When did you first feel like, “This is it. This is the work I want to be known for”?

As a teenager, I was creating social graphics for e-sports organizations and constantly studying the work of designers I admired. Every time I came across a profile that stood out, I would analyze what made it effective and try to raise my own work to that level. Looking back, I was training my eye for branding without even realizing it.The real shift came when I understood that a logo on its own means very little. What matters is the system around it, the consistency, the experience, and the way every touchpoint contributes to perception over time. Once I saw branding as a complete ecosystem rather than a single deliverable, I knew this was the work I wanted to be known for.

Which part of the process is your favorite, and why?

My favorite moment is when confusion turns into clarity. Most clients arrive thinking they need a specific deliverable, but more often than not that request is simply a symptom of a deeper issue.I enjoy uncovering what’s really happening beneath the surface and creating a foundation simple enough to build on. I always begin with simplicity because from there you can explore complexity while keeping the core idea clear and consistent.

What’s been quietly (or loudly) fueling your creative spark lately?

Creating educational content around Affinity has reignited a level of excitement I haven’t felt since my earliest years as a designer. There’s something incredibly rewarding about distilling an idea into a silent 30-second tutorial where everything has to be communicated through timing and visual language alone.The best part is the response that follows. People share their own approaches, ask questions, and build on the ideas. That exchange constantly generates new inspiration and reminds me how much we can learn from one another as creatives.

What’s been helping you level up lately?

The integration between Canva Brand Kits and Affinity has had a significant impact on how I build and manage brands. It allows me to move seamlessly between detailed design work and practical client handoff.It also helps clients become more self-sufficient. If they’re not ready for ongoing design support, the next best thing I can do is leave them with a system that empowers them to manage their brand confidently and consistently on their own.

Name the unsung hero in your Affinity workflow.

There is definitely more than one.Studio switching. Being able to move between vector, pixel, and layout within the same file, without loading separate applications, keeps me focused on the work instead of the software. The tools change to match the task, so I always have what I need at my fingertips.Resource linking has transformed my workflow. I can update a logo once and have those changes reflected automatically across presentations and brand documents. Everything stays in sync, organized, and easy to manage, with no digging through folders or version management.Non-destructive workflows are another huge one. In Affinity, I can apply effects, build complex masks, stack live filters, and keep every decision editable. If I want to revisit something I changed three steps earlier, it’s still there waiting for me. That freedom encourages experimentation because you’re never worried about permanently committing to a decision. It feels like software designed by people who genuinely understand how creatives work.

Ren Barkevics

Brand designer

•

Educator

•

Spain

Ren Barkevics is a brand designer and educator with more than eight years of experience helping businesses build brands that grow alongside them. Working internationally with founders and teams as a trusted extension of their business, he believes that finding the root of the problem instead of patching symptoms should always be the goal. Alongside his client work, Ren has embraced the role of "the how-to guy," sharing Affinity tutorials across Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Designed as 1% building blocks that compound over time, his short visual lessons teach foundational concepts anyone can apply, helping creatives build confidence by putting ideas into practice.

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Creative work

A heritage-inspired identity for Smecere Manor Tavern→

Branding

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Branding

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Branding

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Web design

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Branding

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Branding

Graphic design

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"Affinity together with Canva feels like a complete creative ecosystem. It's intuitive, non-destructive, and everything just makes sense. I can stack masks, live filters, and effects on a layer and revisit any decision without the app missing a beat. Tools are grouped by studio and purpose-built for the task, while the unified workflow and consistent keybinds make switching between them feel natural and seamless."

Q&A

As a teenager, I was creating social graphics for e-sports organizations and constantly studying the work of designers I admired. Every time I came across a profile that stood out, I would analyze what made it effective and try to raise my own work to that level. Looking back, I was training my eye for branding without even realizing it.
The real shift came when I understood that a logo on its own means very little. What matters is the system around it, the consistency, the experience, and the way every touchpoint contributes to perception over time. Once I saw branding as a complete ecosystem rather than a single deliverable, I knew this was the work I wanted to be known for.
My favorite moment is when confusion turns into clarity. Most clients arrive thinking they need a specific deliverable, but more often than not that request is simply a symptom of a deeper issue.
I enjoy uncovering what’s really happening beneath the surface and creating a foundation simple enough to build on. I always begin with simplicity because from there you can explore complexity while keeping the core idea clear and consistent.
Creating educational content around Affinity has reignited a level of excitement I haven’t felt since my earliest years as a designer. There’s something incredibly rewarding about distilling an idea into a silent 30-second tutorial where everything has to be communicated through timing and visual language alone.
The best part is the response that follows. People share their own approaches, ask questions, and build on the ideas. That exchange constantly generates new inspiration and reminds me how much we can learn from one another as creatives.
The integration between Canva Brand Kits and Affinity⁠(opens in a new tab or window) has had a significant impact on how I build and manage brands. It allows me to move seamlessly between detailed design work and practical client handoff.
It also helps clients become more self-sufficient. If they’re not ready for ongoing design support, the next best thing I can do is leave them with a system that empowers them to manage their brand confidently and consistently on their own.
There is definitely more than one.
Studio switching. Being able to move between vector, pixel, and layout⁠(opens in a new tab or window) within the same file, without loading separate applications, keeps me focused on the work instead of the software. The tools change to match the task, so I always have what I need at my fingertips.
Resource linking⁠(opens in a new tab or window) has transformed my workflow. I can update a logo once and have those changes reflected automatically across presentations and brand documents. Everything stays in sync, organized, and easy to manage, with no digging through folders or version management.
Non-destructive workflows⁠(opens in a new tab or window) are another huge one. In Affinity, I can apply effects, build complex masks, stack live filters, and keep every decision editable. If I want to revisit something I changed three steps earlier, it’s still there waiting for me. That freedom encourages experimentation because you’re never worried about permanently committing to a decision. It feels like software designed by people who genuinely understand how creatives work.