Story: In My Father’s Shoes

In this photo, I’m in Nigeria, wearing my dad’s shoes and socks. too big, dragging on the ground. I probably just thought it was funny at the time. But looking back, it’s the earliest record I have of trying to step into something bigger than me.

My dad was sharp, focused, always moving with intention. He paid attention to detail, to how things came together and held up over time. I didn’t realize it then, but that way of thinking stuck with me.

Now, I design. I think through materials, structure, and use. I experiment, but I also want things to work—really work. That mindset didn’t come from school. It came from growing up around someone who always had a plan, even if we didn’t talk much about it.

The photo’s small, but it holds a lot. It reminds me that my way of working didn’t come out of nowhere.

Creative Field: Design