#14 Razak: The Danfo Boy Studying Graphic Design Who Has Never Felt Like Quitting

I grew up in the city where there are a lot of danfo buses... Dan·fo·ism is a style of art that tells crazy and calm stories about the danfo buses of Lagos... I have never for once felt like quitting

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Jun 23, 2022

Hi, Thank you for joining us for today’s episode of StudentsWhoCreate Interview. Our Student Creative for today is a final year student at the College of Technology, Yaba (YABATECH) studying Graphic Design. He started out by self-learning Photoshop for photo manipulation through YouTube. His love for design made him study Fine Art for his OND program before majoring in Graphic Design for his HND. What got him into design? What made him choose to study graphic design? What has kept him going all these years and how has he gone from the self-taught photo manipulator to building a career for himself in design? Read and enjoy!!!

Hi, Thank you for speaking with us. Can we meet you?

My name is Ganiyu Razak also known as Pentifier or Danfo Boy. I am currently in my final year studying Graphic Design at the College of Technology, Yaba (YABATECH). I am from Kogi state and I grew up in the city where there are a lot of Danfo buses, Lagos state.

Majorly, I do brand identity design, although I am more of a generalist. I do photo manipulation. I do a bit of 3D, and motion design (a skill I am trying to grow). I also provide art direction and do a bit of illustration. Design and art are fun for me. I like to experiment and take up new skills and see how I can pass across information with these skills.

Are you doing design because you are studying graphic design or it’s the other way round?

I actually started out as a photo manipulator in 2018 before pivoting into other areas of design. The decision to study graphic design happened recently. The way the program in my school is structured, it is not possible to study graphic design at the ND level so I studied fine art at the OND level before majoring in Graphic Design for my HND.

I've been practicing design as far back as 2014 but I started designing professionally about 5 years ago.

How did you get into design?

After I was done with my Junior Secondary School (JSS3) exam in 2013, my father called me to ask me what I wanted to do during the holiday. At the time, I had 2 friends whose parents had registered them at a computer training center who always talk about their learning experience at the computer center, so it felt like a cool thing to do and it was my first encounter with computers. I registered for desktop publishing and learned how to type using Mavis Beacon and Microsoft word. The computer school happened to own a cyber cafe at the time and was running them in the same building.

I think what made me like graphic design was the colourfulness of the pop-up and slide banners in Yahoo mail because Yahoo mail was very popular back then. I wanted to move to the graphic design program after I was done with my desktop publishing program but they didn't have tutors for graphic design at the time. I went out to look for other graphic design academies and tutors but the fees I saw were too high for me so I went back to the computer center and started learning with YouTube tutorials. I started with learning CorelDraw but dropped it and moved to Photoshop for photo manipulation. So I started as a Photo Manipulator. Later on, I took courses with people like Yox the professor, the Cr8ve Xpats, and some other people to learn more.

How do you manage to combine school with doing design?

To be honest, it hasn't been easy. Most times, I stay up late at night to complete projects. Sometimes it is possible for me to use my laptop during a class because I study graphic design and we use our laptops in class but then it becomes stressful when I need to have a meeting or call with a client. I have to run out of the class immediately after the lecture but most times, it is more of staying up late at night.

What are some of the challenges you face as a student designer?

One very big challenge is experiencing creative blocks. Imagine having a very tight deadline and experiencing creative block while also having to attend classes at the same time. It can be very crazy and challenging.

How have you been able to navigate through this challenge?

I go to design platforms to look at other people's work in order to get myself inspired. Sometimes I go to YouTube to listen to podcasts or just see a movie.

Is there a community for designers in your school?

No, we don’t have any.

Why is that, for a school with people studying design?

I feel it is due to a lack of interest. There's probably no one interested in starting one.

Interesting!!! Can you take us through your creative process? How do you go about a project from start to finish?

Because design is about solving a problem, I want to understand the client’s pain point, after which it is easy to proffer a solution. After sending my rate card and finalizing the money talk, I send a questionnaire to the client to fill out if it is a brand identity project. Next is to research and then move to sketch out ideas, followed by execution, presentation, and sometimes prototyping to test the solution, feedback, and then deliver the project after approval

In summary,
Get the brief > Send a questionnaire > Research > Sketch > Execute > Present > Get Feedback > Revision > Deliver.

What tools do you use in getting work done?

Over the years I have learned CorelDraw, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Cinema 4D, and Adobe AfterEffect.

How would you describe the impact of Covid-19 on you and your work?

The COVID period and lockdown, though a sad event turned out great. It was during the lockdown that things started getting better, I was able to get myself a new laptop. It gave people the opportunity to search for talents to work with.

During the lockdown, my IG account got hacked and it affected me because it was the best platform I used in connecting with a lot of people. Later on, I got the account back and everything got better.

Have you ever felt like quitting?

No, I have never for once felt like quitting because design is something I am passionate about. I was happy doing it even when I wasn't earning money from it. It is something I loved doing even at the times when I was working with clients that want to pay peanuts so I have not felt like quitting.

What are some of the proudest projects you have worked on?

The first is Dan·fo·ism. It is a style of art that tells crazy and calm stories about the danfo buses of Lagos. Some of my favourite illustrations can be found here, here, and here.

Another one is the Identity Design for Neville Records. The presentation should be ready sometime this year and will be available on my Behance page.

I also love the one for Adun Protein Bar. Some others are this, this, this, and this.

How do you stay creative? What do you do to keep the creative juice flowing?

I spend a lot of time on Behance, Dribbble, and other design platforms. I find joy in discovering design agencies and checking out their work. Looking at their processes and case studies. I also enjoy meeting with other designers and sometimes reading books.

What do you do for fun? How do you relax?

I listen to loud music. I like music. If I was not doing design I will be doing music. I especially love loud music. I have a sound system and I hope my neighbors will not come and beat me one day. Music helps me stay alive.

Who are the creatives that inspire you?

Honestly, I am inspired by a lot of creatives but the ones that I can remember for now are Lexaine, Leslie Williams, Yox the Professor, Niyi Okeowo, Odion Tobi, Saka Kayode and Karo Akpokiere.

Who are the creatives you would love to work or collaborate with on a project?

Lexaine, Niyi Okeowo, Michael CXT, Praise Psalmist, Paul Kelly, Roid Studios, Odion Tobi, and Reggz

What brand(s) would you love to work with?

Noah's Ark

What advice do you have for someone looking to get started with design?

The design journey is a process, don't rush it. We are different and it can be easier for one person than the other. Just know that it's a process and you should enjoy the process.

Who would you like us to interview?

Praise Psalmist and Paul Kelly

How can people reach you?

You can reach me via Instagram, Twitter, Behance, and Facebook.

Thank you for sharing with us!!!

Takeaway Nugget: The design journey is a process, don't rush it and try to enjoy the process.

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share the story

See you next time!!!

StudentsWhoCreate