Not Every Designer Starts With Professional Tools or a Design Degree in the same way Safwan Started Designing on a Smartphone.
Safwan studied BA Sociology and discovered his interest in design while creating posters and other visual materials during his college years.
His first experience with design was entirely on a smartphone. With limited tools and experience, he began experimenting with design and gradually developed an interest in turning it into a career.
As he continued practising, he wanted to gain more experience and understand what it really meant to work as a designer.
That led him to his first opportunity at a local printing shop.
When Experience Wasn't Enough
For about a year, Safwan worked as a designer at a printing shop. It gave him work experience, but over time, he realised that something was missing.
Most of the work involved basic printing-related designs such as billboards, trophies, and other print materials. While this helped him gain experience, the work did not give him enough projects that he could confidently showcase in a professional portfolio.
That became an important realisation for him.
“Even if a designer has experience, the most important thing is their portfolio.”
Safwan understood that simply spending time in a job would not automatically lead to growth. He needed to challenge himself, develop stronger skills, and build work that represented the kind of designer he wanted to become.
He also realised that staying within his comfort zone and repeatedly doing easy tasks would not help him grow.
So he decided it was time to upskill.
Choosing HACA Design School
After leaving the printing shop, Safwan continued looking for a way to learn design more seriously.
He came across HACA Design School while scrolling through Instagram.
At first, he had doubts about joining an online programme. He wondered whether online classes would be effective and whether he would get the same level of interaction and guidance as an offline classroom.
But Safwan saw this as an opportunity he could not ignore.
He describes it as his “last chance” to improve his skills and make a meaningful change in his career.
So he joined HACA's online Design School.
What He Expected and What Actually Happened
Safwan initially expected online classes to feel distant or less interactive. Instead, he found the learning environment much more engaging than he had expected.
The mentors were approachable and friendly, while the classes involved practical work and regular assignments. He received opportunities to work on projects that required considerably more effort than the routine designs he had previously been doing.
One project, in particular, became an important moment in his learning journey.
The Company Profile That Changed His Direction
As part of his learning, Safwan decided to create a company profile for Boat, a project that required him to think beyond simple design execution.
The project was more than 10 pages long, and Safwan spent over six hours working on it.
He put considerable effort into the project and received appreciation from his mentor, Saheel, who specifically recognised the time and effort he had invested.
For Safwan, that appreciation meant more than simply receiving positive feedback.
It gave him the motivation to put even more effort into his work.
“When I got appreciation for the hard work I had put into it, I felt really happy. It inspired me to put in more effort and work harder.”
The project also helped demonstrate something that his previous experience had not been able to show clearly: what he could actually do as a designer.
From Appreciation to an Opportunity
Safwan's work caught the attention of his mentor.
He asked him whether he was interested in working at a company. When Safwan said yes, he was told about a designer opportunity at Haris&Co.
He was given the opportunity to attend an interview.
Safwan did not expect that joining an online design course would lead to an opportunity to work at an agency. But the opportunity came through his learning journey.
After the interview process, he faced another important decision.
Choosing Growth Over the Comfort Zone
At the time, Safwan was already working from home.
Moving to Calicut and taking up an opportunity at Haris&Co. meant stepping away from the comfort and safety of what he already knew.
It was not an easy decision.
But Safwan had already learned an important lesson from his earlier experience: staying comfortable would not necessarily lead to growth.
“If you stay in your safe zone and comfort zone, there won't be growth.”
He decided to take the risk, relocate to Calicut, and pursue the opportunity. That decision marked another step in his professional journey.
Building a Portfolio Through Real Work
Today, Safwan works as a Junior Designer at Haris&Co., where he gets exposure to a wider range of professional design work.
Unlike his previous role, where he struggled to find portfolio-worthy projects, his current experience has given him opportunities to work on projects for established clients and build a stronger body of work.
He says he is happy with the quality of the work he is now getting to do and, more importantly, feels that he is continuing to grow.
Through this journey, he has strengthened his experience in:
Graphic Design
Visual Communication
Professional Design Work
Portfolio Development
Client Projects
His journey from designing on a smartphone to working as a Junior Designer shows how consistent learning, practical projects, feedback, and the willingness to step outside a comfort zone can change the direction of a design career.
Hear Safwan Tell His Story
Watch Safwan talk about his journey from discovering design on a smartphone to learning at HACA Design School and becoming a Junior Designer at Haris&Co.
Watch Safwan's Full Story on YouTube
Safwan's journey shows that a design career does not always begin with a design degree or expensive tools. His story is a reminder that experience alone is not always enough. The right kind of practice, challenging work, and willingness to grow can make that experience valuable.
Sometimes, it starts with simply trying to create something.
What matters is what you do next, whether you continue learning, challenge yourself, build meaningful work, and take the opportunities that move you closer to the career you want.
