In our effort to continue to expose the positive side of Nigerian youth doing great stuff with technology, we catch up with Uche Ugo, one of Nigeria’s bright mind in graphics artistry. Read more as he shares his mind…

WTN: Let’s meet you :

Uche: My name is UCHEUGO a Graphic Designer / Web Interface Designer based in Lagos-Nigeria.
WTN: What inspired you to go into design and when did you start

UCHE:What inspired me into design are colours..beautiful colours i see around and I will say I started as commercial graphic designer that was early last year…when i joined an advertising agency..but when it has to do with web, have be doing that for a while as an interface designer.

WTN: How has the market been so far in Nigeria

UCHE: well so far fair enough.

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

UCHE: hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm well many challenges, such as Light, clients, environment e.t.c  but let me talk about clients.You see we have different clients; You might work with a client and he will rubbish your design and make you look inferior and why some are good, but the issue we face here most times, is when a client wants you to do a mock website for him/her, he/she won’t want to pay for your demo. Am sure over there (US,UK etc) they don’t do that and also some of our designers here don’t even dare do that! If you want a job to be done, just check on portfolios, when you like his/her portfolio, just give the job. That’s how it suppose to be done.

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

UCHE: Well What I will say is that a graphic designer should just learn how to make website. Website design and graphic design work both ways. If a client knows you are a designer, automatically he/she feels you must know how to create websites. So I think web and graphics works both ways.

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

UCHE: Well different project comes on a daily basis, but the biggest I will say is my personal project ..won’t let the cat outta the bag yet..just keep your fingers crossed… with your eyes widely open lol!

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

UCHE: Creative Design in Nigeria is now making alotta sense with our friends receiving awards, job been featured in US, different magazine in the US and online Magazine… and so many stuffs like that..I will say Nigeria creative design is really getting there.. oh wait i didn’t mention these, we can actually compete with international market and win!

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

UCHE: haa….doing great! You see everyone now has a BB with internet enabled Twitter and Facebook on the move.. you can recieve emails and all that.. the market for web and internet has moved so fast that many now use internet in Nigeria as part of their business…any business without Internet facilities means the company is lay-back.

WTN: Where do you see tech market in Nigeria in the next 3-5 years

UCHE: Well by that time.. i should see everyhome with computers connected with Internet! phones everywhere with internet on the go!!!! Not just Blackberry.

WTN: Do you have anyone you currently mentor?

UCHE: oh.. well yop a lady and one other guy.. why others ones still ask me some questions…

WTN: Do you have a mentor or someone you respect in this creative design industry

UCHE: Well yah.. am still learning now lol! Plenty of them likes of Tunde Ademosu : He mentors me, respect him…. James Abinibi, Daniel Emeka, Tola Alabi.. all this guys here are pretty good I respect them a lot as in they make a lot of sense…give them a brief or let them handle your picture and you will know what am talking about..and also have good friends they all good… I learn plenty of things from them when I see their jobs i can’t start mentioning names but they know themselves.. even when they also respect what I do but I give them kudos more.. because they inspire me!

WTN: Any word for upcoming designers?

UCHE: Oh..they should read if they are determined to succeed in this game, they should copy nobody and be themselves and also they should always listen to critics.

Connect With UCHE:

Facebook Profile
Twitter: @ucheugo
Blog: Uche’s blog