Lagos mornings have a personality of their own. The city doesn’t ease into the day; it charges forward, loud and unfiltered. From the moment car horns and radio jingles take over the streets, you can almost feel Lagos reminding you that comfort is optional and movement is mandatory.
In this edition of Lagos Hustle Diaries, we meet Ayomide , a product and content designer at MTN Nigeria whose story captures the quiet determination behind the daily Lagos rhythm. Her career began in architecture, but curiosity and the constant pull to create, led her to design. Now, she spends her days shaping digital experiences that blend structure, empathy, and imagination.
Between early-morning commutes, packed deadlines, and bursts of creative flow, Ayomide has learned how to turn the city’s chaos into momentum. She doesn’t just live in Lagos; she designs through it, finding balance in the noise and purpose in the pace.
1. Before we talk about design or Lagos traffic, tell us a bit about yourself. What’s a quick snapshot of the person behind the pixels — your background, what drives your creativity, and how you ended up in product/content design?
Ayomide: I actually started out in building technology and architecture, which might sound far from IT, but that’s really where my sense of design and structure began. I’ve always been drawn to how things are built and how people interact with spaces or systems.
My transition into product (UI/UX) design was kind of unexpected. I like to joke that SAPA pushed me into tech, but curiosity made me stay. I remember my cousin learning UI/UX design, and I stumbled on one of his tutorials out of interest. That small spark of curiosity led me down a rabbit hole…..and here we are.
Over time, I’ve grown beyond just design into content creation, video editing, and even exploring AI tools. At the core, I’m a very curious person. Whenever I see something interesting, I can’t help but wonder how it was made and how I can create my own version of it. That curiosity keeps me exploring new intersections between design, storytelling, and technology.
2. Lagos is loud, fast, and full of stories. What does a typical morning look like for you before the city fully wakes up? Walk us through your first few hours — the rituals, playlists, or small habits that set the tone for your day.
Ayomide: Lagos mornings have their own rhythm, and mine usually start before the city fully wakes up. On office days, I’m up by 4:30 a.m. I say a short prayer, freshen up, grab my bag (which I usually pack the night before), and head out to catch the staff bus by around 5:30. The goal is to beat traffic and get to the office before 7:30, when the city really begins to move.
My mornings are usually structured. The night before, I write out my to-do list for the next day. Once I get to the office, I dive into the tasks I’ve already mapped out, adjusting only if something new comes up.
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3. You work at MTN, one of Nigeria’s busiest creative and tech ecosystems. How do you balance structure with creativity in a corporate environment that never slows down?We’d love to know how Lagos energy shows up in your work.
Ayomide: MTN is an agile environment, so balancing structure with creativity really comes down to staying flexible. In product design, things shift quickly: priorities, timelines, even the story we’re telling. I’ve learned to stay open to that change instead of resisting it.
Growing up and working in Lagos also plays a big part in that mindset. The city moves fast and never really slows down, but it teaches you to think on your feet, adapt quickly, and still make it look effortless. That Lagos energy shows up in how I work.
So even in a high-speed corporate environment, I don’t feel overwhelmed by the pace. I see it as part of the creative rhythm.
4. Every creative in Lagos has a “this city really tested me” moment. What’s yours?It could be a tough project, a commute story, or a Lagos-style “you won’t believe what happened” day.
Ayomide: Living in Lagos automatically gives everyone a “this city tested me” story. Mine was a trip to Ibeju-Lekki with friends that turned into a full-day adventure.
We started at Ogba bus stop, and it took over 30 minutes just for the bus to fill up. The funny part? The moment the bus was finally full and he had collected money, that’s when the driver decided to start fixing his bus. I remember thinking, this can’t end well.
Not long after, he stopped again for fuel, right after we had already waited so long and the queue there was massive because it was during the fuel subsidy period. Five minutes after leaving the station, the bus broke down completely. People were angry, trying to get refunds, but the driver refused, saying he had used our fares to buy the fuel that didn’t even get us anywhere. When we finally checked, the tires had no proper screws. Turns out, some of the tires were held together with plastic bottles.
Eventually, the bus started again, and we all reluctantly agreed to continue the journey with the promise that he’d drop us at Berger to change buses. Instead, the driver suddenly sped off like he was auditioning for Fast & Furious, ignoring everyone shouting for him to stop at the bus stop. It was terrifying — we were literally praying that we’d just make it to our destination safely.
We left home around 8 a.m. and didn’t get there until past 3:30 p.m. By the time we arrived, we were too exhausted to enjoy anything. That day tested every bit of my patience and Lagos resilience.If anything, it reminded me that Lagos is filled with MAD people.
5. Lagos can overwhelm even the most disciplined minds. What helps you stay grounded — music, community, faith, or quiet time? Everyone has that one thing that brings them back to center. What’s yours?
Ayomide: Lagos can definitely feel overwhelming sometimes…the noise, the constant movement. For me, what keeps me grounded is quiet. I’m the type of person who enjoys being alone and working in a calm dark space. So I usually create that mood intentionally…curtains drawn, lights dim. That kind of stillness helps me block out the city and stay focused.
I’m not always a music person, but on some days, I’ll play something low in the background while I work. Mostly though, it’s the silence and that sense of solitude that helps me reset, think clearly, and stay centered.
6. Let’s talk design and storytelling. How does living in Lagos influence your design thinking — the colors, the energy, the people? Does the city inspire your creative choices or challenge your patience (or both)?
Ayomide: Lagos is a design brief on its own, full of color, contrast, and stories. The people, the pace, and even the chaos inform how I design for usability and empathy. It teaches patience and reminds me that design should simplify, not overwhelm, just like how we crave calm within the city’s rush.
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7. Product design often means solving problems for people you may never meet. How do you keep empathy alive in your process? What little details remind you that you’re designing for real humans, not just screens and interfaces?
Ayomide: Empathy is a big part of how I design. Since product design means solving problems for people I may never meet, research becomes my way of connecting with them. It’s not just about identifying pain points on a surface level. I try to immerse myself in their experience, almost like putting myself in their shoes and asking, “How would this feel if it were me?”
User interviews, feedback sessions, and even simple observation help me understand the real context behind their struggles. Those insights guide my decisions more than assumptions ever could. It reminds me that I’m not designing for screens, I’m designing for humans who are trying to get something done with as little friction as possible.
The little details matter to me, things like simplifying a flow, reducing cognitive load, writing clearer microcopy, or removing a step that feels unnecessary. Those are the small reminders that someone on the other side will feel either relief or frustration based on what I create. And that keeps empathy alive in my process.
8. When the day finally ends, how do you unplug from the Lagos noise? Some people binge-watch, others cook, read, or just stare at the ceiling — what’s your way of resetting?
Ayomide: Unplugging at the end of the day is always a bit of a joke for me because my day rarely ends when I leave the office. I usually get home and continue designing or learning, so work follows me around like a second shadow.
But when I actually decide to switch off, I go straight into binge mode. K-dramas are my weakness, and lately anime has joined the party. So if I’m not designing, you’ll probably catch me glued to a series, smiling at my screen and telling myself “just one more episode” that turns into five.
9. Lagos has an underrated creative scene — from art galleries to random pop-ups. Where’s your favorite hidden spot to think, sketch, or just breathe?If we wanted to find “Ayomide’s Lagos,” where would we go?
Ayomide: Omohh, my favorite creative spot in Lagos is honestly my room. There’s nowhere else that gives me the kind of peace and clarity I get there. I’m not a morning person at all, so midnight in my room is my real creative window. That’s when everything feels calm and ideas flow easily.
If you’re looking for “Ayomide’s Lagos,” you’ll definitely find me sitting in my room, in front of my monitor. That’s my little world inside the city.
10. Finally, complete this sentence: “Lagos is…”We’ve heard “chaotic,” “magical,” “relentless,” “addictive.” What’s your version — in one line, straight from the heart?
Ayomide: Lagos is motion……unpredictable, inspiring, and alive. It keeps you on your toes, but also teaches you resilience.
In the End, It’s About Building — Not Just Hustling
For Ayomide , Lagos is more than a place to survive; it’s a city that teaches you how to build. Every day, she moves between structure and spontaneity, sketching wireframes between meetings, finding inspiration in overheard conversations, and learning that creativity often lives in the most unexpected corners of chaos.
Her story is a reminder that the Lagos hustle isn’t just about deadlines or commutes; it’s about resilience disguised as routine. It’s the art of showing up, even when the traffic won’t move. This story is about finding rhythm in disorder, meaning in movement, and joy in the small wins that most people overlook.
And in the middle of it all, Ayomide continues to design, not just for brands or products, but for a life that makes sense within the madness.