Gbemi A. is a Nigeria-based Product and UI/UX Designer focused on building intuitive web and mobile experiences for startups and growing digital brands. In this interview, Gbemi A. shares his thoughts on usability, product thinking, AI-assisted workflows, and why effective design should prioritize clarity, functionality, and real human interaction over visual trends alone. The conversation explores his approach to simplifying complex ideas into clean, user-friendly digital experiences.
“Design is not about getting it right from the start, it’s a constant iteration toward the right solution.”
How did your journey into design begin, and what continues to inspire your work today?
My journey into design started in a pretty natural way. I was a pencil sketch artist, so I already had an eye for detail and I’ve always liked when things look clean and well put together.
During the 2020 COVID break, I came across a youtube video of someone designing a birthday flyer, and i thought to myself “ohh my birthday is in few weeks, i can try this out” and I decided to try it out myself on my phone. That curiosity led me into learning through YouTube and experimenting consistently.
Over time, I moved from graphic design to brand identity, and eventually into UI/UX product design which lately feels like the best fit for me because it combines visual design with problem-solving.
What continues to inspire me is seeing something I designed actually work. I enjoy building products people can interact with, and the real satisfaction comes from knowing it makes their experience easier and more seamless.
What does success in design mean to you personally? Do you measure it through emotion, effectiveness, or another factor?
I don’t think success in design can be measure and it depends on context as well. But for me, it leans more towards effectiveness. If a design solves the problem it was created for and users can interact with it without confusion, then it’s successful. Emotion still matters, because how something feels can influence how people use it. But if it looks good and doesn’t work well, then it’s not really successful. So I see success as a balance, but with a strong focus on usability and clarity.
When creating attention-grabbing work, what comes first for you: clarity, emotion, or visual impact?
its a little bit of all actually but clarity comes first. If users don’t understand what they’re looking at or what action to take, then emotion and visual impact won’t really matter and i personally also need clarity to know what to design. Once clarity is established, I then layer in visual hierarchy and emotion. That’s what helps guide attention and create engagement. So it’s a combination of all three, but clarity is the foundation.
Have you experienced a design that didn’t turn out as expected? What lessons did you take from it?
Yes, of course, especially in situations where I relied too much on my own assumptions without validating and getting user’s feedback early enough. There were times I designed based on what I thought would work, but when tested or reviewed, it didn’t fully solve the user’s problem. One key lesson I’ve learned is to test ideas as early as possible. Design is not about getting it right from the start, it’s a constant iteration toward the right solution. Now, I focus more on putting ideas out quickly, getting feedback, and improving based on real insights.
What future change in the design world excites you the most, and how do you think it will influence creative work?
The integration of AI into design workflows excites me the most.
At first, it felt like competition, but now I see it as a tool that improves how we work. It’s not just about speed, it allows me to focus more on strategy, systems thinking, and decision-making rather than repetitive tasks. I think it will push designers to think beyond execution and focus more on problem-solving and product thinking.
What is one thing you wish you had known before starting your career in design?
I wish I had known earlier that design is less about visuals and more about thinking. At the beginning, I focused a lot on making interfaces look good and creating work that other designers would admire. But over time, I realized that designing just for visual appeal or for other designers limits growth.
What really improved my work was shifting my focus to understanding users, systems, and business goals. i always have the mindset of “can my 80 year grandma old use this.“
Key Facts
- Name: Aduragbemi Adegunju (Gbemi A.)
- Location: Ogun State, Nigeria
- Specialties: Product Design, UI/UX Design, Mobile & Web Design, UX Strategy
- Focus Areas: Usability, Product Thinking, Design Systems, User-Centered Design
- Industries: SaaS, Fintech, Startup Products
- Tools: Figma, Wireframing, Prototyping, Interaction Design
- Experience: 5+ years in product and UI/UX design
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