It is never too late to switch up your career is a testament to Nonye’s design journey.

Being open minded to other aspects of the design world led him to the domain of product design, marking a notable shift in his career as he encountered unfamiliar ground.

His foundation in graphics design played a major role in granting him a soft landing during the transition but there is more to uncover.

We will be exploring the career development of Nonye, who successfully transitioned from the field of graphics design and now holds the position of a product designer at product studio.

Chukwunonyerem Emmanuel Okorafor, fondly known as  “Nonye” specializes in product design and digital art, proudly leading as the visionary of Nonye Artigraphy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos.

What sparked the need for transition?

Nonye’s journey from graphics design to product design was motivated by curiosity, passion, and a desire to grow. He was fascinated by the product design process because of its broad nature.

Bridging the gap between both design fields

He found his foundation in graphics design to be essential in bridging the gap. Many principles from graphics design seamlessly translate into the field of product design. Additionally, he had the invaluable guidance of a mentor who shed light on the path forward during a brief meeting.

Afterwards, he embarked on a journey of self-directed learning, constantly seeking knowledge and guidance from those ahead of him. Daily practice along with studying articles, online resources, and design literature played a crucial role in enhancing his skills and closing the divide between the two disciplines.

The significance of Nithub in his transition journey

Nithub played a pivotal role for Nonye on both professional and personal levels. He served as a facilitator for the NITDEV training program which marked a game-changing moment in his career. It entrusted him with the responsibility of shaping the future of aspiring designers, a task he embraced wholeheartedly. His nights were spent diligently researching and preparing engaging presentations to ensure the utmost benefit for the participants. Not only did he witness the profound impact on their growth, but the experience also shaped his development. Teaching and guiding individuals with little to no prior design experience within a shortened time frame was a difficult challenge that he gladly embraced. Witnessing the emergence of new designers into the community at the conclusion of the program was immensely fulfilling and reaffirmed the significance of his role in nurturing talent and fostering growth, perfectly aligning with Nithub’s mission.

Looking to tread the same path?

There are certain skills that are vital in the design transition process, Nonye listed some of them to be:

1. Excellent Communication Skills: As a graphics designer, his role often involved direct communication with clients to craft designs that met their needs, whether for marketing campaigns or personal projects.

In contrast, product design encompasses a broader scope, necessitating effective communication due to its focus on catering to the needs of the majority, namely the users.

Clear and concise communication is paramount in product design to ensure that the resulting products resonate with and effectively serve the intended user base.

2. Understanding the User’s Needs: Understanding the user’s needs and expectations is absolutely crucial in designing a product that truly resonates with them. Simply expecting users to understand a product’s design without fully understanding their perspective is unrealistic.

Therefore, successful product design requires taking a complete approach that puts user comprehension and interaction at the forefront. By deeply understanding the end users and prioritizing their needs throughout the design process, we can create products that not only meet their expectations. This user-centric approach is the cornerstone of effective product design, ensuring that our creations fulfil their intended purpose and provide meaningful value to those who use them.

3. Design Thinking: In product design, having a structured process is essential, specially designed to the specific requirements of each product. This includes developing strategies that not only captivate users but also resonate with product owners and stakeholders. These strategies serve as guiding principles, ensuring that the design not only meets user needs but also aligns with organizational objectives . By inputting these strategies into the design process, designers can create products that strike a balance between user appeal and business objectives, eventually driving success and satisfaction for all involved parties.

4. Typography and Colour Psychology: Mastering typography is key in product design, as it pushes designers forward in their craft. Equally fundamental is an understanding of colour psychology, which plays a pivotal role in structuring the user experiences. Together, these elements form the core of a designer’s toolkit, shaping the creation of products that captivate visually and connect emotionally with users.

Difficulties encountered during the transition

One of the greatest challenges encountered early on in his journey into product design was struggling with unfamiliar fields and industries when tasked with building or designing a product. The prospect of making users understand and engage with a product in an area where he lacked expertise seemed frightening at first. However, he learned to navigate these challenges by mastering the art of asking the right questions, whether during interviews or client consultations. Additionally, thorough research became his greatest ally, enabling him to gain deep insights into the domain and align the product design with user needs and expectations.Through this approach, he was able to overcome initial uncertainties and deliver impactful solutions that resonated with users.

 User Experience In Product design Vs Graphics Design     

Approaching user experience in product design entails a step-by-step process that begins with identifying the problem, finding a solution to that problem, understanding the best approach to implementing that solution in a way that users can understand, conducting interviews, surveys, extensive research, wireframing and prototyping, and then receiving feedback and iterations. It is all a procedure to keep users from becoming frustrated and abandoning your product altogether.

Whereas in graphics design; processes are still carried out, beginning with understanding the importance of information, selecting/researching for the best layout to place the information in a hierarchical format, understanding the brand and working around their identity, then the handoff and, most often, feedback and iteration.

Advice to anyone who seeks to switch design roles 

As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. For graphics designers contemplating a shift to product design, remember that mastery takes time.

You are already equipped with a strong foundation in design, so capitalize on that and aim to elevate your skills. Emphasize the abundance of learning opportunities on platforms like YouTube and online communities.

Overall, Nonye’s advice to fellow designers is simple: believe in your ability to make the leap and take decisive action toward your desired destination.