Even Abisona blogged about it

I used to think GEJ... never mind

Seriously, Yoma, my cousin and friend, (don't ask me how) asked me to design an e-flyer for a project we (d-xtreme unit foundation) were working on last year 2011 - "SAPELE LIBRARY BOOK-DRIVE 2011". The design had two major objectives starting from the CORE OBJECTIVE; 

1. To Create mass awareness (Home and Abroad), and 

2. To Inspire people to donate generously till we hit our minimum target (1000 Books).

I had to do this in less 4hours. JESUS!!! I felt like I had used ALL my lifelines... phew! Eventually, after some painful pleasures with my "sweetheART" I arrived at this; EUREKA!!!!! And truly this was "my first KISS".

Yoma applauded the design and blogged about it immediately.

https://yomzie.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/1000books-in-40days-sapele-library-book-drive-2011/

After about one week, we had over 4 leading Nigerian bloggers, including Abisona, and Gbenga Sesan (with international footage) requesting to blog about this campaign for FREEEEEEE!!!! (here are a few links below). Now, I tell you we received loads of emails, phone calls, and of course dollars ($) as well (toh badt gan, hehehehehe). People tweeted, shared on facebook, on BlackBerry, it spread like wild fire, you remember. Did we hit our 1st objective? YESSSS!!!! How about the 2nd objective? We were just a little short of 1000 BOOKS, which we FREELY donated to the Sapele Library before we gracefully received a generous letter of recognition by the Government.

http://www.gbengasesan.com/?p=930

http://www.abisona.com/2011/11/sapele-library-book-drive-2011.html

Many years ago, as an 'innocent' child, when I didn't know the difference between sex and fornication, hmmm, I could tell that one of the main reasons people (like myself) 'drink' Peak Milk was because of it's unique sensual label design appeal with the palm trees at the beach side (heightened pleasure). Lovely design I must say, but it got me thinking ever since that this must be one of the reasons I don't buy other milk brands, why? DESIGN! DESIGN!! DESIGN!!! and TASTE too!!!! lol. Honestly, since then, I began to see design beyond it's artistic genius, but as a BUSINESS SOLUTION.

Here's where Designers fail on-the-job; When a client meets us and requests for a logo, or a flyer, or an Ad Campaign, they do so for specific reasons (objectives). they truly don't want your artistic designs, they want Business Solutions. To the client, Design is a "MEANS TO AN END", as opposed to how we, the Graphic Artists see it as the "END OF A MEANS" (the means being the creative process to our final designs). A great friend once told me that "until you start thinking like the CEO, you would never churn out great designs" - Ogbonna, the shortest Nigerian strategist. So, here are a few tips that have helped me in the past 2years;

1. Agree to a clearly stated/written objective(s)

2. Probe into the brand and client and understand "their WHY" they are in business.

3. THINK and DESIGN with the END in mind without necessarily ignoring the means completely.

4. Stop thinking and just have fun (hehehehehehe)

If you diligently apply these lessons you'd no longer see designs as mere artistic works, but much more as BUSINESS SOLUTIONS inspired by heART with measurable results. Hence, I no longer refer to myself as a Graphic Artist, but I am UyiDegarson your BRAND DESIGNER.

Honestly... that was exactly how it happened.

It all started with a simple Phone Call....

At first it was slow, and freshly soft pink, but then it became hot pink as we kept at it. I can't tell if it was due to the intense heat in the room that day, but it became "hot pink". At that point, I couldn't hold back anymore, it was as though I became possessed by "her voice" whispering sweetly, instructing me as she held me close. The last thing I remembered before we climaxed was that she was warm and freshly soft pink. We went on until we eventually arrived at this...

Whao! I honestly can't explain how I arrived at this identity design, because I literally heard "her voice" instructing me on everything to do. Sorry, I didn't introduce "her" earlier; she's my muse for all time - please meet "my heART".

Kunle Ilori Life Foundation, was established and incorporated in Nigeria in memory of the late Rev. Adekunle Ilori of blessed memory, to simply "TOUCH A WIDOW" by offering Upliftment, Care and Hope in 'our' simple way. Bottom line, via their mentorship programme, they seek to transform the poor African Widows they 'sign up' into multi-millionaires within 24 months (THIS IS FOR REAL!).

The logo inspiration is premised on the life's journey of the butterfly, from the "caterpillar in the cocoon to the gorgeous butterfly". Note also that the beautiful butterfly NEVER EVER returns to the cocoon, but daily lives freely expressing it's "coat of many colours" - this explains the water fountain springing from the 'Life'.

The intriguing thing for me about the identity design is seen in the arrangement of the name/texts. if you look more keenly at the logo, you'd notice something.

What they stand for and promise - upLIFTment - is actually INHERENT in their name. WHAO! It really pays off to follow "My 'First Kiss'". And trust me when I say, I enjoyed every bit of "her soft voice" caressing my finger tips.

Thank you for reading. And honestly, that's exactly how it happened.

My ‘first kiss’

A friend of a friend would always say, “Uyi, you will never change.” Hmmm…but it’s true; I still love kisses and more kisses, and I still love them for FREE, whether the French kiss or dutch kiss, it all feels yummy you know.

It is interesting to see people giggle over the memories of their first times; they just love those tender moments. Like when they said their ‘first word’ as a baby, or made their ‘first day’ at school, had their ‘first date’, and winked at their ‘first crush’ you know, the list can be endless. In all these, I came to realize that first things (starting) are not clear pointers to the genius within (ending), as the saying goes, “it is not how well you started, but how well you finish”, but of course there’s a “start”.

Follow your heART.

However, first things turn out to be perfect pointers to the genius within, especially in designs (definitely not in business ideas). You know like the ‘first word’ you hear when writing a poem, or like the ‘first thought’ that pops in your head when you see an image/picture, they are like the ‘first kiss’ of your life; they always CHANGE the game. So, rather than beat about the bush, I simply follow my heart’s ‘first kiss’ and even if I get to do ten other designs, my clients mostly choose my ‘first design’. I say that with a sharp 99.7% assurance from experience well over two decades now. Don’t ask me how, because I still don’t know how it happens.

Well, Jane said it all; “If you follow your heart, your 'first kiss' would always be a moment to cherish for a lifetime.”