From Designing to Delivery 2 – Tips for Logo Delivery

Hey guys! It’s an awesome day for learning again. So, let’s pick up from where we stopped. Now that you have gotten the inspiration to create a logo for your client, how do you present it? What are the tips you need to pull off a beautiful presentation to a logo approval? Let’s move together.

1.      Avoid Intermediation

Let’s assume you are still in direct contact with the middle man, and you need to present your ideas, you need to do it yourself. AVOID INTERMEDIATION. Do not allow a third party to present your ideas and the reason behind it is because he or she can’t sell you the same way you will sell yourself. He or she won’t be able to answer questions directed at you the same way you will. He or she won’t be able to defend your job the same way you will, I hope you get me.

All you have to do is let the person see how much you want to help him to not put him under pressure. So, let him help you get in front of your client physically to help him out. In case the middle man wants to put up resistance, one thing that works is to tell him or her that it is company policy.

2.      Take Control

So now that you are in front of your client and the decision committee, don’t forget to juggle their memory with the design brief. They are doing a lot of things and will have forgotten all the details they gave you. You can take a copy of the design brief with you. And while presenting, avoid using designers jargon, don’t forget you are not talking to a designer like yourself, you don’t want to lose your client’s concentration.

3.      Outline some ground rules

Hey there, you have created the logo, I know you did not go to present so that you can be told the colour or font to use right? Let them know from the beginning. You are the designer, the expert. Don’t be rude but talk professionally. Let them know it’s not the time for them to start telling you what to do, because if they do, their brand will be inevitably weakened. Nobody wants that, you know?

4.      Don’t wait until the presentation

Okay this is quite funny but true. Let your clients see and come to meet you as a doctor who creates time for them as they come in and not as a waiter who has been waiting and that they talk to when they are ready to order. Do you get? As much as possible, don’t let them keep you waiting, well to avoid that, I suggest a payment per hour of your time they spend/waste, or what do you think?

5.      Keep the committee involved

Remember you are likely to have a committee involved in the approval process. Ask them if they have something they are expecting, a pre-conceived idea so that if you don’t give them their individually preconceived idea, they won’t be disappointed and outrightly reject what you have brought. If there is a committee that consists of 8 people, you know you can’t satisfy them all as regard their pre-conceived ideas. So, you have to let them know that their pre-conceived ideas might be great but won’t be for the good of the company, so they have to listen to you with open minds.

6.      Make sure to under promise and over deliver

Make sure to factor your worst into your delivery time frame and then impress them with early delivery. Wouldn’t that be better? Instead of you disappointing your client because you gave a short delivery time frame, it’s better to give a longer time, and deliver earlier.

7.      Swallow your pride

You should know that there will always be feedbacks, so learn to listen to their feedbacks. It is rare for you to deliver a logo and it will be not get some adjustments from the clients, it happens sometimes though. In lieu of this, be open to feedbacks, both good and bad.

Well, I believe that with these few tips for presenting your logo idea, you will be able to pull off your logo delivery and get an approval.

I hope you learnt again? Please don’t forget to send in your feedbacks, I am open to them. For topics you want me to talk about, please send me a mail on olamipoada2@gmail.com.

For my next post, I will be talking about an important topic: HOW TO PRICE YOUR CLIENTS. Watch out!

See ya!

 

 

From Designing to Delivery 1

Hello there! Welcome to another day for learning. How has the learning process been? Have you been learning new things? I hope you have. Let me hear your feedbacks please. The comment session here, a personal mail, or a comment on any of the social media platforms you find the post. Would you prefer a one on one which will be my phone number? You will have to reach out via social media first #winks. Please reach out, I am eager to talk personally with my readers.

So, let’s move. We looked at the design brief in the last post and I know it was all insightful and step by step. If you notice, these posts are following a particular progression. We have learnt about the elements of an iconic logo, we moved on to the ‘what to do after getting that contract of that iconic logo (the process of design),’ then we moved on to how to create a design brief which will help you in that process. Now that you have followed the process of receiving the job, let us look at the process of working on the job and delivering it.

A whole lot of us (including me) make this mistake of going straight to our laptop when we want to create a design. I have come to realise that this process limits our flow of inspiration and thereby we tend to not create a relevant logo. What is the essence of creating a logo for your client that cannot stand the test of time? It’s beautiful, awesome, message carrying but it becomes archaic very soon, old fashioned…no…it shouldn’t be. So, what are we meant to do first after we get that job?

Mind Mapping

After you have summarized the design brief, you should be able to get a word central to the whole brief, write it down. This process is to help you see the whole different directions that your design can come from. The how to is to write the word central to the design brief then branch out from it, writing other words that spring to mind as you think of that central word. This process helps you to collect your thoughts (be focused on the design at hand), generate ideas in directions you wouldn’t have thought of, get into a creative groove and associate words with images.

Remember the handbag company in my previous post (Step 4)? Let’s say the name is ELEGANCIA. That’s the Spanish version of the word ‘Elegance.’ You will agree with me that the central word here is Elegance, now think of all the words that comes to mind when you think of that central word – beauty, carriage, poise, outfit, accessories, affluence, mind blowing, simple, colours, Peacock, graceful, stylish, Swan, ballet and so on. At this point, let’s move to the example below.

Sketching

After mind – mapping, your mind is going through a lot of ideas, you might want to highlight the words generating the strongest ideas. Now that you have your ideas, sketch them with pencil and paper, not on your laptop. The use of pencil and paper is actually easier and faster than your laptop. Sketch all ideas coming to mind, some will stay on the initial concept, some will be tossed, keep sketching until you get to a place you have been able to create something on your sketchpad. Now let’s go to your laptop. Here is an example of a designer’s sketch for a logo.

Black and white first

It’s usually better when your client is not confused with colours right? This is why it’s better to get the black and white logo approved first, should in case you will still add colour. The black and white form helps your client to concentrate on the form of the logo and the idea it communicates. And if you are of the school of thought that a logo without a colour won’t thrive or is boring, white and black are also colours you know, you might want to do a google search to see big brands that their logos are in white and black. And do you know that a black or white logo can be put on any surface and will still look very good. You might want to start creating some logos in black and white. One basic thing to take note of is that when your logo is in black and white, it can always take up any colour as the need be, and most times the only way to achieve this is to avoid backgrounds in your logo. 

Deliver your jobs with mock ups

We are moving gradually to the delivery stage. It’s best to let your client see how the logo you have created for them will look like on their product, on their website, on a bill board, they will appreciate it the more. It will also give them a sense of more understanding. If you are designing Elegancia’s logo, they should see it on a hand bag, don’t you think? This will make them be able to visualize better.

One tip as regard reviews, please note that it will always happen. Learn to save your jobs with dates and not codes that you have forgotten that only you understand so that you don’t get your clients confused. Now let’s go present your ideas.

Presenting your ideas

Remember I mentioned in the post ‘Elements of an iconic logo,’ that you shouldn’t give your client more than two ideas to choose from. You don’t want your efforts to go to waste. Go with all confidence you can muster. Because really, it’s your job, your area of expertise that your client knows nothing about. Don’t let them get you, using the influence of that it is their job and they paid you. Well, you were not paid to do what they say, you were paid to do your work in a way it will benefit them.

At this point, I think we should call this part 1 and continue part 2 in a few days. There we will be going fully into presenting your ideas. Thank you for starting this journey with me, it’s been insightful for me as well, let’s do more together. In case you have friends that are creatives, please don’t forget to tell them about Creatives’ Corner and what you are learning form here, let them join our community. Don’t forget to subscribe and send a mail for new topics. 

See ya!

THE DESIGN BRIEF

Hi guys! Welcome back. In my last post, I talked about the process of design and talked about 4 things to do before starting out on a job you get. Okay, let’s do a recap: The first I mentioned was to get rid of the middle man because he or she cannot help you like you will help yourself, the second is to give the company owner a design brief to answer all necessary questions, the third is to give them space to think and time to answer your questions, and the last is to do your homework which will involve a lot of research making.

So, let’s talk fully about the DESIGN BRIEF as I promised. I gave the definition that the design brief is like a roadmap, it defines everything about the client, the company, the goals and objectives, the job, the reason for the job and so on. So how do you create a design brief? Let’s create one together.

We will be going in a step by step way to design your design brief, I will go as slow as I can…hahahaha…so follow me closely.

Step 1

Describe the client

Remember I said in the last post that you shouldn’t allow to be redirected to the company website? Let me add also that you should not allow the company owner to pitch his business idea to you -entrepreneurs are used to that - let him remember you are not an investor. So, to get the client to answer the way you need, you can ask questions like:

·        For how long have you been in the business?

·        What do you love most about the company?

·        What do your clients or customers say about you?

These questions will help you to know the description of the business and its customers views.

Step 2

Now here is the critical phase that contains critical questions

The following questions are those that will be present here, it provides a greater insight into the company.

·        When people think about your brand, what feeling do you want them to have?

Did you read the posts on branding? You should. I talked about this explicitly there. When I am walking in the hot sun and I think of 7up, the first feel that comes to mind is ‘refreshing ‘I know I am not the only one that feels that way. Let’s continue, you as designer should know what the company owner has in mind. Is it a refreshing feeling your client want his customers to have when they think about him? Is it safety? Is it elegance? Let the company owner tell you.

·        Is there a tagline?

Remember I said in one of my previous posts on branding that the tagline is a simple and short sentence that contains a company’s promise to her customers.

·        What emotional or functional benefits does your company deliver to customers?

What can they benefit from their product that they can’t from their competitors? You want to know it so the logo you create can project it.

·        Where can customers see your brand?

This answer helps you as a designer to create the perfect relevant logo which can be used on both the biggest and the smallest surfaces. The question helps you know how small to think. Remember my 9^th post – Elements of an Iconic Logo?

·        Are there any reference materials from you that can inspire the client?

Something else you are giving apart from your product to customers, maybe newsletter, maybe blog, maybe assistance in installing appliances…anything.

·        What are the deliverables?

Does your client prefer the logo in PDF format? Or both PDF and JPEG? Or one that will include the name and one that won’t? Clarify this so you don’t disappoint your client.

Step 3

Clarify the target market

Your client should let you know who their target market is. Be sure to know details about them. Ask questions like:

·        What is their average age?

·        What is their gender?

·        How much do they earn on the average?

·        Why do they buy your product and in what way does your product help them?

Step 4

Define the competition

Let your client be able to say how they are different from their competitors. Is it in their target market? Is it in product delivered? Is it in additional value delivered?

For example, if your clients produce handbags for higher classes like Presidents’ wives, Senators’ wives and all. He could have a competitor(s) who produces the same handbags for the middle class. He could have competitors doing the same things. You have to know.

Step 5

What image does the client want to convey to his customers?

So now looking at the example above, your client’s logo has to be sophisticated so as to attract their target market. In this segment, you can ask the following questions:

What typography style will they want to consider?

What colours they want to try out?

Never assume, always remember that their concept of classy or simple might be different from yours so ask. You could ask them to send images of downloaded logos that they like. You most likely will see a common denominator that shows what their preference is.

Step 6

How will success be measured?

We all have different measurements of success, so you have to find out from your client what his measurement is. Is it increasing sales? Or increasing reach? Or increasing trust? You have to ask to know

Step 7

Clarify your client’s budget!

This is a major part, because it involves money, that’s why I am screaming it. Both sides need to be clear on this to avoid misunderstandings.

Step 8

Ask about the approval process

You have met the company owner or one of the decision makers. Be sure to know if there are more. Is it a committee? Is it one person who will ask for the opinion of his PA? When you know the people who have to final say on either accepting or rejecting the logo, you should meet with them. Hear them, talk to them, let them all be on the same level in thought and expectation so that by the time to make your submission and presentation, you have comments as relating to one direction, not that one person is drawing you back.

Step 9

Start writing

Now is the time to compile every answer the client has given you. Don’t forget to run your summary by your client so you can both be on the same page and make copies, so he can see what he said that you are following.

Step 10

Manage the project

Now you can go into the project fully and churn out all inspirations you have.

Now let's see an example of a Design Brief. Not as detailed as our own I know, but it's something to start off with.

I know this is a long read, but I trust it is helpful for taking your design business to another level – professionalism. Next post, we will be talking on a nice topic that I love: From Designing to Delivery. We will be looking at what to do when designing a logo and what to do when delivering the logo. Don’t forget that these are what I learnt from the book I read. Don’t worry I will tell you the name in my next post #winks.

Also, don’t forget to subscribe, so you can get new posts alerts and be part of the first to gain new knowledge. Do you have things you would love to learn about? Topics you would want me to talk about? Please send me a mail olamipoada2@gmail.com, I am eager to receive it.

See ya!!

 

 

 

The Process of Design

Hello Designer! Let’s task our brains by thinking about this. A big company contacts you today for a logo. You know if you are able to come up with something spectacular, then, you have made a hit. Would you do all you can to make it spectacular? Or, would you feel too lazy to do much and accept the outcome. You can’t create something spectacular without doing the right things, following the right process. Well it’s a different thing if you know and don’t do it and it’s a different thing if you don’t even know at all. What am I talking about that you should know? The PROCESS OF DESIGN. These involve what you should do before starting out on a logo design. Wait, what are you thinking? That you should just go on and start as the inspiration is coming? Bros, calm down. These things will help with more inspiration.

A lot of us get introduced by someone who knows us to someone who wants to give us jobs. This means there is likely to be a third party in the conversation, the middle man. Let’s even assume it was the third party that told you about the job, and of course you have accepted it, Number one thing to do before going further even before prices is to GET RID OF THE MIDDLE MAN. Hold up! I am not saying to hurt the person o… I am only saying to make sure you get to talk with the person in charge directly. Let’s look at this. I got called up by his friend some time ago, the company he works with needed a new logo, I mean a re-branding. I was enthusiastic, very enthusiastic I must say. As at then, I would ask what the company represented to its audience, if they had a colour already blah blah blah. I asked all those questions and of course I got my response from my friend. Take note not from the company owner. How in the world did I expect my friend was going to know details about the company?  In my mind…I was ready to blow their minds. If I had gotten rid of the middle man although he is my friend but this is business you know, I would have gotten a better outcome from the whole relationship.

When you don’t get rid of the middle man, let me outline things that can possibly happen.

a.      Do you remember what they say about words going from one person to the other? By the time it gets to the final person on the receiving end, it’s a completely different thing that is gonna be said. A company worker cannot answer your questions like the company owner would. You are very likely to get half-baked answers…you don’t want to work based on that kind of answers.

b.      A company worker cannot pass information to the company owner from you the same way you would have passed it. He can’t sell you or your product to the buyer the same way you would have.

 

So, you see? You really need to get rid of the middle man. Yes, let me tell you the rounded-up conclusion of my story, I set to work, and I created something nice, people saw it and were like ‘Wow’. But you can imagine a job which the owner is not saying wow to. I never got paid for the job till today. The friend told me they decided to hold up on the job, they wanted to put some things in place, after I have created logo…can you imagine!? There was no way I could convince them to pay me. That was what allowing a middle man be in between my relationship with my client cost me.

 

Now that we have dealt with the middle man, we have asked the middle man to take you directly to the company owner, set up a professional meeting and start asking questions. Must it be the company owner you ask? Well no, just make sure you meet with the person or committee that is going to make the decision of accepting and using the logo or not. You get right? You may not likely get a lot of time to talk and get all your answers, then let your questions be in your DESIGN BRIEF. A design brief is like a road map, it defines everything about the client, the company, the goals and objectives, the job, the reason for the job and so on. Don’t allow to be directed to the company website because it can’t answer all your questions. Make sure your design brief is filled properly because that is the basis of your research.

Now you have got the brief to the company owner or the decision makers, GIVE THEM TIME AND SPACE. You can’t expect them to fill it within hours of you giving them, they need time to fill and space to think before putting the right answers down. After getting your design brief filled correctly, it is time to DO YOUR HOMEWORK. What is your homework? It is research making. Check the history of the company, what people think about its current brand and its effect on the market, check for its competitors’ brand, check out their brand weaknesses, brand identities used in the past. You need to know all these to know what kind of logo you will churn out. Are you wondering why all this research? Consider this, if its re-branding, what if their previous logo in history was the one that consumers reacted positively to the most? What if the competitors are only not doing one thing that people say they want to see in their logo? What if the company’s previous logo(s) have been passing the wrong message to consumers? You see why you should know these?

The design brief is good to be documented, so that you can go back to it. There will be times during the creation that you will need to remind yourself about the company, that is the essence of the design brief, to be able to go back to it and avoid asking the same questions all over again.

After all these have been done, you can now start to draw inspiration and create your client’s logo. In creation, don’t forget to portray the adjectives supplied by the client; the adjectives describing what the company should be to it’s consumers. Don’t forget to take note of the elements of an iconic logo, you don’t want to use all your research to create a logo that won’t be perfect. I talked about it last post and you can read it up . And yes, I kept talking about the Design Brief without saying fully what it is about, check out my next post where we will talk fully on THE DESIGN BRIEF.

Thank you for always reading. To my subscribers, a big shout out to you. Don’t forget to send in your questions and also topics on your mind for discussion here to me on olamipoada2@gmail.com. Please drop a comment, I look forward to hearing from you.

See ya!

 

New Things I learnt recently about Design: Elements of an Iconic logo

Has this ever happened to you before? That you started a book to pass time and you ended up reading the book in 4 hours and have also written up to 8 pages in your journal. That was exactly what happened to me. So, since I learnt a lot from the book, I will like to share with us same things that I have learnt. Or maybe I should call it mistakes I realized too late. It’s just both. Don’t worry, I will definitely tell you the name of the book so you can get for yourself. I can also give it out if you reach me privately for it. So, let’s move.

1.   Keep it simple

Hello 'Brander', when creating a logo, one of the things that should be ringing in your head is that it should be simple. Or why do something that when people see it, even at a glance, they will find hard to remember. Always use the two seconds rule, the time to make an impression. What is it about? Let me tell you. Remember when you are driving on a road and you are looking at billboards. Do you take your time? Well I don’t, I don’t think you will too. Are there things you remember on some billboards after you have passed through? Yes, and there some not simple enough to remember. I have had to practice that thing especially when I am taken to pass through a new road. I have to make sure there are signages that are simple that I can recognize as we drive through.

Now imagine it is a potential customer, you want to have had an impression, want him to remember so that your logo can pop up in his mind when he needs your product. FedEx’s logo is one of the simplest logo I have seen. Check it out with me. Look at NHS too, very simple.

 

2. Make it relevant

Do you know that it is not every time that you create a logo that it has to show what the company is about? Okay let’s take some examples for better understanding.  Apple’s apple, does it show that apple is all about laptops? No. BMW’s logo is also not a car remember? But they are definitely relevant. A lot of logos are like that, while some are not. Please note that if the logo you created is not going to show what the company is about, it shouldn’t show what the company is not about, that will be complete misrepresentation and murder of the company.

 

3.      Strive for the best

The toughest person to please by your work should be you, the one who creates the mark. This will help you not to settle for less. You can’t afford to have done the job well and your client will insist that it’s a no. Strive for excellence, look for ways the logo can be better, more representative, more easily remembered, simpler and still passing the right information.

 

4.      Aim for distinction

Do you know your logo can be distinctive in white and black? You don’t have to use multiple colours to make your logo distinctive. Do you know that the shape or outline of your logo design is more important than the colour? This is why you should focus on it as much as possible and ignore the colour. Ever heard of this company, Talkmore? Let’s look at their logo. Mostly black…makes it easy to remember, yeah?

                             

5.      Think small!

I think I need to scream this more, Think small!!! What do I mean you ask? Not all logo you create is meant for billboards alone. Not everything is meant for only websites. Some of your clients might have to go as big as billboards and as small as the smallest surface you can think of, I can think of a zipper. The logo you created have to be able to stay on that surface without you distorting it. That’s why you need to think small.

6.  Focus on one thing

We have said that the logos you create should be simple. But even with simplicity, it should still be distinctive. You wouldn’t want your logo to come out looking like someone else’s own. You don’t want to give your client a logo that looks similar to another company’s own. This is why you have to focus on one thing to make it personal. One thing to make it different, one thing to make it your creation. Don’t make it two, then it will stop being simple. Just one thing, a tweak in a text, an adjustment in position, anything. This will make your logo personal.

 

So, these 6 things are what we will learn today, about Elements of an iconic logo. Remember I said I learnt them from a book, and this is just page 1 out of 8 from my journal. So, watch out for more. And please note that, all I wrote is based on my understanding.

 

Do you have questions? Sure! You can ask them. Comments? Please…I will love to hear/read them. Topics you wanna learn about?  Send me a mail here! My mail notification is on #winks

 

See ya!

 

 

 

 

Story time: The Idea behind the Movement

Light Designs and Prints was founded in September 2017 with the name Light Designs. We later changed to Light Designs and Prints in February 2020 and was re-branded in April 2020. Why you ask right? Well there are quite a lot of businesses named Light Designs. Our tagline is We labor to satisfy you. The Creative Director and Founder, will be answering some questions about the company today…read and enjoy.  

Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got the idea of the company

Hi, my name is Olamiposi Adameji. I am a B.Sc. Holder from the Department of Microbiology of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. I am majorly a graphic designer and in the process of being a UI/UX Designer. I have also equipped myself with knowledge to run a business alone, marketing, customer care and so on. I was forced to learn graphic designing in 2016 by my then mentor, Tolulope Ajayi. We had to stay in school during a holiday with nothing to do, so that was his definition of being productive with our holiday which I really appreciate. As time went on, I found interest in it and the passion. I had always had interest in art – I used to draw, I think that’s one of the reasons why I love cartoons till date. I loved good designs too and I realized in my research that there were few designers as opposed to people who sell shoes and bags. I wanted to do something different and unique. I wanted to provide more worth than people’s money for them. I wanted to impact knowledge as I went on too. So, I decided to go into Graphic designing full time. And I loved the idea of being a lady, it was rare.

Why the name Light Designs and not Posi Designs?

 The name Light came from James 1:17. We want to be a light to the graphic design world and at large, we want to be pioneers, we want people to see how things can be done differently. And we can’t do that without teaching.

So how did you start?

Well I mentioned earlier that I started learning in 2016, I didn’t monetize until a year after which was September 2017. I started telling people about it though I still had little knowledge. I started with my old version Toshiba laptop then.

Challenges so far?

Uhmm…there has been a whole lot but we keep moving. A lot of times when I still had little expertise, I would do jobs, and they won’t be used. My first job was for my department, I was paid though they didn’t use it, it was very painful, because the money was not the goal. There were times when people feel that ‘shebi it’s just to design,’ that my charges as at that time was too much…as if they can do it. There was a time when I had an encounter with a PhD student in my department who refused to pay me after I delivered. He said he was using it to encourage me, I was like what the…? He told me that a colleague of mine who was into web development created a website for them for free…so I also should be able to follow that kind of example and do the design for free. Mind you we agreed on payment before I did the job o. A whole lot of people like that. I have had issues with printers and finishers too, there is a particular notepad that I had big issues with that caused a tie down of a large sum of borrowed money. The persons to do the finishing did complete rubbish, the book was not neat so people are not buying. It’s been in the market for over a year that I have just forgotten it there. No idea of what to do with it. Let me even say this, if you have an idea of what I can do, suggestions are very welcome. I have had challenges with getting jobs too. You can imagine when you reach out to 20 people and they all give you the same answers of they already booked somewhere else. It can be very discouraging.

 

What have you learnt?

Well, one major thing that I have gotten to learn is that challenges will always come and I have to decide what to make do of it. Graphic design is my passion, so I have to hold on strongly to what I love doing despite all odds. And when challenges push me one step backwards, I push two steps forward against all odds.

It’s almost 3 years. Why is Light Designs and Prints still a one-man company?

I have always had a wrong mindset as regard employment, all thanks to a new friend Kehinde Odeyemi, the founder of Echo Digital that made me realize some things. Let me tell you about the wrong mindset I had. I always thought I can’t employ until I have an office space and I can’t have an office space until I have done a lot of jobs that have brought in enough money to get an office space and to pay the workers. Now see that kind of limitation that was on my mind. But now I have realized that I don’t need an office space before I employ and paying team members does not have to be from big money made from jobs. And of course, I can’t build my brand alone. I need help of creative minds. So now that that the limitation has been broken, we should be employing very soon, say July.

Can you break down what the company is doing at the moment?

I mentioned earlier that one of the things I had in mind before starting out was to be a pioneer, a light shining to others. I can’t shine light without teaching. So, we started a blog named Creatives’ Corner in May 2020. We have had 7 posts so far and we will definitely have more. Creatives’ Corner is majorly for creatives to learn and ask questions. I write it and will still keep writing it even when the company is a very big one, my sources of knowledge are books by creative writers, classes and webinars -I enjoy writing.

We are also into Branding. I mean the creation of Logos, Websites, brochures, ID Cards, Business cards, flyers and so on. Light designs and Prints is the brand designer of two fast growing businesses and one ministry as we speak, Dew Farm Foods who is into chicken cultivation and processing, YouDefine Tech who is majorly into Website Development, and Poise and Priceless, a ministry for children, teenage girls and young wives (We are even working on a big children flashcards project for them at the moment)

Light Designs and Prints is also into creation of souvenirs for events which include notepads, calendar, paper bags and mugs.

We also sell custom made notepads -Light Notepad – for students. It’s available in OAU Bookshop as we speak.

We are also starting out fully with UI/UX designing, known as Web designing very soon.

Remember we are a ONE STOP SHOP.

In partnership?

Yes, Light Designs and Prints is in partnership with YouDefine Tech. They are the website development arm of Light Designs and Prints and we are the graphic, branding and printing arm of YouDefine Tech. YouDefine Tech which is founded by Ogijo Oluwatobi Omodara in September 2018 is based in Ibadan, Oyo State. Partnership commenced fully in May 2020.

Where will Light Designs and Prints be in 10 years?

The peak of Light Designs and Prints is teaching in every possible way which include schools. In 10 years, our goal is to have been established in all that we do now and also add more things which include, Brand development, Social Media Account Management and full-fledged Website designing (UI/UX). Then we are looking to carry the gospel of graphic designing and web development to secondary schools and also to the company Design institute.

Wow! It’s been a journey. Who are your role models and sources of motivation?

Yes, it has. I don’t really know big people in the design world, looking to do though. But one person who has always been a role model to me is a friend, his name is Adebayo Yomi, Founder of Yomrond Muiltimedia. I know quite a lot of graphic designers, both good and great because I always want to learn so I love meeting them. Each person has been a source of motivation at one time or the other. I also know some business owners in the tech world who are not even into graphics but they have all motivated me in one way or the other.

Now to my major motivators, my parents since when I started out, mum was always advocating for a new laptop for me then. She didn’t rest until they got it. Dad lent me almost all he had to do a job at a time. Such love and support. My sister, Mrs Oluwapelumi Boluwaji, founder of Poise and Priceless. I can’t afford to complain to her that ‘I don’t have jobs for now’ because she is always having an idea that will need a design. And my loving King-to-be, the one I plan saying ‘I do’ to, Oluwadamilola Daodu, always pushing me to be a better version of myself. These people in my life and many more have helped me with God in them to get me to where I am right now, to not give up.

Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!....this is such an amazing and inspiring story. The Idea behind the Movement.

Do you still have questions you will want to ask? Why not the floor is always open. You can drop it in the comments session. You want to be anonymous? Why not send a mail to olamipoada2@gmail.com now. I know you have gotten a new light about us now, I know you enjoyed reading too. Light Designs is a force and you should watch out for her. Every day will not be story time, but I can tell you that you will always learn something new from each post. God help us.

See ya!!