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I am a creative, researcher and designer based in Nigeria morphing human stories into visual, written, digital and physical experiences.

Status Report

A bit about what I’m up to at the moment.

Researcher; Project Pathways

Since Nov. 2022

Currently working as a Designer Researcher for Sonder Collective on the Pathways project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Building Perimeter Base

Since Feb. 2024

library of African women’s history attempting to dismantle the predominantly male definition of historical significance.

Researcher, Storyteller; Afrika Designers

Since Jun. 2023

Building Afrika Designers with Manuel Ogomigo, a platform dedicated to helping Africans standout through storytelling.

Graduate school

Since Dec. 2023

Hoping to get into graduate school this year. Something along the lines of functional Design and Research. Not too academic or crafty. 

WHO IS FUNMILAYO OBASA?

Boundlessly Evolving

I like to describe myself as creative; because I read, appreciate art and write to tell stories. My pursuits started with creative writing, and then photography. Now I’m an Experience Designer and Researcher I combining my curiosity, rigor and storytelling skills to translate thoughts and behaviors into streamlined experiences and outcomes.

Creative Writing

I write poems and creative non-fiction essays

But I’ve fallen out of love with poetry. I began writing poems and essays in secondary school, I even won a mini fridge for my first place essay on environmental sustainability. I believe writing — even of the most creative pieces — should be done for clarity.

The Woman Is No Messiah: An Anthology

I have a poem, titled Anatomy on page 16 of this anthology. Curated & edited by Angel Nduka-Nwosu, The Woman is no Messiah is an anthology of poems in which 28 Nigerian women document laughter, joy, pleasure, grief, and so much more.

I studied History. 

History and International Studies. 

But that didn’t stop me from teaching myself photography.

Photography

I tell conceptual stories with images

In my first year of uni, I taught myself photography. Initially i took crap photos and even had a client reject my photos but now I think I take pretty decent photographs, what do you think?

Covid came, Nigerian lecturers went on strike

& this happened…

Experience Design

Researching, Designing, & Building Experiences

Yup! That’s my job 🙂. In 2020, I started learning UX Design due to its intersection between technology and human behaviour. Now, I combine Research with Design to build products and services in various industries.

Research is at the core of my Design practice

When I say Research, Design, Build, I mean understand how people behave in a given context & use those insights to design and build product and service experiences. The products and services can range from a digital app to events and frontstage interactions.

Building a bunch of side projects to fail and learn

From building a library of African women’s history to helping African Designers standout through spotlighting and storytelling, my side projects are a collection of topics I am passionate about.

I collaborate with clients to offer Design and Research services adapted to their specific challenges or needs

Let's connect

If you think I’m interesting or fit your ideal person to work with, reach out! Who knows were chance will lead us 😉.