Kuanysh Amangali left his hometown of Uralsk in western Kazakhstan at 15 to study in the capital, Astana. He enrolled at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School, beginning an independent life at a young age.
As the eldest of four children, he faced early responsibility. His first years in the capital were challenging — moving from a structured boarding school environment, where housing and meals were provided, to renting accommodation while continuing his studies.
A difficult start in IT
After graduating, Kuanysh entered Astana IT University, part of its first cohort of about 600 students. He chose information technology largely because his friends did, a decision he later described as typical for many students in Kazakhstan.
He quickly felt out of place. Many classmates came from well-off local families, while he had to cover his own living expenses. Within the first semesters, it became clear that programming did not suit him. Coursework proved difficult, and he began accumulating retake exams.
«At some point, I had to ask myself why I was continuing if it brought neither interest nor results,» he said.
Pandemic as a turning point
The COVID-19 lockdown became a defining moment. With time to reflect, Kuanysh reassessed his path and decided to pivot.
«I realized that if I didn’t make a change, it would be too late,» he said.
He stopped attending classes, despite having multiple outstanding exams, and began pursuing commercial design work on the side.
Determined to break in, he sent out dozens of job inquiries daily through HeadHunter, a leading online recruitment platform in the region.
Choosing an unconventional path
His decision to leave university was met with resistance from family and relatives, who expected a more traditional trajectory — a degree, a stable career and fulfillment of his role as the eldest son.
Despite the pressure, Kuanysh withdrew from Astana IT University. He later enrolled in college and another university while continuing to build his design skills independently.
Discovering a natural inclination
Kuanysh believes web design is accessible to many, but success depends on personal aptitude. Reflecting on his childhood, he recalls an early sensitivity to aesthetics.
«I was six or seven and already choosing clothes by color,» he said.
At the time, it seemed unusual, but he now sees it as an early sign of his design instincts.
He emphasizes that drawing skills are not essential for web design — he never formally learned to draw — though they can accelerate progress. More important, he said, is a strong sense of taste and visual harmony, evident both in professional work and everyday life.
Building a career in design
Over time, Kuanysh developed his skills and established himself in Kazakhstan’s design scene. Today, he runs a design studio and a school, working with international startups and medical bloggers with audiences in the tens of millions. His projects generate more than $100,000 annually, and his work has been featured by Forbes.
Turning initiative into impact
Beyond his professional work, Kuanysh also helped launch a grassroots environmental initiative. While spending time outdoors with friends along the Akzhayik and Shagan rivers, they noticed significant pollution and decided to organize cleanup events.
What began as a small effort quickly gained momentum. Dozens, then hundreds, of volunteers joined. Sponsors followed — some providing food, others contributing donations.
The power of presentation
Kuanysh credits much of the initiative’s growth to how it was presented. He transformed simple cleanup efforts into a branded «eco-campaign,» creating visuals and curating social media content to position it as a modern urban movement.
That attention to design and storytelling helped attract wider participation, underscoring a principle that has guided his career: how an idea is presented can be just as important as the idea itself.
Early freelance work and self-education
At the same time, Kuanysh began working remotely for an SMM agency. With no prior experience, he relied heavily on self-study, learning through YouTube and hands-on practice.
He later took on a second role at a charitable foundation, earning about $370 per month. There, he managed Instagram accounts, created content and regularly appeared in Stories and Reels.
Growing demand through social media
Alongside his jobs, Kuanysh consistently posted his own design work on Instagram. His visuals gained traction, attracting both followers and potential clients.
As interest grew, invitations to collaborate began to come in. Word of mouth accelerated his progress, and he transitioned into freelance work, increasing his income to around $1,000 per month — a significant milestone, though still short of what he considered comfortable living in Astana.
At that stage, he juggled multiple projects simultaneously, balancing client work, content creation and teaching, often working seven days a week.
From requests to a scalable business
His move into teaching came organically. Followers frequently asked how he created his designs, prompting requests for training.
A friend later suggested packaging his knowledge into a structured course and pricing it higher. With a solid understanding of marketing and sales funnels, Kuanysh built a team and began scaling the courses into a design school.
An office opened in Astana, and the team expanded to 20-30 people, including sales managers, curators, marketers and instructors. Courses were delivered online.
By the second cohort, the project’s turnover reached about $47,000, with net profit estimated at $8,000 to $10,000. The third cohort enrolled around 300 students.
At its peak in 2022-2023, the school’s turnover climbed to approximately $700,000, with an average annual turnover near $100,000.
Launching an international design studio
In 2024, Kuanysh formally launched the Ronin design studio. International clients soon followed, including a major partnership in Australia that came through a former university connection. He was offered a monthly retainer of $3,000 to $4,000 — significantly higher than comparable rates in Kazakhstan.
He then began actively seeking global clients through HeadHunter and professional Telegram communities focused on AI and cryptocurrency startups. Over time, his client base expanded beyond Kazakhstan to include companies in Russia, the U.S. and Australia.
Subscription model and global clients
Today, Ronin operates on a subscription model, providing comprehensive design services — including websites, presentations, social media content and video — for businesses.
The studio generates an average monthly turnover of $9,000 to $10,000, or more than $100,000 annually. Its portfolio includes AI startups, crypto platforms and international media figures.
Despite its global reach, the team remains small: six people, all working remotely and largely drawn from Kuanysh’s long-standing network.
Working with AI, not against it
While artificial intelligence is often viewed as a threat to designers, Amangali sees it differently — as a tool rather than a competitor.
«Clients aren’t ready to entrust something as important as a website or product packaging entirely to AI,» he said. «It can help generate ideas or test concepts quickly, but the final result still requires human judgment, taste and context.»
AI is now integrated into the studio’s workflow. Tasks that once required hiring specialized designers and waiting weeks can now begin with AI-generated concepts, which are then refined by professionals.
Discipline over talent
Reflecting on his path to the international market, Kuanysh emphasizes discipline and persistence over innate talent. Strong English skills also played a key role in expanding his opportunities.
Read also: Scandal as a study guide: Why the Epstein files are a masterclass in IELTS vocabulary.
He believes many people limit themselves by following conventional approaches. Instead of simply submitting job applications and waiting, he takes additional steps — reaching out directly to startup founders, marketers and decision-makers to introduce himself and his work.
For Kuanysh, that extra effort has been a defining factor in building a global career from scratch.
