An introduction
to Mariam Omoyele
On work
and not much else
I've done quite a few things in my life so far, working across different fields, including advertising and journalism. The work has changed over time, but I've always been interested in the same thing: figuring out what an idea could become, and making it real.
Currently, I work at Paystack as a Senior Brand Designer, focusing on creative direction, brand strategy and developing visual systems. A lot of my work involves translating business decisions and goals into effective visual outcomes.
Some days, that means developing illustrations and visual systems that other designers can work with. Other days, it's figuring out how to bring new features or partnerships to the public in a way that aligns with the brand.
I enjoy both the thinking and the making, and I'm particularly interested in work that gives me room to move between the two.
Tl:Dr
Where can we see your work?
I'm putting together a more comprehensive portfolio. In the meantime, you can find a selection of my work on Contra.
What's a recent project you're particularly proud of?
That would be the Paystack Merch project.
It's one of my favourites because it brought together so much of what I've learned across the different fields I've worked in.
I worked across strategy, illustration, product design, creative direction and production, developing a collection that reflected Paystack's identity and mission while leaving room to explore creatively.
One of the things I enjoyed most was figuring out how people experience the brand beyond its products. We were creating clothing, accessories and everyday objects, which meant thinking about everything from the stories we wanted to tell to the materials, production details and how people would actually use them.
The project also brought me into contact with people across different teams at Paystack. There were lots of opinions, unexpected constraints and decisions to make. I particularly enjoyed seeing how invested everyone became as the work moved from design into actual products.
By the end, there was a strong sense of shared ownership. Seeing the collection come together after all the iterations, production challenges and collaboration was incredibly satisfying.
So, what do you do outside of work?
I create more things, mostly.
Lately, I've been getting more into software design and using AI to build things I probably wouldn't have attempted on my own a few years ago.
One of my recent projects is With Love, a music player I built as a gift. People can listen to music, explore the playlist and add their own audio.
I don't have a software engineering background, so building things like With Love has been an interesting exercise in figuring things out as I go. I'm enjoying seeing where this takes me.
I'm also an artist. A lot of my paintings come from observing people, including myself. I've become particularly interested in the gap between what people feel and what they allow themselves to express.
Then there are all the other things I get up to. Some of them make their way to Instagram.
What do you look for when deciding
which people or companies to work with?
A deep appreciation for craft, for one. But not at the expense of getting things done.
Good work doesn't necessarily means spending an unreasonable amount of time on everything. Sometimes you need to move quickly, make decisions and get things out into the world. Other times, a problem deserves a more in-depth look. I like teams that can tell the difference and know how to balance both.
Intentional, level-headed leadership is also important to me. I appreciate people who are thoughtful about the decisions they make, how they treat others, and the kind of environment they're creating. People who can have difficult conversations, listen to different perspectives and make decisions without making everything unnecessarily complicated.
I'm also thinking more and more about the future of the world and what we're contributing to it. So I'm drawn to companies and people who care about making life better in whatever way they can, even if it's something small. I don't think every company needs a grand mission to change the world, but I do think it matters whether the work you're doing is contributing something worthwhile.
And, of course, money. I'd like to be paid well for the work I do. These bills aren't going to pay themselves.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Yes.