Designing Paths: Anika Aggarwal Associate RGD on her journey as an immigrant designer

Hailing from New Delhi, India, Anika Aggarwal Associate RGD is a brand strategist and designer who moved to Canada in 2022 to continue growing her freelance creative career and build a small business rooted in storytelling and community building. 

Working with brands like Adobe and supporting creators behind the scenes in video, design and strategy, she joined the RGD to connect with like-minded individuals, seek out peers in design and grow her network. Through her work, she focuses on crafting impactful design solutions and encourages honest conversations around creative entrepreneurship with her podcast, Able Heads. At her core, she believes in blending strategic thinking with creativity and helping others carve out space for their own stories.

What work are you doing currently?

I do brand strategy and identity and develop educational content for brands and for my own platforms. Behind the scenes, I support YouTubers with video production and photography—creating custom B-roll, managing end-to-end content workflows and helping streamline the content creation process. I’ve worked with Adobe for several years and currently teach enterprise customers how to maximize Adobe tools. Being in front of the camera is a personal favourite because it’s where I find the most energy and connection with my community. I’m also a Certified Creative Cloud Expert and recently launched a new podcast called Able Heads, where I talk to designers about how they’re building their careers in today’s landscape. 

How did you get started?

I am a software engineer by education and found my way into design. During the pandemic, I reconnected with painting and sketching—things I loved as a kid. It felt like my own version of an Eat, Pray, Love moment. I also picked up French and explored different cultures. That’s when I discovered my love for design—I’d always been an appreciator and now I wanted to create human-centric design. I kept putting my work out there and, when Adobe approached me, it just felt like a natural fit. I love showing people how to use creative tools to make their lives a little easier, even if it's something as simple as creating a custom gift for a friend. At the heart of it, I’m motivated by problem-solving and storytelling—and genuinely find it fun.

What are the challenges of freelancing?

Initially one of the biggest challenges was finding consistent clients and navigating that early financial gap. After starting a small business, I began offering different products and services to create more stability. Building something of your own is a risk, especially since everything is constantly evolving. I review a lot of portfolios, and I hear many of the same questions—especially around AI. What’s helped me is framing my work as a business, not just freelance projects. Adobe has been a repeat client, which has given me the flexibility to support other small businesses while covering my expenses. It’s not easy, but believing in yourself, having motivation and backing it with a strategy makes a big difference. Networking, collaborating and building a strategy that aligns with your brand (not just you personally) are all key.