At the age of thirteen, when most teenagers are caught in the race to be part of “the cool group” at school, Atif Ahmed Akkhor started toying with graphic design on his brother’s hand-me-down computer.
“I quickly discovered my knack for it,” Atif said.
After devoting a few months to teaching himself the nitty-gritty of graphic design, entrepreneurial Atif realised he could monetise his skills. In 2009, Ionsketch, the design studio he co-founded, was born.
Since then, Ionsketch has grown by leaps and bounds, making a name for itself as an advertising agency among national and international clients.
Now 17, Atif is a shining example for youngsters in Bangladesh. He already has four years of experience running a business, which is indeed something to be proud of.
The average teenager battles with more than the demands of a growing body, hormones and mood swings. The ever-present pressure of living up to parental expectation could be deterrent enough for most young people, keeping them from pursuing farfetched dreams.
But when I met Atif, my notions about the average Bangladeshi teenager were completely altered.
This young man knows his capabilities and his limitations too. Atif decided at age 15 that he could never be anyone’s employee because he is not good at taking orders. He was gifted with leadership qualities, and did not want to waste them by following instructions. As he walked me through his adventurous journey as a self-starter, I could see how he came to find entrepreneurship so liberating.
Point of focus
“I love designing. Graphic designing is my way of engaging with designs and designers. As I learned about graphic design, I began to realise how poorly designed the things around me were. I knew I could fix them. My passion for designing coupled with the urge to address a real problem led me to start my own company.”
Atif gleefully admits that he has never taken any professional courses, and is entirely self-taught.
Initial sketches
Ionsketch had a modest beginning. Atif’s father later bought him his own laptop after seeing the budding designer in his son. Gradually the company started to grow, with international clients seeking Ionsketch’s help.
Soon it was time to hire more people and acquire office space and equipment. Recalling his initial days, Atif said: “I started with a passion for designing, but now I am attempting to change the industry of graphic design in Bangladesh.”
Golden ratio
With its first few contracts, Ionsketch managed to attract clients from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. His young and vibrant team was overjoyed when they landed the project to design the logo for Bangladesh’s World Expo 2012 Pavilion in South Korea. Gradually Ionsketch started to establish its brand name among local and multinational companies in Bangladesh.
The jubilant teen also shares his experience dealing with offers for mergers and external investment from local as well as foreign companies. From such attention, Atif realised the potential of Ionsketch, but has declined all those offers.
“Losing control of something you dearly love is very painful,” he said.
“Also, I did not want the additional pressure that comes with these opportunities, as I also have my studies to concentrate on.” Atif is currently enrolled in Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College, and finishes his school work before going to the office.
Among the milestones achieved, there were lows in Atif’s journey as well. He takes some time to explain the struggles he and his team experienced when they first launched as an advertising agency earlier this year. The first two companies Ionsketch worked with did not turn out to be the best clients. But the prodigy continued with his dream of making a name in the advertising field.
Backup
What does it take for a school-going adolescent, equipped with nothing more than talent and passion, to start his own firm? Atif modestly says, “My biggest support system has been my family. Their unwavering assistance helped me get through tough situations.”
A little encouragement from the people around can go a long way to push young maestros to success, which the youth of our country crave for. With talent and determination they can walk the rest of the path for themselves.
Perspective
While he needs to wait one more year to legally claim ownership of the company he founded, Atif needs no license to dream big.
Atif currently has 15 employees, both full-time and part-time, working for Ionsketch. It is a brand unto itself now.
In the future, Atif wants to get involved with more start-ups, using his knowledge, experience and insight to help young starters. He is already involved with two new startups.
He also wants to pursue further studies after completing his HSC exams to show his peers that it is possible to do something big while continuing to study.
His advice to those with passion and the will to make it big, regardless of social barriers, age, gender or family background, is: “Not everyone will become an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur can come from anywhere. And his or her vision could change an entire industry, country or even the world.”
