20 March 2023
Product Designer, Norebase
Originally aspiring to be an animator and scriptwriter, this designer discovered a love for design that changed her life. She's ready to take on the creative world now that she's armed with storytelling skills and an eye for animation.
BY MITCHELLE CHIBUNDU
I'm a Product Designer at Norebase and am also working on launching my design agency, Inkan Studio. I am excited about this.
The most rewarding part of my work is creating something that solves problems in a fun way. I'm not always able to do this, but I find joy in it. There are many solutions to a problem, but the most interesting, enjoyable path for the user is where you'll find me.
Tell us about your current role and the most rewarding part of your work
I was a Product designer at Risevest, and before that used to be a waitress in 2019.
What did you do before what you stated above?
Hmm, I initially wanted to be an animator, I love anime and 2d animation, and I wanted to write scripts and build stories. A friend of mine thought I was very creative and asked me to look into UI/UX design, and I'm forever glad that I did because the discovery inevitably changed my life. Storytelling is an integral part of the design, and I could throw in sweet animations that sealed the deal for me.
What inspired you to pursue a career in design?
Cynthia at her workstation
My favourite project so far has been Task Owl. It incorporates the gamification technique that I enjoy. I plan to work on projects like that in the future.
What is something you designed, built or contributed to that you’re utmostly proud of?
I love going to the beach, dressing up and looking pretty. I also love watching anime and Kdrama. I'd like to explore some of my childhood hobbies again, pottery and traditional painting, in the future.
How do you enjoy spending your time when you’re not working?
I need to figure out how to answer this because I don't see my work as it is now as impactful. However, I have plans to make more impactful contributions to the community in the future.
How has your work impacted the larger community or ecosystem?
“ I recommend women for every opportunity that comes my way because as much as we can educate women about design, that’s doing little if women can’t get work after learning.”
Recommend women for roles. I realised that men in the design community recommend each other for positions more than women. I recommend women for every opportunity that comes my way because as much as we can educate women about design, that's doing little if women can't get work after learning.
What, in your opinion, should be done to make more women in design visible?
How do you continue to develop your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in design and technology?
I'm taking Udacity and Webflow courses and learning to be a better illustrator. I collect skills like Thanos with the infinity stones. I follow people who make it their job to keep their audiences updated on new design trends.
Any books or website that you’d like for everyone to check out?
A book every designer should read is Creativity Inc.
Is there something you know now, that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
As a brilliant person, it was easy to get by with little information when I was starting, soon it dawned on me that I still had a lot to learn.
I’d never know everything about design, but if I studied the foundations, I could have my unique approach that still solves problems. Iteration is the best thing you can do for your work. Your most revised work differs from the one before; it only gets better after more iterations.
I wrote a novel-sized boys' love story on Wattpad that got many reads and was featured on the top 10 list from Africa. I also write short horror stories. One of my short stories won me a competition when I was 17.
What is an interesting and possibly unexpected fact about you?
What would you wear to a meeting that could potentially change your life?
I would wear a lilac suit with flared pants.
What advice would you give to other women pursuing a design career who feel stuck in the journey?
Design what you want to see, not what everyone does. Personalise your work and make sure you bring something unique into your process. It could be how you do your research, documentation, or design, putting some of you into it. Sometimes we get stuck in our creativity, and we must remember that putting our creativity out there is essential.
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Aderinsola Oluwafemi
Derin’s passion for design led her to
pursue a career she never initially planned for. She found joy in designing and went seeking the structure she needed to stay committed.