Introduction

Hi guys, my name is Oladeji Olakunle and I'm so happy to be here on Hive, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself and my journey.

About me

I am a young dark Yoruba boy in my 20s, from the southwestern region of Nigeria, Osun state precisely. I was born on the 14th of May in Lagos state and grew up in a Family of six. I am a Graphic designer and a lover of art with an inbuilt passion for creativity. My love for art started when I was very young, I remember as a young boy in Lagos, always wondering how cartoons and animations were made. I remember wasting my mum’s A4 papers to draw characters like Tom and Jerry lol. I am a self-taught designer and I've been designing for a while now. I intend to explore the world of design, such as Motion design, UI/UX, 3D animation, and so much more.

My Design Journey

My design journey started in 2017 after I had gained admission into the University. I had one crappy laptop that barely functioned but I made it work. I used to practice vector illustration, I would wait till midnight so I could do MTN’s midnight data to watch YouTube tutorials on how to create vector illustrations those nights were filled with endless trials and errors but I enjoyed it. I also tried learning website development hoping to gain more skills but my laptop was too slow and most time crashed whenever I tried to code. Then it gave out completely in 2020 I got very depressed and purposeless that year as it was a huge setback for me also there was no money to get another one so I had to focus on my studies. Fast forward to 2021 after school, I was able to get back into designing with the help of Canva a simpler tool that helped me get back into the flow, I resumed watching videos on YouTube and practicing whenever I could creating social media posts and flyers to keep sharp. Slowly opportunities started coming my way I've been able to work with various brands creating beautiful visual designs for them. From social media graphics to promotional materials and now I've been able to build my portfolio..it isn't a smooth journey but I'm standing strong. A very wise person once said that people who make it to the top have an insane level of confidence in who they're meant to be and even in times of doubt they can hold on to that assurance.
Today I'm more committed than ever to growing as not just a designer but as creative. I’m learning new techniques and pushing myself creatively. There’s a lot to still learn hence why I'm excited about the Future. I’m here to stay and ready to attain new heights. Hive is now part of the journey, and I'm happy to share my work and connect with fellow creatives.

How did I get into Hive?

Shout out to my friends @kayor and @starstrings01 for putting me on. I’ve always wanted a platform where I can not only express my gift but also connect with creatives like me, and now here I am! Again I'm so happy to be on here.

What am I here for

Recently I discovered that I enjoy telling stories about myself which birthed “Through My Lens With Kunle Deji”.A picture story where I blend storytelling with pictures and Visual design. This project is more than just pictures it's basically about capturing life from my viewpoint those little moments that often go unnoticed. Each piece I create is a reflection of my thoughts, feelings, and the world around me. From the busy streets of Lagos to everyday moments that resonate with me. My goal here is not to only share my work but also to connect with creatives who are passionate about art.
I see “Through My Lens with Kunle Deji” as an evolving journey. While it's mostly visual storytelling now, I’m down to exploring other forms of storytelling like vlogging later on. But for now, I'm focused on enjoying the process taking it one step at a time, just as the saying goes, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
I have already created issue 1 and 2 and shared them on other platforms, I'll be posting here soon, so you don't miss out on any of the gist. Stay tuned.

Conclusion

I am more than excited to join Hive community, to learn from others, and hopefully inspire along the way.