Ad Life vs. Tech Life

Working in both tech firms and advertising agencies has been like switching between two different worlds; one powered by pixels and code, the other fueled by coffee and last-minute “big Idea” moments. Both have their challenges and their moments of pure chaos. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Ad Agency Hustle: Deadlines, Drama, and “Can You Make It Pop?”

My first dive into advertising felt like being thrown into a blender on high speed. Deadlines swirling, briefs flying, and clients casually dropping feedback like, “We love it! But can you make it completely different?”

Ad agencies are not for the faint-hearted. You quickly develop thick skin and an even thicker to-do list. I’ve pulled all-nighters fine tuning color palettes, resizing logos (yes, I made it bigger), and responding to the ever classic feedback like, “Make it pop!” or “Add more wow factor!” Let’s just say if I had ₦100 for every time I heard “It’s nice, but it needs more work",” I’d be sipping Margaritas on a yacht.

But despite the chaos, there’s some sort of satisfaction in seeing your work out in the wild, a billboard glowing under Lagos traffic, a campaign making waves online. Sure, the final version might include a font I never want to see again, but hey, it’s out there.

And then there are the clients with special visions. One particular brand wanted a “modern, minimalist” aesthetic but also demanded “bold colors, quirky illustrations, and... make it shine?” I did what any designer in survival mode would do, I smiled, nodded, and made it work. And you know what? That sparkly monstrosity actually went viral. Lesson learned: Sometimes, the wildest ideas actually slap.

Tech World: Where Pixels Meet Practicality

After the adrenaline rush of advertising, stepping into tech felt like a different planet. Everything slowed down, but not in a boring way. In tech, design wasn’t just about grabbing attention, it was about creating a seamless user experience. Digital designs needed to solve problems, UI had to feel intuitive, and motion design wasn’t just for motion design sake, it had to guide users, entertain them and sometimes, soften the blow of a loading screen.

Instead of the typical “Make It Pop” requests, the feedback in tech often sounded like, “How can we improve the user flow?” or “Can this animation be 0.2 seconds faster?” I once spent hours perfecting a micro-interaction for a dashboard, obsessing over how a button should bounce. Spoiler alert: no one ever said, “Wow, that bounce changed my life.” But when users found the app intuitive and engaging, that subtle work paid off.

Working in tech also meant collaborating closely with developers, product managers, and engineers. I had to learn to speak the language of APIs, user flows, and error states. Fun fact: suggesting a confetti animation for a simple “success” message might not win you any fans among the dev team. (Although, I stand by the confetti.)

Social Videos were another beast entirely. Unlike the punchy, high-impact visuals of advertising, social videos for tech had to be educational and engaging. They were about making error messages and software updates look thrilling. I once suggested a ‘cybersecurity heist’ concept to explain data protection. Think masked hackers, glowing code, and a briefcase full of encryption keys. Sadly, it was rejected. No appreciation for the drama, I tell you.

Lessons That Stuck With Me

Looking back, both worlds taught me lessons that I carry with me in every project.

• Ask Questions ; The Right Ones: Whether it’s a marketing campaign or an app interface, understanding the “why” behind the design is everything. And no, “Just because it looks cool” is not an acceptable reason.

  
  

• Collaboration Over Isolation: Some of my best ideas came from bouncing concepts off developers or brainstorming with copywriters. Like that one time a copywriter pitched a tagline by singing it opera-style. (10/10, would recommend.)

  
  

• Adapt Like Your Life Depends On It: Because sometimes it does. In advertising, I’ve rebranded entire campaigns overnight. In tech, I’ve redesigned dashboards mid-development because a new “business need” popped up. Flexibility is key.

  
  

• Humor Saves the Day: When a client says, “We’re thinking edgy, but also family-friendly, with a splash of luxury,” all you can do is laugh and get to work.

  
  

What’s Next?

Now, I’m taking all those wild, wonderful experiences and continuing to build and collaborate with brands. I’m creating designs that not only look good but tell a story, the kind that sticks with people. Whether it’s a bold visual identity, a product that users love, or a campaign that makes someone stop mid-scroll, I’m all in.

So if you’re looking for a designer who’s survived the “Make It Pop” wars and emerged with a sense of humor intact, I’m your person.

Let’s collaborate, innovate, and maybe… just maybe.. keep the “make it pop” requests to a minimum.