Ali Ahunbáev

Designer & Developer

What's up, I'm Ali.

The first time I remember "being an artist" was drawing a Crayola portrait of my mother. I was around 3 years old. She liked it.

I'm 19 now, and still think of myself that way.

I'm currently studying Computer Science at NYU. It's been my dream to move to New York since I was 15. Couldn't be happier (or broker).

I spend most of my time working to create beautiful things. I find this pursuit difficult, fulfilling, and wildly fun.

The rest of my attention is divided between the gym, shawarma, books, movies, and women.

What I'm Working On

COMBAT® – A studio for creative soldiers. Making tools, products, and media for people who treat their craft with discipline. Software, magazines, clothing, community.

Marble – building software to track nutrition & training. Most apps in the space are ugly, I wanted to make a clean one. Inspired by "Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor."

YouTube – Videos documenting what I'm building and how I'm thinking about design, work, and life in NYC.

Playfighter – Weekly letters on building a life that feels like play. Writing about discipline, creativity, and what I'm learning.