TECHSTAR OF THE MONTH (OCTOBER EDITION) FEATURING OLAOLUWA AKINSOLA

Lovina from TCA: Hi, Olaoluwa. Pleasure to make your acquaintance! Tell us a bit about yourself: your name, where you’re from and what it is you do in the tech industry. While you’re at it, what year did you get into tech?

Laolu: My name is Olaoluwa Akinsola, and I’m from Nigeria. I’m a UI/UX designer with a passion for creating user-centered experiences that blend functionality and creativity. I ventured into the tech space in 2021, and since then, I’ve been focusing on design, primarily within the tech and education industries.

Lovina from TCA: Wow. Concise and straight to the point response, I like! Now let’s talk about how you discovered that you wanted to get into tech, UI/UX design precisely. Was it passion, or circumstance?

Laolu: My journey into tech started with coding, specifically front-end development and a bit of Python. But to be honest, it just wasn’t clicking for me. I eventually moved into graphics design, where I found more interest. While most of my peers were using Adobe products, I gravitated toward Figma. I realized that Figma’s collaborative and intuitive interface was where I thrived, and that’s what led me to UI/UX design. It felt natural, and I finally found the space where my creativity and problem-solving skills could shine.

Lovina from TCA: That is brilliant… My favorite thing is when people are not afraid to adjust, or start over especially when it comes to career endeavors. Well done. Okay, back to business: what personal experience or project did you work on that sealed your interest in design?

Laolu: Before I officially got into UI/UX, I remember designing a website for my secondary school. It wasn’t just about putting the design together—it was the positive feedback I received afterward that made me feel like I was on the right path. The praise from people gave me a sense of fulfillment, and that experience sparked my decision to dive fully into UI/UX design, where I began learning about the user experience side in more detail.

Lovina from TCA: Interesting. I see you mentioned something about being a student leader in the tech industry… Do you want to fill us in on what that is about?

Laolu: I run design classes at my university for students who are interested in UI/UX design. It’s a way to give back and help others who, like me, are exploring their path in design. The classes foster a supportive community where students can learn, share ideas, and grow together. I’m also looking ahead and working towards becoming the ICT Director in the future, where I can contribute even more to the tech landscape on campus.

Lovina from TCA: As someone who had a pretty unidimensional and boring time at the university, all I can say is, I’m kinda jealous you’re killing it like that. Bravo.

Laolu: Haha, thank you so much! It’s really been a rewarding journey.

Lovina from TCA: You’re welcome! So, tell us about someone, an institution or an experience that was/is a major source of inspiration for you as you made your journey through the tech ecosystem.

Laolu: One major inspiration for me would be my uncle, Mr. Samuel Lasisi. He introduced me to the idea that design is more than aesthetics—it’s about solving problems. His work has influenced the way I approach my design process, focusing on understanding user needs before jumping into solutions.

Lovina from TCA: Sigh, that must be nice… Having a close relative to guide and inspire you. I take back what I said earlier about being “pretty” jealous of you. I am totally green with envy at your good fortune.

Laolu: I totally get that! I’m really fortunate to have had guidance along the way. My mom, who runs a school, also played a big role in sparking my interest in tech, and seeing her dedication to education really inspired me to build something impactful like Dev Academy. I’ve had great mentors too, and that support makes a world of difference.

Lovina from TCA: I knew you had the potential to be an efiko… Suspicion confirmed, lol.

Anyways, what challenges have you faced so far in your design career? Anybody’s head you wanted to scatter for being the weapon fashioned against you in the industry?

Laolu: Like many designers, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges—tight deadlines, creative blocks, and working with clients who sometimes struggle to articulate what they need. However, every challenge has been a learning opportunity. It’s also taught me patience and how to manage expectations effectively. (EMPHASIS ON THE CLIENTS )

Lovina from TCA: Sigh. I see you. As someone who works in an industry where you’ll constantly have to interact with clients a lot, that is somewhat inevitable. However, it’s great that you’ve adopted a mindset that lets you see such occurrences as opportunities for learning. Sending you a virtual handshake.

Laolu: Virtual handshake received! Honestly, sometimes it feels like I’m navigating an emotional rollercoaster with clients. But hey, I’ve learned to laugh about it—otherwise, I’d probably cry!

Lovina from TCA: Glad to know! Now, what tech training/courses have you done? How many of those did you need to do to finally feel like a designer?

Laolu: I’ve taken various UI/UX courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy and VERDAC, but the most valuable learning came from hands-on experience and working on real projects. While courses provide the foundation, I believe true mastery comes from constant practice and learning from each project.

Lovina from TCA: Spoken like a true veteran. About juggling your academics and your tech career: how has your involvement in the Tech space impacted or affected your academic journey? What has it done to your interaction with your peers?

Laolu: Balancing tech and academics has been a challenge, but it’s also taught me time management and how to prioritize effectively. My involvement in the tech space has made me more collaborative and resourceful, especially when interacting with my peers. It’s also created a sense of camaraderie among those of us pursuing tech-related goals.

Lovina from TCA: That’s true. It is only fitting that your interactions with your fellow techies will be a lot more in-depth over time. Okay, please briefly bring us up to speed on the Tech School you founded. What are the core goals and objectives of the school?

Laolu: Our goal is to make tech education accessible to every child. We’re focused on raising awareness about the importance of tech and providing hands-on training to children, teenagers, and young adults—even those in the slums and ghettos of Nigeria. We believe that no one should be left behind in the digital revolution, and our mission is to empower the next generation with the skills they need to succeed in the tech industry.

Lovina from TCA: Sigh. See all the reasons I have to be jealous? You have amazing and brilliant ideas and I’m excited and can’t wait to see them take form. I hope you access all the resources and manpower you need to execute your plans.

Laolu: Haha, thank you! I’m excited too—it’s a big dream, and with the right resources, we’re going to make it happen

Lovina from TCA: You’re welcome. What did you identify as the challenges of other/newbie designers that you wanted the 30-day design challenge to help fix or address?

Laolu: Many new designers struggle with consistency and feedback. The 30-day UI/UX Design Challenge is designed to help them build the habit of daily practice and get constructive feedback on their work. It also fosters a community where they can learn from others and improve their craft.

Lovina from TCA: Amazing work. Well done, Laolu.

Laolu: Thank you

Lovina from TCA: You mentioned something about workshops and webinars in your response to our questions earlier when you were filling out the forms, how do you measure the impact of those  on the skills of your peers/the participants?

Laolu: We measure the impact through post-workshop surveys, feedback forms, and tracking participants’ progress over time. Additionally, many participants return to share how the workshops helped them land freelance gigs or improve their portfolios, which is always rewarding to hear.

Lovina from TCA: I see that you’re thorough in everything you do, fantastic! Can you share your most significant design project or accomplishment? What were the unique challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?

Laolu: One of my most significant projects was designing a school management system software. The challenge was creating a seamless user experience while balancing complex functionality. I overcame this by conducting extensive user research and iterating based on feedback, ensuring that every design decision was backed by data.

Lovina from TCA: Like I said, your work is outstanding. Mind telling us what top 5 software/tools you prefer using for your design process? Any specific reason?

Laolu: Like I said earlier, I’m a Figma merchant. I love the interface, it’s so straight forward. Anyway, my top 5 tools are;

 

1. 1. Figma (wonderful interface)

1. 1. ChatGPT (it just simplifies my work by a whole lot)

1. 1. Notion (makes my documentation easier)

1. 1. Behance (I feel like this is the best place to get inspirations for your designs)

1. 1. Zeplin (it eases my design hand off to developers)

Lovina from TCA: Hey, I’m so glad to see you acknowledge using ChatGPT. Most people are so caught up in it not being human and likely to “take over our jobs” that they don’t see the upside to it and others such as Gemini and Claude AI. Anything you would like to say about that quickly?

Laolu: I personally believe that AI is one of the best things that has ever happened to the human race, it makes everything easy. And the truth about AI taking over jobs is that it can and would not happen, the only ones who would take over jobs are the people who use AI to complement their jobs.

Lovina from TCA: Brilliant submission, thank you! Would you please walk us through your design philosophy? What steps do you follow in order to create designs that are user-centered?

Laolu: My design philosophy revolves around empathy. I start by understanding the users’ needs through research, then I create wireframes and prototypes to validate the design with real users. Once I get feedback, I refine the design, making sure it balances functionality and aesthetics.

Lovina from TCA: I like the sound of ensuring that there’s a balance between functionality and aesthetics, because what’s the use of a visually appealing design with little to no functionality? Or, why make it just functional and boring, when it can be both useful and beautiful, right?

Laolu: There has to be a balance between functionality and aesthetics. What’s the point of a beautiful design if it doesn’t work well? 

Lovina from TCA: Great! Next, please give us a concise description of your typical design process from start to finish. We non-design individuals would like to get a glimpse of the creative process that gets us the beautiful visuals we often see.

Laolu: My typical design process includes:

 

1. 1. Research: Understanding the problem, target audience, and goals.

1. 1. Ideation: Brainstorming solutions and sketching wireframes.

1. 1. Prototyping: Building interactive prototypes.

1. 1. Testing: Conducting usability tests and gathering feedback.

1. 1. Iteration: Refining the design based on feedback.

1. 1. Delivery: Handing off the final design to developers or clients.

Lovina from TCA: That’s really concise, thank you. What’s your Modus Operandi for staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the design industry?

Laolu: I stay updated by following design blogs, attending webinars, and being part of design communities on platforms like Dribbble and LinkedIn. I also try to learn new tools and techniques regularly, as the design industry evolves rapidly (emphasis on linkedIn).

Lovina from TCA: What long-term goals do you have for your UI/UX design career?

Laolu: My long-term goal is to become a design leader who not only creates impactful products but also mentors the next generation of designers. I’d also like to scale my tech school and expand it into a full-fledged academy.

Lovina from TCA: With what you’ve shared so far, I believe you’re already on the path of becoming that. Now let’s talk knowledge transfer: what is something you often try to impart to individuals who participate in your workshops and webinars, especially the aspiring designers? Something that, one way or another, if applied can set them up for success?

Laolu: I always tell aspiring designers to focus on problem-solving rather than just creating visually appealing designs. If they can solve users’ problems effectively, their designs will naturally stand out. Consistency and seeking feedback are also key to growth.

Lovina from TCA: Awesome! I believe in problem-solving as a primary approach to meeting clients’ needs, and I believe that this holds true across every industry. 

Laolu: I believe that If you can solve problems effectively, you’ll always be valuable—no matter where you go!

Lovina from TCA: Touche! What social media platforms are you on and which ones do you prefer to use to showcase your work and connect with potential clients and community members?

Laolu: I am very active on LinkedIn and on Instagram.

LinkedIn username: Olaoluwa Akinsola

Instagram username: Laolu_7

Lovina from TCA: I’ve had the best time getting this interview done, Laolu. You’ve furnished us with absolutely brilliant responses, thank you! Any famous last words?

Laolu: As Albert Einstein once said, ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’ This perfectly captures my approach to design and problem-solving. Let’s always strive to think differently and create better solutions!

Lovina from TCA: Awesome. Thank you so much, Laolu. I can’t wait to see the amazing things you have planned come to life.

It has been an absolute pleasure having this session with Olaoluwa. I enjoyed every bit of the process and I hope you enjoyed reading it, too.

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