At just 14, Harsh Bika didn’t have fancy tools or big clients.
He had a small Samsung Galaxy A3 and a simple goal, to earn a little pocket money designing YouTube thumbnails. His first project? A ₹50 thumbnail. What he didn’t know then was that this tiny gig would ignite a fire that would shape the rest of his life.
The Early Sparks
When Covid hit, most teens were busy exploring hobbies. Harsh stumbled upon logo design on Instagram.
Something about it, the symbolism, geometry, and storytelling within a single mark, captivated him.
Then in 2021, everything changed. His father gifted him a PC.
That was the start of countless late nights with Illustrator, experimenting with shapes, grids, and typography, chasing the perfect logo form.
“I spent three days straight kerning fonts and refining edges, that’s when I knew this wasn’t just something I liked; it was what I was built for.”
The Turning Point
What began as logos soon grew into posters, brand identities, and eventually full-fledged brand strategy.
He wasn’t always consistent, school often came in the way, but he never stopped creating.
Then came a life-changing milestone: Harsh got into the National Institute of Design (NID) one of India’s most prestigious design colleges.
There, surrounded by brilliant peers and endless creative challenges, his craft deepened. The foundation year at NID reshaped how he thought, designed, and even lived.
Through it all, one thing remained constant, his love for digital design.
Finding His Voice
With time, Harsh refined not just his skills but his taste.
He learned to understand why something worked, not just how it did.
From designing for ₹50 to now charging $2000 for a logo, his journey reflects how passion and persistence can truly transform a life.
“I reached a point where my work began to speak for itself. I realized I was good at this all along, I just needed to keep going.”
A Moment That Meant Everything
Out of all milestones, one stands out the most, the day Harsh bought his mother a gold ring with his own earnings.
It wasn’t just a gift; it was proof of how far he’d come before even turning 20.
Advice for New Freelancers
Harsh’s message to those starting out:
- Believe in yourself, even when no one else does.
- Develop your taste, that’s your real superpower.
- Ignore trends and comparisons, they’ll only slow you down.
- Trust your instincts, they’ll take you further than any tutorial ever will.
On Qwego Freelancing
“Qwego helps reduce the mental constraint, an instant, simple approach to leads. That’s what stands out for me.”
This was Harsh Bika’s journey from a 9th grader with a smartphone to a brand designer shaping identities with purpose.
What do you think about his story?
Stay tuned, we’ll be back soon with more freelancing heroes who turned small beginnings into extraordinary careers.
