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Profiles

At the intersection of creativity and resilience

Akhil Desai

Product Designer

Canvs

Harleen's profile image

Profiles

At the intersection of creativity and resilience

Akhil Desai

Product Designer

Canvs

Harleen's profile image

Profiles

At the intersection of creativity and resilience

Akhil Desai

Product Designer

Canvs

ABOUT

ABOUT

ABOUT

It’s often said, that to succeed, one must find their calling early, and stick to it relentlessly.

It’s often said, that to succeed, one must find their calling early, and stick to it relentlessly.

It’s often said, that to succeed, one must find their calling early, and stick to it relentlessly.

ABOUT

Ambitious without being ruthless, humble without being underconfident, Akhil's impeccable design sense is only outshone by his incredible strength of character.

But what if you end up spending years doing something that doesn’t add value or skills to the career you were meant to pursue? Well, the short answer is: don’t invest your time in it. Only focus on what will add to your journey until you’re able to get where you’re going. Or at least that’s how most people think about a career

AKHIL COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT ALL THAT.

AKHIL COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT ALL THAT.

AKHIL COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT ALL THAT.

But what if you end up spending years doing something that doesn’t add value or skills to the career you were meant to pursue? Well, the short answer is: don’t invest your time in it. Only focus on what will add to your journey until you’re able to get where you’re going. Or at least that’s how most people think about a career.

Ambitious without being ruthless, humble without being underconfident, Akhil's impeccable design sense is only outshone by his incredible strength of character.

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EARLY LIFE

EARLY LIFE

Engineering a foundation

Engineering a foundation

Engineering a foundation

Harleen at a cafe
Harleen at a cafe
Harleen at a cafe

Akhil’s career began with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. But early on, he knew this wasn’t what he was cut out for. Despite this, he listened to his father, who urged him to stick to it: “You do whatever you want, but finish what you have started.” That kernel of advice became something Akhil takes to every part of his life, even today.

And so, Akhil went on with his engineering degree as usual, but his true passion lay in the realm of design. When he wasn’t caught up in endless coursework, he’d spend countless hours learning design software and techniques through YouTube videos. He learned as much as he could, all in the absence of a personal computer—he was preparing for a transition he knew was inevitable, “I didn’t want to waste a minute when I eventually had an opportunity to apply what I had learned.”

"YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT, BUT FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED",

was valuable advice from Akhil’s father, something he applies to every part of his life today.

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“I didn’t want to waste a minute when I finally had an opportunity to apply what I had learned.” 

“I didn’t want to waste a minute when I finally had an opportunity to apply what I had learned.” 

“I didn’t want to waste a minute when I finally had an opportunity to apply what I had learned.” 

UNDER THE CURSOR

UNDER THE CURSOR

UNDER THE CURSOR

UNDER THE CURSOR

He explains that it is the sheer joy of the process that is its allure - not just the end, but the means in itself.

“The process that fascinates me is going from not knowing to knowing, and creating something that is aesthetic or perhaps, functional and useful. There's a drive to build something with functionality. There's a drive to see results.”

“The process that fascinates me is going from not knowing to knowing, and creating something that is aesthetic or perhaps, functional and useful. There's a drive to build something with functionality. There's a drive to see results.”

He explains that it is the sheer joy of the process that is its allure—not just the end, but the means in itself.

AKHIL IS SOMEONE WHO CONSISTENTLY ENJOYS BUILDING NEW THINGS.

AKHIL IS SOMEONE WHO CONSISTENTLY ENJOYS BUILDING NEW THINGS.

AKHIL IS SOMEONE WHO CONSISTENTLY ENJOYS BUILDING NEW THINGS.

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Behind the scenes with Akhil

Behind the scenes with Akhil

Behind the scenes with Akhil

3D PRINTING • RIDING • PUP LOVE • CRAFTING

3D PRINTING • RIDING • PUP LOVE • CRAFTING

3D PRINTING • RIDING • PUP LOVE • CRAFTING

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"FLOW STATE"

"FLOW STATE"

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“In the world of design or art, we have a thing called the ‘flow state’, and you can achieve this with different techniques.

 How I do it is by first mastering a tool, such as Figma, to an extent where I don't need to think about shortcuts, or where certain tool is or where my files are. I can simply allow myself to be engrossed in the design process. This is something that works for me. Something else might work for you.”

“In the world of design or art, we have a thing called the ‘flow state’, and you can achieve this with different techniques.

 How I do it is by first mastering a tool, such as Figma, to an extent where I don't need to think about shortcuts, or where a certain tool is or where my files are. I can simply allow myself to be engrossed in the design process. This is something that works for me. Something else might work for you.”

The process of creating something requires an unselfconscious state, where the ‘how’ of it is not stifling creativity. Akhil shares his way of reducing cognitive load in order to enter this flow state, and create better.

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UNDER THE CURSOR

"FLOW STATE"

1/4

“In the world of design or art, we have a thing called the ‘flow state'.

I achieve this by mastering a tool, such as Figma, to an extent where I don't need to think about shortcuts, or tool positions or file positions. I can simply be engrossed in the design process. This is works for me. Something else might work for you.”

The process of creating something requires an unselfconscious state, where the ‘how’ of it is not stifling creativity. Akhil shares his way of reducing cognitive load in order to enter this flow state, and create better.

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UNDER THE CURSOR

"OWNERSHIP"

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"When you are running a business, the profit is yours, the loss is yours, and the problems are yours. In day-to-day life, when I'm working on different tasks, I try to work on them as if they were my own."

Akhil talks about the most important lesson he learned from running his own manufacturing business - that of complete ownership over both successes and failures - an attitude that now extends to all his work.

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UNDER THE CURSOR

"OWNERSHIP"

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"When you are running a business, the profit is yours, the loss is yours, and the problems are yours. In day-to-day life, when I'm working on different tasks, I try to work on them as if they were my own."

Akhil talks about the most important lesson he learned from running his own manufacturing business - that of complete ownership over both successes and failures - an attitude that now extends to all his work.

2/4

UNDER THE CURSOR

"THE INTERVIEW PROCESS"

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“…they also asked me about my manufacturing experience how I dealt with problems how did I run it and they respected me as an individual who has worked in a different sector altogether”

Akhil recalls his interviews with Canvs where, despite doubts about his technical skills and background in manufacturing and freelancing, he felt respected. Canvs valued his diverse experience. Two years in, his positive view of the company remains unchanged.

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UNDER THE CURSOR

"THE INTERVIEW PROCESS"

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“…they also asked me about my manufacturing experience how I dealt with problems how did I run it and they respected me as an individual who has worked in a different sector altogether”

Akhil recalls his interviews with Canvs where, despite doubts about his technical skills and background in manufacturing and freelancing, he felt respected. Canvs valued his diverse experience. Two years in, his positive view of the company remains unchanged.

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UNDER THE CURSOR

"GROWING WITH CANVS"

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“Something I love about Canvs is their focus on excellence and continuous growth. They encourage people to learn and I'm a person who loves learning and improving on an everyday basis, so it fits well with the way I work.”

It is important for a studio to find singularity in the wavelengths of the people working with it. When there’s parity, work progresses as a shared goal. Akhil talks about finding this kind of alignment at Canvs, and how deeply valuable it’s been for him.

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UNDER THE CURSOR

"GROWING WITH CANVS"

4/4

“Something I love about Canvs is their focus on excellence and continuous growth. They encourage people to learn and I'm a person who loves learning and improving on an everyday basis, so it fits well with the way I work.”

It is important for a studio to find singularity in the wavelengths of the people working with it. When there’s parity, work progresses as a shared goal. Akhil talks about finding this kind of alignment at Canvs, and how deeply valuable it’s been for him.

4/4

UNDER THE CURSOR

His design career was going alright, but Akhil had to put on the brakes. He wanted to take up a manufacturing business -an idea that began as his father’s dream, but just as much a product of his own interest. 

Starting a business from scratch is no joke. Sales, inventory management, social media content creation, procurement, distribution…. putting multiple hats on is a part of being a business owner. And doing this through the peak of COVID?  Well, that’s as humbling, yet empowering as it can get. 

Akhil threw himself headfirst into this venture. Every little quibble you can think of that a start-up owner would go through, he went through it, and he was better off for it.

This stint lasted for three years. Eventually, once the business was up & running, he gave it over to his family and returned to design. 

PRE-DESIGN

PRE-DESIGN

PRE-DESIGN

Entrepreneurship: a promise kept

Entrepreneurship: a promise kept

Harleen at a cafe
Harleen at a cafe
Harleen at a cafe

In the act of getting out into the world and doing things that lead to character-building, Akhil got a great moulding

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Entrepreneurship: a promise kept

Harleen at Canvs office
Harleen at Canvs office
Harleen at Canvs office

Joining Canvs, life comes full circle

Joining Canvs, life comes full circle

A WAY BACK TO HIS CALLING

A WAY BACK TO HIS CALLING

“It was about my ability to navigate different situations, and how I handled the changes that came my way,” he says recalling his early conversations with Canvs that dug into who he was, just as much as what he’d done.

“It was about my ability to navigate different situations, and how I handled the changes that came my way,” he says recalling his early conversations with Canvs that dug into who he was, just as much as what he’d done.

Having set up his business, Akhil decided to return to design and was now looking for the right job. As gruelling as job-hunting can get, there’s a certain self-confidence that you start bringing to it after having been in your field for a decade. Add to it the pride of having started your own successful business, and you become laser-focused on what you want from your next job. 

Akhil had a very specific vision of what he wanted to do and in what kind of an organization. For him, settling for anything less wasn’t an option. One of the organizations that did meet his criteria was Canvs. His first interview with Premankan, CDO at Canvs, was focused on his technical knowledge. 

However, his second interview, with Debprotim, the founder of Canvs, was a little bit different. During this round, he delved into his design experience as well as his time as a manufacturing business owner. The focus wasn’t so much on things like “Why the career pause?” or “What transferable skills did you acquire?” Instead, in Akhil’s words, “It was about my ability to navigate different situations, and how I handled the changes that came my way.” These aspects of his character were valued just as much as his grasp on design.

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“It was about my ability to navigate different situations, and how I handled the changes that came my way,” he says recalling his early conversations with Canvs that dug into who he was, just as much as what he’d done.

AKHIL'S RECENT EXPERIMENTS

Harleen at Canvs office

Nintendo Nes controller

FIGMA GAME DESIGN 2023

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Nintendo Nes controller

FIGMA GAME DESIGN 2023

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Nintendo Nes controller

FIGMA GAME DESIGN 2023

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Nintendo Nes controller

FIGMA GAME DESIGN 2023

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Bomberman

POSTER DESIGN 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Bomberman

POSTER DESIGN 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Bomberman

POSTER DESIGN 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Bomberman

POSTER DESIGN 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Virtual Kalimba

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Virtual Kalimba

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Virtual Kalimba

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Virtual Kalimba

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2024

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Ghost of Tsushima

FIGMA DRAW 2025

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Ghost of Tsushima

FIGMA DRAW 2025

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Ghost of Tsushima

FIGMA DRAW 2025

OPEN LINK

Harleen at Canvs office

Ghost of Tsushima

FIGMA DRAW 2025

OPEN LINK

To a Canvs of his own

POINT OF INFLECTION

POINT OF INFLECTION

Harleen at a cafe
Harleen at a cafe

He’s ambitious without being ruthless, humble without being underconfident, and his impeccable design sense is only outshone by his incredible strength of character. Akhil is a stickler for perfection, which might be considered a vice by some, but it suits Canvs’s unapologetic obsession with detail. And of course, bearing all of this in mind, he received an offer letter soon after.

Meanwhile, to Canvs, the incredible knack for quick learning and design savviness Akhil had, was evident since interactions with him began.

His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance.”

To a Canvs of his own

His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance.”

Meanwhile to Canvs, the incredible knack for quick learning and design savviness Akhil had, was evident since interactions with him began

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Two years into his time at Canvs, Akhil is now an essential part of the organization. His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance. You won't find notifications or work-related communication intruding into your holidays or weekends.” These are, after all, the two things he has come to value the most in his professional life - a life that has been far from conventional. 

And so what if a journey isn’t so straightforward? So what if it involves failing, exploring, succeeding and pivoting yet again? Akhil’s life has been non-linear & dynamic, but always powered by love & a desire to excel in whatever comes his way. He extracts every bit of learning from it & moves patiently and persistently toward becoming a better designer. Akhil’s story is a testament to the power of embracing the road less travelled, showing that success often follows the curious and the brave.

And so what if a journey isn’t so straightforward? So what if it involves failing, exploring, succeeding and pivoting yet again? Akhil’s life has been non-linear & dynamic, but always powered by love & a desire to excel in whatever comes his way. He extracts every bit of learning from it & moves patiently and persistently toward becoming a better designer. Akhil’s story is a testament to the power of embracing the road less travelled, showing that success often follows the curious and the brave.

Harleen at a cafe
Harleen at a cafe

To a Canvs of his own

POINT OF INFLECTION

Harleen at a cafe

He’s ambitious without being ruthless, humble without being underconfident, and his impeccable design sense is only outshone by his incredible strength of character. Akhil is a stickler for perfection, which might be considered a vice by some, but it suits Canvs’s unapologetic obsession with detail. And of course, bearing all of this in mind, he received an offer letter soon after.

Meanwhile, to Canvs, the incredible knack for quick learning and design savviness Akhil had, was evident since interactions with him began.

His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance.”

To a Canvs of his own

His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance.”

Meanwhile to Canvs, the incredible knack for quick learning and design savviness Akhil had was evident since interactions with him began.

.09

Two years into his time at Canvs, Akhil is now an essential part of the organization. His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance. You won't find notifications or work-related communication intruding into your holidays or weekends.” These are, after all, the two things he has come to value the most in his professional life - a life that has been far from conventional. 

And so what if a journey isn’t so straightforward? So what if it involves failing, exploring, succeeding and pivoting yet again? Akhil’s life has been non-linear & dynamic, but always powered by love & a desire to excel in whatever comes his way. He extracts every bit of learning from it & moves patiently and persistently toward becoming a better designer. Akhil’s story is a testament to the power of embracing the road less travelled, showing that success often follows the curious and the brave.

And so what if a journey isn’t so straightforward? So what if it involves failing, exploring, succeeding and pivoting yet again? Akhil’s life has been non-linear & dynamic, but always powered by love & a desire to excel in whatever comes his way. He extracts every bit of learning from it & moves patiently and persistently toward becoming a better designer. Akhil’s story is a testament to the power of embracing the road less travelled, showing that success often follows the curious and the brave.

Harleen at a cafe

To a Canvs of his own

POINT OF INFLECTION

Harleen at a cafe

He’s ambitious without being ruthless, humble without being underconfident, and his impeccable design sense is only outshone by his incredible strength of character. Akhil is a stickler for perfection, which might be considered a vice by some, but it suits Canvs’s unapologetic obsession with detail. And of course, bearing all of this in mind, he received an offer letter soon after.

Meanwhile, to Canvs, the incredible knack for quick learning and design savviness Akhil had, was evident since interactions with him began.

His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance.”

To a Canvs of his own

His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance.”

Meanwhile to Canvs, the incredible knack for quick learning and design savviness Akhil had, was evident since interactions with him began

.09

Two years into his time at Canvs, Akhil is now an essential part of the organization. His favourite part about working here? “The incredible standard of output Canvs maintains along with the benefit of work-life balance. You won't find notifications or work-related communication intruding into your holidays or weekends.” These are, after all, the two things he has come to value the most in his professional life - a life that has been far from conventional. 

And so what if a journey isn’t so straightforward? So what if it involves failing, exploring, succeeding and pivoting yet again? Akhil’s life has been non-linear & dynamic, but always powered by love & a desire to excel in whatever comes his way. He extracts every bit of learning from it & moves patiently and persistently toward becoming a better designer. Akhil’s story is a testament to the power of embracing the road less travelled, showing that success often follows the curious and the brave.

And so what if a journey isn’t so straightforward? So what if it involves failing, exploring, succeeding and pivoting yet again? Akhil’s life has been non-linear & dynamic, but always powered by love & a desire to excel in whatever comes his way. He extracts every bit of learning from it & moves patiently and persistently toward becoming a better designer. Akhil’s story is a testament to the power of embracing the road less travelled, showing that success often follows the curious and the brave.

Harleen at a cafe

Canvs is an interface design and engineering studio based in Mumbai, India. We are group design partners to some of India’s market leaders in Banking and Finance and have been around since 2016.

Canvs is an interface design and engineering studio based in Mumbai, India. We are group design partners to some of India’s market leaders in Banking and Finance and have been around since 2016.

©2024 Canvs Creative Solutions Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved

©2024 Canvs Creative Solutions Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved