Rising Stars: Meet Hrishikesh Birodkar of New York City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hrishikesh Birodkar

Hi Hrishikesh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been a car person, even before I started drawing. When I did start, all I drew were cars. Growing up in Goa, India, I didn’t always have the opportunity to see the exotic cars I admired in games. But as I got older, I found ways to get closer to them.

I decided to give my drawings to the people who let me experience these cars. Soon after, I got my first client, who asked if I could draw his car. To my surprise, he asked me how much I would charge! That’s when I realized I could do something I love and make money from it at the same time.

Not long after, I started my page, @hbdgsns, where I create digital car illustrations for people around the world.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges was convincing people that digital car illustrations were worth investing in. Early on, I often undersold my work because I wasn’t sure how to price it or if people would see its value.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work as a graphic designer at a home decor company in New York City during the day, but my passion project is creating digital car illustrations. I specialize in making vector illustrations and designing merch for some well-known people in the car world.

I’ve been lucky enough to have my work shared and loved by industry legends like Gas Monkey Garage and popular YouTubers like Doug DeMuro, VinWiki, Daily Driven Exotics, and The Hamilton Collection.

What I’m most proud of is the people I’ve met through my work. It’s crazy to think that I’ve gotten to connect with and even work with people I’ve looked up to for years.

I think what sets me apart is my illustration style and how adaptable I am. I make sure my designs aren’t just something I love but also something my clients are excited about too.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck has definitely played a role in my life and business, both good and bad. Growing up in Goa, I didn’t have easy access to the kind of cars I was obsessed with, which felt like bad luck at the time. But in hindsight, it pushed me to be more creative and resourceful, finding inspiration wherever I could.

On the flip side, I’ve had a lot of good luck too. Some of my biggest breaks came from being in the right place at the right time, like having my work shared by people I admire. Those moments gave me a boost I couldn’t have planned for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.designbyhb.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbdsgns/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrishikeshbirodkar/

Image Credits
Hrishikesh Birodkar and @nelcontrol