Seasoned:

My journey as a graphics designer began with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Macromedia Fireworks.

“The best way of learning about anything is by doing,” wisely stated Richard Branson

When I was 14, my cousin had a laptop filled with fun games like the iconic Virtual Cop, Commandos, and Need for Speed. But it also held something that sparked a lifelong passion: Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Macromedia Fireworks. If you're reading this and remember Macromedia Fireworks, the image editing software that once competed with Adobe, then you and I might have to grab coffee sometime!

Being a curious and "try everything" kind of kid, I'd tinker with everything whenever my cousin allowed me to use his laptop. As you can imagine, he wasn't always thrilled to find programs open that he hadn't intended for me to explore. However, this exploration is what led me to Photoshop and Fireworks. Back then, I actually preferred Fireworks. The brushes were incredible, and the images I manipulated felt like art to me. Of course, at that age, I didn't understand the concept of graphic design or even that such a profession existed. I was just a kid playing with a program, creating things I thought were cool. Some of those creations are still on Facebook, by the way!

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The images you saw above  are among the first I ever created. After about 40 minutes of playing with Fireworks for the first time ever, I discovered effects, filters, and most excitingly, brushes. . I may have lost most of those early works, but thank goodness for my younger self’s desire to upload everything to Facebook. Ah, the memories, Thanks Facebook.

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University and My First Paying Design Gig

what started out as fun play, got me paid

My journey continued into university, where I was pursuing my Information Systems degree on a government scholarship. Amidst the coursework , crazy parties and the exhilaration of campus life, my passion for design remained strong. I had spent countless hours experimenting with Photoshop and Fireworks, blissfully unaware that this hobby could evolve into a profession.

Then, one day, a friend approached me. He needed help manipulating images for his website, having heard that I was familiar with Photoshop. Without hesitation, I accepted the challenge. Pricing? It hadn’t even crossed my mind. But my friend asked, “How much should I pay you?”

For the first time, it dawned on me that this skill—something I had playfully honed over the years—could actually earn me money. Naturally, I undercharged (not knowing what to ask for), but I got the job done and his website launched.

During that period, my friend and I decided to take things further. We formed a company together and officially registered it. How we pulled that off in our broke college days is another story for another time. But that seemingly childish dream and our entrepreneurial endeavor would eventually shape my life in profound ways. More on that later!

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GIMP, Inkscape, and Linux

During this period, my Linux fanaticism was in full swing. I had experimented with nearly every Linux distribution under the sun—from RedHat to openSUSE—and eventually settled on Linux Mint Cinnamon as my daily driver. Having discovered the earning potential of image manipulation, I delved deeper, exploring alternative programs that worked on Linux. GIMP and Inkscape entered the scene. I honed my skills in GIMP, designing everything from business cards to our newly formed company's logo (Wazi Group, then called Wazi Innovation) to rage comics for our meme website. You name it, I created it in GIMP.

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Designing for Impact: My Journey in South Sudan

2011: Taking the Leap

In my second year at university, back in 2011, an extraordinary opportunity knocked on my door. My cousin, who was living and working in war-torn South Sudan under the UN agency UNMISS, decided to venture into entrepreneurship. He founded his own branding firm and offered me a position as the company’s graphics designer. The prospect of receiving a salary for my creative work was both exhilarating and humbling.

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2013: South Sudan and a Pivotal Project

Years later, after graduating in 2013, I received an offer from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German foundation, to work as their IT administrator and trainer (more on this in the software engineering section). Without hesitation, I packed my bags and embarked on a journey to Juba—the heart of South Sudan.

During my time there, I immersed myself in designing projects that truly mattered. From crafting posters for peace concerts to creating street murals, my canvas expanded to branding entire events. However, one project stood out—the branding for South Sudan’s third independence celebration. Seeing my work displayed throughout the nation as everyone celebrated their young country's independence was truly heartwarming.

Few designers have the chance to contribute to such monumental and meaningful events.

But that wasn’t all. I also had the privilege of designing the look for South Sudan’s first airline planes and the Ministry of Road’s logo (although they’ve since made changes). Additionally, I worked on a significant local government project aimed at empowering locals. It's hard to believe I was a fresh graduate back then!

Looking Back: Work that Mattered

Over the years, I've designed countless things, but none hold more personal significance than the work I did in South Sudan. These projects weren't purely commercial; they were about positive change and impacting lives. They were purpose-driven initiatives that touched lives. As a fresh graduate, I had the opportunity to create impact beyond my wildest dreams. South Sudan became my canvas—a place where my designs weren’t just pixels and vectors but catalysts for change.

They're my proudest achievements to date.

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Coming Home and Building Wazi Group Limited (2015-2024)

After about a year and a half in South Sudan, I returned home in 2015. Filled with the fire of experiencing a different world and witnessing life's extremes, I decided to pick up where we left off. Together with my friend, we continued our firm—Wazi Group Limited—which we had started back in College

We opened an office on the famous Nasser Road, Kampala's design and branding central, and got right down to business.

We were an IT company specializing in branding and graphic design. I ran that company until 2024, designing countless projects. During my time there, I honed my skills, adding, learning, and expanding into brand strategy, UI/UX, identity, motion, and every field of design imaginable. I mean, 2015 to 2024 is a long time when you think about it. If it's design-related, trust that I've done it. In the later years, I was doing less and less design and more management as our team grew and we hired more designers.

The company still thrives today, currently run by a high school mate and close friends. In 2024, feeling like there was nothing more I could add to the firm, I stepped down and left the country, heading to Canada to see what the future holds for me.