Mian Irtiza Aftab: Build to Lift
/ Fullstack Product Designer & Founder
by Elizabeth Lavis | 03 Aug 2026
“It’s shifted how I’m perceived, from ‘promising designer’ to ‘award-winning designer,’ and opened doors that were previously closed”
Officially, Mian Irtiza Aftab is a full-stack product designer and founder, and unofficially, he considers himself a professional problem-solver, serial builder, and impact maximalist. His last unofficial title, community alchemist, speaks to one of his driving forces: the belief that we rise by lifting others. “I find meaning in building platforms and systems that help others thrive,” he says. “I’m also driven by competition and mastery. I ranked 15th globally in Call of Duty: Warzone and built the largest South Asian gaming community during the pandemic. Gaming taught me about rapid iteration, team dynamics, and the psychology of engagement.”
Everything Aftab creates is rooted in the belief that the best measure of success is how many people he can help rise. “This philosophy stems from growing up in Pakistan, where community interdependence wasn’t optional; it was survival,” he says. “I reject the myth of the lone genius. We are all products of the people who believed in us, and we owe it forward.”
Aftab’s Pakistani roots also taught him essential skills, like resourcefulness and resilience. “The collectivist culture shaped my belief that design should serve people and communities, not just individuals,” he says. “Coming to the United States two years ago exposed me to a culture of audacity and possibility, which pushed me to think bigger. This fusion of Eastern community-mindedness and Western innovation drives my work.”
His Indigo win came courtesy of Aegis, a crypto wallet born from the frustration with the gap between crypto’s potential and its practicality, and the recognition has been a powerful validation of his approach. “It elevated my credibility in conversations with potential partners, investors, and collaborators for Aegis,” Aftab says. “It’s shifted how I’m perceived, from ‘promising designer’ to ‘award-winning designer,’ and opened doors that were previously closed.”
Aftab approaches design with deep empathy, immersing himself in understanding the context and user, including their aspirations and frustrations. “Once I do that, I zoom out to see the entire system,” he says. “Then comes rapid prototyping. I test early, fail fast, and iterate based on real feedback. Throughout, I stay focused on the North Star: ‘What is the measurable impact?’ Design isn’t complete until it’s validated by the people it’s meant to serve.”
Impact is the most important aspect of Aftab’s designs, and everything else is negotiable. He also balances strategy and creativity by seeing strategy as the skeleton and creativity as the soul. “You need both,” he says. “Strategy without creativity is boring and forgettable, and creativity without strategy is beautiful but ineffective.”
He derives inspiration from gaming, the way Pakistani street food vendors optimize their workflow and create theater around their craft, and nature. Aftab staves off burnout by treating his energy like a portfolio: diversified but intentional. “I also build recovery into my schedule through gaming sessions, workouts, and deep conversations with my inner circle,” Aftab says. “Most importantly, I say ‘no’ aggressively.”
The reward comes with seeing his products used by real people, and the alchemy of turning abstract ideas into tangible solutions that change lives. “Design is how one person can impact millions,” Aftab says.
Aegis