets your business or professional approach apart from the rest of the industry?
Dan Mureșan: I see brand and space as a coherent whole. Visual identity design and interior design are not two separate services, but two languages of the same story. This gives my clients a solid and unique structure – from essence to expression.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments bring you the most satisfaction?
Dan Mureșan: A typical day starts early with a cold shower and a bit of quiet. Mornings are for consulting sessions and client meetings, afternoons for project work and concept sketches. The most satisfying moments are when ideas become clear – when a client’s eyes light up and they say: “That’s exactly how I felt, but didn’t know how to say it.”

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do and how do you apply them daily?
Dan Mureșan: Authenticity, clarity, and depth. I reject rushed or purely commercial solutions. I prefer a well-structured process where every detail has a “why” behind it. I choose to work only with people and projects I believe in, even if it might be less financially rewarding short-term.

C&B: How did you come up with the idea to start this business and choose its name?
Dan Mureșan: “Kanavu” means “dream” in Tamil, and “kanem” is related to “to see, to understand” or “path, way.” Together, these words perfectly express what I try to do through design: to transform clients’ dreams and intentions into a clear, coherent, visible form. Not just to imagine them, but to give them direction and structure. For me, design is exactly that — a way to make something tangible that was initially only felt or intuited. I also chose this name for its international and poetic resonance — a word that seems whispered but leaves an echo. Just like I want our projects to be: sensitive, but memorable.

C&B: If you were to send a message to those following in your footsteps, what would it be?
Dan Mureșan: Don’t rush to become “visible” before you understand what you have to say. True value lies not in applause, but in the impact you have on people, even if they don’t know who you are.

This interview reveals Dan V. Mureșan as more than a designer – he is a quiet strategist who shapes identity with intention. Through Kanavu, he crafts not just visuals, but clarity, connection, and structure.