ON GROWTH AND TITLES

As a creative, I usually wondered why it mattered to add the “junior” or “senior” tag to a creative role. My five-year journey gradually revealed it.

One of such was my engagement with EFInA. They had put the title “Design Consultant” in our written agreement. And knowing a consultant is someone who had extensive years of experience and expertise in the craft, I felt like a fraud. But when I read the responsibilities that followed, I ticked all the boxes 100 percent. It dawned on me; I may just be underrating myself after all.

Then came the time for taking a deep dive from the initial brief and a whole new world emerged. EFInA specialized in research, dissemination, and participation in anything and everything financial inclusion within Nigeria. In my years of designing visuals, I have never taken any that has to do with data visualizations and research finding presentations. Yet again, I felt like a fraud. The imposter syndrome creeping in.

I was back to how I did things when I first learned to use design software- trial and error. My conceptualization mojo lost its vibes and I struggled to get inspiration coupled with the little creative freedom I had to work with. But slowly I picked a pixel at a time. And there were rounds of revisions that I lost count of. This moment of my career revealed how much I underrated Freepik Company and the likes cos they came to my rescue a lot.

When I finally signed the project completion document, I heaved a sigh of relief. With it behind me, I have time to reflect. I realize I did solve a problem I thought I couldn’t. And even though the imposter syndrome keeps lurking, a part of me feels solving a problem I have never had experience in is a sign of growth.

After all, one is never ready until one starts. I may just be on my way to truly earn the “Design Consultant” title.