guess what? i found a side door

Hi, my name is Temiloluwa Johnson, and I am a UI/UX dropout.

na dropout i dropout, i no kee person.

I tried the wireframes. I squinted through Figma tutorials. I watched sleek portfolio walkthroughs on YouTube like they were TED Talks. And somewhere between aligning buttons and battling auto-layout, I realized: this wasn’t it (for me). The tools were sharp, but they didn’t quite cut for me.

But instead of walking away from the design world altogether, I did what any stubborn creative would do — I found a side door. I’ll get to it in a bit, stay with me.

unpacking my camera — anike. april 30, 2022.

In April 2022, I bought my first camera after saving up for it with money made from copywriting. I announced online that I got a camera and for the most part of the year, I hid it and only brought it out to take portraits of my friends, family and partner. I also taught a free photography class on some days with MAVA. One time, I even taught a SAED class in the Lagos NYSC Camp, I felt so cool that day, but I stammered at the beginning because I was nervous.

The year ended and I got burnt out, I hated writing as I’ve done it for money and swore I was never going to write again. Who was I kidding? Myself, LMAO.

In 2023, I cold-emailed Marvis Ighedosa, founder of Untitled Designers, and asked to photograph that year’s conference. I didn’t pitch a big idea. I just wanted to observe, to witness. The event held in May at Zone Tech, Gbagada, and I showed up with my camera, curiosity, and zero expectations. That day, something shifted. For the first time, I saw design not just as pixels and grids, but as people, process, and possibility. The conversations were electric. The energy was different. I knew all the design niche words, and I understood the story.

Fast forward to 2024, and I returned — not as a photographer this time, but as a copywriter. Or at least that was the plan.

By the time the conference rolled around, I was leading the content team. Ask me how, I’ll say the founder fell in love with my content ideas and my innovative approach with every copy. I do not blame him, you should be like him too. The theme was “Beyond the Canvas.” and beyond we went. We ran with the theme. Every tweet, every caption, every video, every screen prompt — we laced with meaning, mischief, and metaphor. We told stories. We sparked debates. We even designed the dustbin (yes, really) with a cheeky “Mouse vs. Trackpad” label that triggered a full-blown civil war in the Nigerian design community. You’d think we dropped a manifesto.

But here’s the truth: it wasn’t all pretty.

We had hitches — lots of them. From programming glitches to operational chaos, from unexpected rain to venue mishaps, the 2024 conference went beyond the canvas in every possible way. There were moments where we improvised with duct tape and prayer. But somehow, it worked. It was messy, glorious, and unforgettable. A backbreaking success.

People couldn’t stop talking about it. But, I stopped talking about it, I was traumatised (oh chim), tired and burnt out. This article is about 8 months late because of it, and I don’t even have the will to expand on last year’s experience than this.

Now, 2025 is here. A new theme — Creative Possibilities — and a new role for me. This time, I’m leading the content narrative for the Mouse vs. Trackpad Design Challenge, taking last year’s joke and turning it into a full-fledged design showdown. A battle is coming. Who will win?

A snippet on how it’ll go: Five tracks, a surprise prompt, countdown clock, seasoned jury members.

The obvious twist? They can only use one tool — either a mouse or a trackpad.

Whichever side finishes first, wins.

Simple? Yes. Chaotic? Absolutely. Fun? You already know.

Beyond the entertainment, this challenge — like my entire journey — is a reminder that there’s no one way to be a creative in the design space. I’m not your typical designer. I don’t push pixels or craft motion graphics. I tell stories. I photograph moments. I write copy. And somehow, that’s been enough to not just belong — but to build, lead, and contribute meaningfully. (And a flex? I have seen good designers design and I recognize good design. Not every one does, I’m grateful for this.)

This year, I’m hoping for less drama and more direction with #UDC2025. Fewer hitches, stronger structure, oh lord I pray. But, even if things go off-script again, I know we’ll find a way to spin the chaos into something worth remembering.

UDC2025 is an evolving, expanding experiment in what’s possible. I see the theme as stretching creativity. It’s about inclusion. About what happens when we stop asking who’s allowed to be here, and start asking what’s possible when we all show up.

So whether you’re team Mouse or Trackpad, designer or dropout — you’re welcome here.

A battle is coming. Watch us make magic.