Ian R. Feen

UI/UX Designer & CEO @everflamedesign / @vizdesignerapp. Sharing raw Design + Business lessons and stories

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

From college dorm failures to six-figure triumphs: Here's my raw story of building multiple companies over the past half decade, the brutal lessons that nearly broke me, and how they ultimately made me unstoppable.

A little over half a decade ago, I launched my first business: a graphic design service, all while grinding through college. Balancing classes, exams, and client deadlines left me drained, barely sleeping yet nothing seemed to click.

I burned the little cash I had on ads I didn't understand. It was just me in my small college dorm.
I felt like an isolated failure.

Then I lost my dad, the one person who'd believed in my dream from day one. It shattered me. I thought I'd failed him completely. I was lost, turning to alcohol and women to mask the pain, numb the grief, and escape the void.

But those lows? They forged me. I pulled myself together, ditched the vices, leaned on my faith, and channeled that raw energy into something new.I pivoted to e-commerce, my first real breakthrough, scaling brands to tens of thousands a month.

I partnered with someone, went all in, and acquired 2 e-com brands and 1 software company. But over time, that partner brought negativity, debt, and chaos that ultimately tanked our e-com brands. I sold everything off, stung by failure and my own bad calls.

After so much trauma and effort, I nearly quit, doubting if I had what it took to rebuild. But deep down, I've always known my calling: to be an entrepreneur, just like my dad before me.

I couldn't walk away from using my skills to create real value for people. Thankfully, my faith in God and the incredible people around me gave me the strength to push forward. This time, I returned unstoppable.

Armed with lessons and experience from every failure, learning communication, sales, human psychology, product design, team-building, resilience, patience, and much more. I knew software was the future, the one I acquired early on proved incredibly profitable, even through the chaos.

That's what inspired me to blend it with my passion for design, creating @everflamedesign. Today, it's a powerhouse UI/UX design and development studio, generating multiple six figures and delivering world-class results for our clients.

We're also currently building our own in-house app to empower designers worldwide with world-class design and business skills through engaging, gamified learning experiences.

And hey, here's my takeaway: If I'd quit after the first flop, my dad's death, or those e-com partnership disasters, I'd be stuck. Rock bottom isn't the end, it's the foundation.

To everyone battling tough times: You are going through the process, enduring the lows so you can truly enjoy the highs. Keep pushing; never quit.The comeback is the best part. I promise :)

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Why is gamified learning the best?
Because your brain loves games.

Dopamine hits from points, streaks, progress bars, and “leveling up” make knowledge stick 10x better than dry textbooks or lectures.

Kids, adults, professionals, everyone learns faster and remembers longer when learning feels like play. Gamification isn’t a gimmick. It’s the future of education. Who’s with me? 🔥

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Learn UI/UX Design and make money.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

#1 Gamified learning is hands-down the BEST way to learn.
Turn boring lessons into quests, levels, badges & leaderboards and suddenly you’re addicted to getting better.

Retention skyrockets, motivation stays high, and you actually ENJOY the process.
Traditional studying is dead. Gamification wins. 🚀🎮

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Turn your creativity into a thriving freelance empire.
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[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Become a Visionary Designer

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Premium figma templates, deals and client playbooks await.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Learn with Visionary Designer

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Negativity is basically laziness. It takes a lot of hard work to remain positive, but positivity always pays off.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Creative solutions for moderns designers.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Every designer gets stuck. Great ones diagnose it like pros.

Button looks weak? Check contrast and weight first.
Layout feels boring? Audit your grid and alignment.
Whole design feels “off”? Probably typography or spacing breaking the hierarchy.

They don’t panic and hunt for trends on Dribbble.
They return to fundamentals.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Creative solutions for modern designers.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Great designers still get stuck.

The difference?
They know it’s not a lack of talent — it’s usually a fundamentals problem in disguise.

When you’re staring at a blank canvas and nothing works, it’s rarely because you “lost your creativity.”
It’s because your spacing is off, your hierarchy is weak, or your color contrast is doing nothing.
Great designers go back to basics instead of chasing inspiration.

Fundamentals aren’t boring.
They’re the unlock when you’re stuck.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Learn with Visionary Designer

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Harsh truth for designers in 2026:
If your portfolio still looks like it was made in 2022 and you haven’t learned:

Advanced prototyping
AI-assisted workflows
3D + spatial design basics
Proper design system architecture

…you’re wondering why you’re still at $60k while others hit $150k+.
Talent is common. Polished execution is rare.
Stop blaming the market. Start grinding your skills.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Too many designers complain about low pay but never touch Figma after 6pm.
You are not “underpaid” you are under-skilled.
Clients pay premium rates for designers who can:

Ship pixel-perfect work
Understand motion & micro-interactions
Think in systems, not just screens
Communicate like pros

Polish your craft or stay broke. The choice is yours.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Build skills that actually matter.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

More than skills, premium rewards.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Unlock rewards every week and design like never before.

[Ian R. Feen @ianfeen]

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.
When everything feels like it’s falling apart, remember:
You’ve survived 100% of your worst days so far.
Keep going.