In our effort to continue to showcase Nigeria’s best talents, we caught up with the wave making Creative Artiste/Web Designer, international multi-awards winner,  James “Abinibi” Alabi, CEO of Abinibi Multimedia  to share with us the journey so far in Nigeria tech market.

WTN: Let’s meet you

Abinibi: My name is James Alabi popularly know as ABINIBI. I’m a Graphics Artist, Web Designer, Tutor, Entrepreneur and Publisher. Born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria.

WTN: What inspired you to go into design and when did you start?

Abinibi: I’ve always had a thing for the ARTS. I studied Fine and Applied Arts and that has majorly helped in defining my orientation about design. I’m actually a self taught designer and It happend in 2003 when I got hold of my first PC and it’s been excitement all the way. I started practicing with CorelDraw then I got interested in Web Design and that was when I discovered DREAMWEAVER. From there on I built my skills in other programs such as FIREWORKS, FLASH, AFTER EFFECTS, 3DS MAX, etc

WTN: Seriously, how did you come about the name, Abinibi?

Abinibi: The ABINIBI name actually means ‘inborn ability’. When I started I found it easy learning the softwares on my own without any aid or supervision and I was able to produce works that matched international standards in a short period of practice. Now when people see my works they know it takes the ABINIBI factor to do such. I’m the type that finds joy in designing which is why most of my personal works are the most popular because I really get to express myself as I want. Also, I’m big advocate for the brand NIGERIA which is why I chose a name from our local dialects to use as my company name ABINIBI MULTIMEDIA. It is also why GREEN is the official brand colour for ABINIBI. I’m showcasing the Nigerian spirit in me to the world.

WTN: How has the market been so far in Nigeria?

Abinibi: The market is actually not fair in Nigeria, in the sense that most people want to pay less or nothing when it comes to computer based works such as Graphics or Web. This is why some clients tell you to go ahead and design and send them Demos that they will pay you once they see what they like. A lot of young designers/developers fall into that trap and end up not getting good value for what they do. In my own opinion, the market is you and what you bring to it. It’s a great market in Nigeria if things are done professionally. For instance, I don’t touch your job without a proper brief and upfront payment. Plus I charge premium for my jobs because that’s how I see them. Premium!

WTN: What are the challenges you face as a designer?

Abinibi: The major challenge is as I’ve mentioned earlier; ‘unprofessional-ism’.  Aside that, we have some other major discouraging challenges such as power issue. I would charge less if the power issues is fixed in Nigeria. Right now, I don’t see how my fees would be cheap when I run a generator for almost a day all through the week and I end up spending nothing less than N40,000 on fuel monthly. It’s very discouraging!

WTN: Can we really draw a line between web designer and graphic designers?

Abinibi: Yes. A very big line! You would agree with me that designing for web is different from designing for prints. If you give a web design job to an average Graphics Artist, apart from not understanding key factors needed for a web design, such designer may also not know about optimizing images for the web not mentioning web standards. So, in my opinion, there’s a line between the two. But it’s usually an easy transition for a normal designer to web design.

WTN: Which project(s) are you currently working on?

Abinibi: Right now, the major project on my hand is personal. I’m publishing a creative magazine called SKILLZ. It’s a creative magazine that covers Design, Web, Video and Photography. We are ready to launch a Pre-Release version for the web a few weeks from now. It’s a total package and I’m excited about the content so far. Aside that, I’ve been involved in a couple of eCommerce projects launching real soon. I’m also working on a new version for my company website http://www.abinibimultimedia.com and http://www.abinibi.net which has both won me awards internationally.

WTN: What is your view of the creative design market in Nigeria?

Abinibi: The creative design market in Nigeria still needs a lot of work. We are improving by the days though but I see a lot of work ahead for us to be able to attain the same level as our international contemporaries.

WTN: What’s you view about web/internet market in Nigeria?

Abinibi: I foresee a great boom in that area once the necessary structures are put in place. It’s the next step for us.

WTN: What do you think we really need in this country?

Abinibi: What we need is discipline of the mind and the right orientation. Most of the issues we have can be attributed to these two matters. A person with the right orientation would know what is right and wrong and he or she would also have the discipline not to do or aid the things that are not acceptable to the society. period!

WTN: You are starting a new session of your training… can you reflect on the success so far?

Abinibi: Yes. I run different training programs under ABINBI CREATIVE ACADEMY and I can authoritatively inform you that I’ve contributed greatly in helping people achieve their creative dreams. We’ve had laymen come to the academy and leaving as Geniuses in the making you can check some of their works on http:/aca.abinibi.net. I personally love to teach people from what I know creatively. Our courses are GRAPHICS DESIGN, WEB DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT, FLASH ANIMATION and PRINTS TECHNOLOGY. I’ve also managed to reduced the course fees by 50% this is as a result of me wanting to make the fees affordable. Also, we give out scholarships every session. This new session promises to be exciting as students from our last sessions are also coming for new courses in the next session.

WTN: What words for you have for upcoming designers?

Abinibi: Nowadays, you see everybody uploading jobs on FACEBOOK and receiving comments. Unfortunately, FACEBOOK is a social networking website and people are only interested in seeing things that excite or appeal to them. I go online and see a lot of errors in designs posted by our guys and its saddening with the rate at which they allow themselves to be deceived with comments. An average designer on FACEBOOK does not even know colours. All they are excited about is jam-packing stock images and PHOTOSHOP brushes.

My strongest advice would be for them to really learn and research properly. Graphics Design is bigger than PHOTOSHOP if you know what I mean.

WTN: Thank you

Some of the Awards in the coffers of Abinibi himself:

• American design awards,
• New web pick
• rgbgarden.com
• mydesignaward.com
• xhilarate.com
• designslices.com
• adobekit.com

Photo Credit: Shola Animashaun