My name is Aren, and this is the story of how I found my path.
It all started almost five years ago when I took a job as a sales representative at a branding agency. At that time, I knew almost nothing about branding or design (some might argue that design is a part of branding, but for me, it's important to separate these two concepts — I have my own vision of it).
I began learning gradually through practice, because to sell a service, you only need a basic understanding of what you're offering. Of course, the more you know, the better you sell — but you can start even without deep expertise. So, I started learning: reading books, participating in brainstorming sessions, and slowly immersing myself in the field. My colleagues noticed my interest in marketing and related areas and encouraged me to dive deeper. Over time, I integrated into the team and eventually was promoted to Sales Director.
But you know, I realized that what fascinated me most wasn’t the sales process itself — it was the creative side of things. I loved watching how logos were crafted, how brand identities came to life. I enjoyed the whole process of building a brand — from research and analysis to design and strategic thinking, which, in my opinion, is perhaps the most crucial part.
Driven by curiosity, I started attending conferences, listening to lectures, and watching countless tutorials about branding and design. At the time, I couldn’t even imagine becoming a designer myself — it seemed like a completely different world, distant and unfamiliar. Yet, I loved watching our graphic designers work. I could stand for hours observing them, unknowingly developing an eye for design and building visual taste.
After some time, I decided to give it a try myself. I didn't even have my own laptop back then, so I borrowed one from my brother (luckily, he didn’t mind). The first time I opened Adobe Illustrator was unforgettable — everything seemed so alien, and I had no idea where to start. I began clicking on every tool and trying out every function. Of course, nothing turned out well at first, but I was intrigued. I started digging into online tutorials and studying on my own.
At that time, I was also planning to start a small culinary academy with some friends (one of whom was an amazing chef specializing in Japanese cuisine), and naturally, I wanted to design the logo myself. With a little help from my mentor — who also happened to be my boss (KeviG Tatios) — we created my first-ever logo: Rest Academy.
That logo became my first real work.
After that, I spent more and more time in Illustrator, experimenting and learning new things (though I still haven’t mastered the entire program — there’s so much depth to it).
Later, I decided to try programming and started studying HTML and CSS, eventually moving on to JavaScript. It made sense, as most people around me were involved in development, and they naturally influenced me. But that phase didn’t last long — maybe six months or so — because life circumstances at the time made it impossible to stay focused. (That's a whole different story, and not one that's necessary to tell here.)
Eventually, I found my way back to design.
I started by creating business cards and flyers for friends and acquaintances — small projects that helped me familiarize myself with real-world demands. Gradually, I gained some experience — not a lot yet, but enough to move forward.
Then I moved to Moscow.
There, I noticed a huge demand for infographics for marketplaces. I had a friend who was selling products on marketplaces, and I offered to create some product cards for him. I was curious to see what would come out of it. To my delight, he was thrilled with the result, and that motivated me to dive even deeper.
At first, I made cards only for him, but soon I started taking on more freelance projects — not just cards, but also flyers, banners, business cards, and more.
Later, I began developing further — creating logos, helping brands grow through design.
I became more and more interested in websites. I started small — working with mini-sites like Taplink pages — and once I mastered those, I transitioned to building full websites.
Eventually, my focus expanded even further.
I moved into UI/UX design, where creativity meets structure and user-centered thinking. I dedicated myself to learning about user behavior, designing intuitive interfaces, building user journeys, and solving real problems through thoughtful design.
I found that everything I had learned — branding, design, marketing — naturally combined into a strong foundation for working in digital product design.
Today, I continue to grow as a UI/UX designer.
I love my profession deeply and do my work with passion.
I believe that’s the only way to live in harmony with yourself.
And I’m sharing this story with you not to be just another guy "who clicks buttons and magically creates a design" — but to be someone real to you, someone who has walked this path for years, and who stands closer to you not only as a professional but also as a person.