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By Taiwo Babatunde
Olawale Bamidele is a seasoned UX designer, mentor, and digital tech innovator passionate about creating intuitive user experiences and fostering design communities. With extensive experience in UI/UX design, product strategy, and motion graphics, he has led and contributed to impactful projects across various industries.
Beyond community building, Olawale’s contributions extend to content creation and design education. He actively creates insightful UX tutorials, social media content, and mentorship programs.
Sun News: What inspired you to pursue a career in product design, and what keeps you passionate about it?
Olawale Bamidele: From a young age, I was fascinated by how digital experiences shape the way people interact with technology. I was always intrigued by what made some apps and platforms intuitive while others felt frustrating to use. That curiosity led me to explore user experience design.
What keeps me passionate is the ability to solve real-world problems through design. Whether it’s simplifying a complex user journey, improving accessibility, or enhancing business efficiency, I love the impact that great design can have. Through my work at UX Thrive and Scud Technologies, I’ve seen firsthand how thoughtful design can transform products and empower users.
Sun News: Building a career in product design can be challenging. What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Olawale Bamidele: One of the biggest challenges was access to resources early on. When I started, structured learning paths in UI/UX were not as widespread as they are today. I had to rely on self-learning, free online resources, and engaging in design communities.
Another challenge was standing out in a competitive industry. I overcame this by consistently working on projects, building a strong portfolio, and focusing on mentorship. I didn’t just learn design—I also learned how to communicate my ideas effectively, which helped me gain the trust of clients and teams.
Sun News Nigeria: What makes a great product designer, and how can young Nigerians develop these qualities?
Olawale Bamidele: A great product designer who is curious, empathetic, and problem-solving-driven. Curiosity helps you keep learning, empathy allows you to design for real users, and problem-solving skills ensure your designs are both functional and user-friendly.
For young Nigerians looking to develop these qualities, I recommend starting with small projects—designing mobile apps and websites or even improving existing products. Engage in communities like UX Thrive to learn from others, take advantage of free resources, and always seek feedback to improve.
Sun News: Scud Technologies operates in the mobility and logistics space. How do you ensure your designs align with industry needs?
Olawale Bamidele: Designing for mobility and logistics requires a deep understanding of the pain points drivers, riders, and administrators face. At Scud Technologies, we prioritize user research, speaking directly with stakeholders to understand their challenges.
For example, ensuring smooth navigation for drivers and an intuitive booking experience for riders were key challenges we tackled. My approach is to simplify complexity while maintaining high functionality. The goal is to make technology accessible even to non-tech-savvy users.
Sun News: What are some design trends or tools that have significantly impacted your work?
Olawale Bamidele: Figma has been a game-changer for UI/UX design, especially for remote collaboration. I also use motion graphics and video editing tools to create engaging design presentations and prototypes.
A key trend I focus on is AI-driven design—leveraging automation to improve user experience. Accessibility is another critical trend, ensuring that designs are inclusive for all users, including those in low-bandwidth environments.
Sun News: How do you balance creativity and functionality in your designs?
Olawale Bamidele: A beautiful design that doesn’t solve a problem is just decoration. I always start with functionality—understanding the user’s pain points and designing solutions around them. Once that foundation is strong, I bring in creativity to enhance the experience visually and emotionally.
For example, in dashboard design, clarity and usability come first. Even if aesthetics must be simplified, usability remains the top priority. Striking this balance ensures that products are both visually appealing and highly effective.
Sun News: What role has collaboration played in your success, and how do you work with other teams like engineers or marketers?
Olawale Bamidele: Collaboration is essential in product design. No matter how great a design is, it doesn’t exist in isolation—it has to be technically feasible and aligned with business goals.
I work closely with engineers to ensure that designs are practical to implement and with marketers to ensure messaging is clear and aligned with user expectations. Involving these teams early in the design process helps prevent conflicts later and results in better, more cohesive products.
Sun News: You’ve achieved a lot in your career. What’s your next big goal as a designer?
Olawale Bamidele: My next big goal is to scale UX Thrive into a global design platform where designers can showcase their work—something similar to Behance but tailored to the African design ecosystem. I’m also working on developing a survey and data collection tool with AI integration to simplify research for businesses.
Additionally, I plan to write a book titled _A UX Designer Mindset_, where I’ll share insights to help aspiring designers build successful careers.
Sun News: As someone shaping the future of design in Africa, what’s your vision for the industry?
Olawale Bamidele: I envision Africa becoming a global leader in digital innovation and product design. There is immense untapped talent here, but we need better access to mentorship, resources, and funding.
I also believe in solving African problems with African solutions. Our design approach must consider our unique challenges, from internet accessibility to local user behaviors. By building for our own communities, we can create solutions that impact not just Africa but the world.
Sun News: Finally, what advice do you have for young Nigerians aspiring to build a career in product design?
Olawale Bamidele: First, focus on mastering the fundamentals—learn UI/UX principles, research methodologies, and design tools. There are free and affordable resources available online.
Second, practice consistently. Work on real-world projects, redesign existing products, and create case studies that showcase your skills.
Third, network and engage with the community. Join design events, connect with other designers, and seek mentorship. Many opportunities come from building relationships.
Lastly, be patient. Success in product design doesn’t happen overnight, but with persistence, continuous learning, and a problem-solving mindset, you’ll build a rewarding career.
