Founders & Folds
Nov 4, 2026
Good product design goes beyond creating digital experiences that meet business goals. Sometimes, it also means looking after the people building those products.
For Olawale Bamidele, this has meant building tools for designers, creating communities where talent can learn and connect, and establishing platforms that bring the design industry together.
From founding UX Thrive to convening Think UX and establishing The UX Design Awards (TUXA), his work reflects an interest in more than creating designs. It points to a bigger ambition: helping people grow, creating access to opportunities and contributing to the development of Africa's design ecosystem.
With professional experience across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, Bamidele has built a career that connects product design, technology, education and community development. But his story is not just about the digital products he has helped create. It is also about the platforms he has built to help other people develop their skills and find their place in the industry.
From Physics to Product Design
His academic background in Physics may seem different from his eventual career in product design. But not to worry, it helped Bamidele build a foundation in analytical thinking, problem-solving and understanding complex systems.
Over time, he developed expertise across user experience design, user interface design, product strategy, information architecture, interaction design, prototyping, usability testing and design systems. He also developed technical capabilities in digital platforms and frontend technologies, giving him an understanding of product development that extends beyond visual design.
His professional experience includes product design leadership roles at Geneva and Scud Technologies. At Geneva, he worked on product strategy, user experience development and design systems, collaborating with engineering teams across web, iOS and Android. At Scud Technologies, his work included mobility products such as driver and rider applications, administrative dashboards and responsive digital platforms.
He later joined Japaflex as a Product Designer in May 2025, contributing to a platform focused on community connections, business discovery and digital experiences.
These experiences have given him exposure to different aspects of digital product development, from understanding user needs to working with teams to translate those needs into practical solutions. However, his contributions to the design industry eventually grew outside his professional responsibilities.
More Than Designing Digital Products
For many designers, the work centres on the products they create for clients. But Bamidele's projects show an interest in building tools that other designers can use in their everyday work.
One example is FlagFetch, a Figma plugin he developed to make country flag assets easier to access within design workflows. The plugin was approved for publication in the Figma Community and has recorded more than 1,200 users.
He also developed figmaplugins.net, a platform that helps designers discover useful Figma plugins and resources, and figmatemplates.org, which provides curated templates and resources to support practical learning and design workflows.
This shows another perspective on how Bamidele works – identifying everyday needs within the design process and developing tools to address them.
But access to tools isn’t enough. Designers need opportunities to learn, receive guidance, build their portfolios and connect with people who understand the industry. That is where his work in community development becomes significant.
Creating Opportunities Through UX Thrive
Bamidele founded UX Thrive to address some of the challenges facing designers, particularly limited access to mentorship, practical training, industry exposure and professional opportunities.
The initiative has developed into a design community focused on learning, collaboration, career development and industry engagement.
Through UX Thrive, he has led and supported design bootcamps, webinars, mentorship programmes, portfolio development sessions, design challenges and networking activities. The community has organised more than four bootcamps and at least ten webinars, creating opportunities for aspiring and practising designers to develop their skills and better understand industry expectations.
These activities also provide opportunities for designers to interact with experienced professionals, receive feedback and build connections that can support their careers.
Taking Design Conversations Beyond the Workplace
As he became more involved in the design community, he saw an opportunity to create a platform where professionals could come together to exchange ideas and discuss what the future of design might look like. This led to Think UX, an annual design and technology conference convened by Bamidele.
The conference brings together designers, technology professionals, founders, students and industry leaders for conversations around user experience, product design, technology innovation and professional development.
Its programme includes live creative competitions, panel discussions, practical learning sessions and networking opportunities. Think UX connects professional learning with real industry experiences. It gives talent opportunities to engage with established practitioners and have conversations about changing industry expectations, career development, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The 2025 edition explored the theme “From Users to Experiences.” The turnout reflected the demand for spaces where design professionals can learn, exchange ideas and connect with opportunities beyond their immediate workplaces.
For Bamidele, Think UX 2026 provides another way to keep contributing to the development of the design ecosystem: not only by supporting individuals through learning initiatives, but also by bringing the wider industry together for a conversation.
What Bamidele is Building Beyond the Design Screen
Looking across Bamidele's work, we can see a recurring pattern. His professional career has involved designing digital products and improving user experiences. But his other initiatives show a commitment to also improving the experiences of the people working within his industry.
UX Thrive creates opportunities for learning and mentorship. Think UX brings professionals together for industry conversations and networking. TUXA recognises the individuals and organisations contributing to the sector. His design tools and digital resources provide practical support for everyday workflows.
That vision continues with Think UX 2026, scheduled for 7 November 2026 at Tripple C Event Center, Sabo Yaba, Lagos. This year's edition will explore the theme “UX in the Era of AI,” bringing together design and technology professionals to examine how artificial intelligence is changing product development, design careers and the future of user experiences. Attendees can expect industry conversations, practical learning sessions, networking opportunities and the ₦500,000 Design Duo Challenge, which will bring brand identity and UI/UX designers together to develop creative solutions.
The conference will also feature The UX Design Awards (TUXA), recognising individuals and organisations making meaningful contributions to the design industry. Beyond the sessions and activities, Think UX 2026 is another opportunity for Bamidele to bring the design community together and encourage collaboration.
Each of Bamdele’s initiative serves a different purpose, but together they reflect an interest in developing not just better products, but also the people and communities behind them. For Bamidele, the future of design is not defined by the interfaces people create alone. It is also shaped by the opportunities they make possible, what they build, the communities they strengthen and the impact they create beyond their individual work.
