20 March 2023
Her passion for solving problems and creating meaningful things led her to pursue a non-traditional path. Her designs are now shaping the future of payments and remittances.
Product Designer, Flutterwave
BY MITCHELLE CHIBUNDU
I’m a Product Designer at Flutterwave, designing products shaping the future of payments and remittances. I’ve also been working with a group of people who are building a product to help parents in the U.S. invest in their children’s future and teach financial literacy to Parents and their kids.
Solving problems and seeing them come to life can be very fulfilling.
Seeing the impact of my work makes me very happy. Product design is constantly evolving, and I’m continually learning new things.
Tell us about your current role and the most rewarding part of your work
I got into design right after my NYSC, so I’ve done nothing else.
What did you do before what you stated above?
When I started learning design, I realised how much I enjoy problem-solving
and using technology to create workable things. I’d also never seen myself in the traditional work setting, so knowing that I could do groundbreaking work
wherever I choose is one of the biggest reasons I decided to pursue design.
I’m delighted I did.
What inspired you to pursue a career in design?
Eniola working at her beach
Cowrywise Round up- December 2019. We got inspired by Spotify wrapped, and wanted to show our users how they did financially throughout the year. Because of how touchy the subject of money is, we wanted to encourage users (the ones that didn’t save as much and the ones that saved well), so instead of grading them, we came up with fun names for the different categories of users.
It was an exciting and collaborative experience, and Cowrywise users and non-users received it well.
What is something you designed, built or contributed to that you’re utmostly proud of?
I love books - buying and reading them. I like to travel and rewatch old tv shows. I also love doing absolutely nothing.
How do you enjoy spending your time when you’re not working?
One of the best ways to give back to the community is through mentorship, and I had the opportunity to be a mentor at the Kimoyo fellowship for two cohorts. I loved sharing my experience and helping designers start their careers. Last year, I wanted to do more mentoring, so I signed up on ADPlist, where I’ve been mentoring people at different career stages.
I also used to volunteer at Usable - Usable is a design community that brings product people together every last Thursday of the month to talk about everything product and design. I was responsible for getting speakers to speak at our events. We organised workshops and design critique sessions. I loved being a part of Usable because it was an excellent place to learn from designers.
How has your work impacted the larger community or ecosystem?
“The tech industry also needs to be a lot more welcoming and inclusive. It needs to create a better culture that values diversity and encourages women to pursue careers in design.”
We need more female design role models and more publications such as this one highlighting the work of female designers. There’s something about seeing someone that looks like you are doing and excelling in a field you thought was only for men.
Companies need to specifically be on the lookout to hire women for design roles, some companies do this already, but we need a lot more. The tech industry also needs to be a lot more welcoming and inclusive. It needs to create a better culture that values diversity and encourages women to pursue careers in design.
What, in your opinion, should be done to make more women in design visible?
I read many articles and case studies, and I also follow a lot of design and tech social media accounts that talk about design. I also like to practice and experiment with some of the learnings from the content I consume. Something I want to do more of this year is to work on projects outside of the comfort zone that requires me to do a lot of learning.
How do you continue to develop your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in design and technology?
This is probably common, but I love Peter Ramsay’s Built for Mars. I also tell every designer just starting to check evernote.design. It has everything you’ll ever need.
Any books or website that you’d like for everyone to check out?
Eniola enjoying a book in a beautiful weather
I wish I talked about my work more, and closed mouths don't get fed.
Also, I wish I had believed more in myself and trusted that everything would turn out fine. When I started my career, I was so scared that I didn’t know what I was doing, but I am here doing the best work of my life and getting paid for it. I love that for me
Is there something you know now, that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
What is an interesting and possibly unexpected fact about you?
A lot of people do not agree, but I am, in fact, very shy.
I’ve been obsessing over the Taller Marmo brand and know I’ll look phenomenal in any of their pieces.
What would you wear to a meeting that could potentially change your life?
Trust the process - someone told me this same thing at the start of my career, and I didn’t believe them, but it’s the truth. Keep at it, keep practising, keep learning, and keep up-skilling; it’ll get easier and better.
If you feel stuck, leverage the power of the internet and, seek out mentors and role models, reach out to designers. Having a mentor or someone to look up to can be incredibly helpful in navigating the challenges of a design career. Seek designers you admire and reach out to them for advice and guidance.
It’s also crucial to celebrate your achievements and take time to celebrate them, no matter how small. Acknowledge and appreciate your progress, which can help you stay motivated and focus on your goals. You didn’t know how to use auto-layout two months ago, and now you’ve hacked it? Celebrate it.
Remember to stay positive and keep pushing forward, as a career in design can be incredibly rewarding.
What advice would you give to other women pursuing a design career who feel stuck in the journey?
Continue reading
Amaka Pascal
As a developer, she'd never considered a career in design before, but her curiosity led her down a path she couldn’t resist. Her aesthetic mind quickly fell in love with the creative design process and didn't look back.