Meet Adekola Owoade: A Multidisciplinary UI/UX Designer and Educator

Adekola Owoade is a UI/UX designer with a knack for educating others. He seeks to use his design skills to solve real-life problems while empowering others within his sphere of influence. 

African Freelancers interviewed Adekola, and he shared his experiences, goals, and freelancing journey with us. Continue reading to learn more about Adekola Owoade.

African Freelancers: Who is Adekola Owoade? 

Adekola Owoade: Adekola Adeleke Owoade is a Nigerian multidisciplinary designer and educator, passionate about using design to solve real problems and empower others. With over four years of experience, he specializes in creating user-centered digital products across industries like edtech, fintech, health, and more. 

He actively mentors and speaks at events where he inspires others to build meaningful careers in tech and design. Beyond work, he’s a Christian, a lover of music, photography, and movies — always down for growth and impact. 

African Freelancers: Can you tell us how you started freelancing? What was the motivation that propelled you to become a freelancer? 

Adekola Owoade: I started freelancing out of curiosity and necessity. I constantly tinkered with design, learning tools, and helping friends with branding or digital stuff. Eventually, I realized there was real value in these skills. The turning point was wanting freedom: freedom to learn, build, and earn on my terms while doing work that matters. 

African Freelancers: Tell us about your niche and how you chose it. 

Adekola Owoade: My niche is product design, especially digital experiences that are simple, intuitive, and functional. I naturally gravitated toward it because I love solving problems and working on things that touch people daily, like apps and platforms. Over time, I narrowed it down to building platforms for creators, founders, and communities, because that’s where I feel I can make the most impact. 

African Freelancers: What were some of your biggest challenges when starting your freelancing career? 

Adekola Owoade: Pricing was a major one. Figuring out how to charge for value and not just time was tricky. Also, impostor syndrome hits differently when you’re just starting. Then there’s the feast-or-famine cycle of finding clients, but mentorship, consistency, learning, and community helped me overcome those. 

African Freelancers: How do you find and secure clients as a freelancer? 

Adekola Owoade: I’ve built trust through visibility, sharing my work, projects, and thought process online. Referrals have also been big for me. I treat every client like they’re the only one, often bringing in the next. I also believe in value-first relationships, and even a reaction to a LinkedIn post, a DM, or a free call can open doors. 

African Freelancers: Can you share a specific project or client experience that was particularly rewarding for you? 

Adekola Owoade: One standout was working on Parrot, a two-sided review and recommendation platform. It was fulfilling because I wasn’t just designing screens; I was solving a real problem in trust and discovery for African consumers and businesses. Seeing how it evolved into something people genuinely needed was the best part. Also, working with a boss who never ceases to make a product better and more user-friendly while embracing trends was a highlight.

African Freelancers: How do you balance multiple projects and ensure you meet deadlines? 

Adekola Owoade: Clear communication, time-blocking, and prioritizing based on impact. I try not to overload myself and ensure I’m honest with timelines. Tools help, but discipline and knowing when to say no are just as important. 

Here is a personal strategy that works. If a project is meant to take 12 days, I add a day or two so I can deliver before the quoted delivery date, which puts me on the good side of most stakeholders. 

African Freelancers: What role does networking play in your freelancing career, and how do you go about building your network? 

Adekola Owoade: Networking is everything. One part of networking is networking with God, knowing what to take and when to show up. Also, most of my best opportunities came through relationships. I connect by genuinely being interested in people, showing up in communities, teaching workshops, and creating value. You never know who’s watching. 

African Freelancers: How do you stay updated with the latest trends and developments in your field? 

Adekola Owoade: I learn by teaching. Whether building curricula, mentoring, or just publishing a post or article, I stay sharp by staying active. I also follow thought leaders, join design communities, and experiment with new tools and methods. 

African Freelancers: How do you set your rates and handle negotiations with clients? 

Adekola Owoade: I price based on the value I bring and the outcomes the client is seeking. I’ve learned not to shy away from talking about money early and being confident in my worth. If a client tries to lowball, I explain the “why” behind my pricing or walk away respectfully. 

Negotiation is not a game of argument; you are basically being asked to prove why you are worth the demands. 

African Freelancers: How do you handle demanding clients or challenging situations in your freelancing work? 

Adekola Owoade: I set expectations early, document everything, and keep communication open. If things get tough, I try to resolve them with empathy but also protect my energy. The bitter truth is that not every client is worth keeping, and that’s okay. 

African Freelancers: Can you share any tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a freelancer? 

Adekola Owoade: Define your boundaries, work hours, rest time, and creative time. I plan breaks intentionally and remind myself that I’m a human before a designer. Also, having hobbies outside work helps reset my mind. 

African Freelancers: How do you see the future of freelancing in Africa, and what opportunities do you think it holds? 

Adekola Owoade: It’s exciting. More people are embracing digital skills, and global opportunities are more accessible than ever. We’re seeing more platforms built by Africans for Africans. The opportunity is massive in sectors like education, health, fintech, and design, especially for freelancers who are proactive, visible, and excellent.

African Freelancers: What advice would you give someone just starting as a freelancer in UI/UX design? 

Adekola Owoade: Start with curiosity and build with purpose. Learn the fundamentals, build real projects, and share your journey. Don’t chase trends; chase problems you can solve by exploring how to use them to better solve them. And above all, stay consistent. Your work will speak for you, but only if you give it a voice.

Contact Adekola Owoade via Instagram or LinkedIn. Read our blog for more African Freelancer features and helpful freelancing tips.