Jesutofunmi Oluwatosin is not your typical Product Designer, with over four years of experience, his impact spans across the financial industry, where he has successfully designed and launched high-impact digital solutions for organisations like FirstBank Nigeria and the innovative fintech company, Fundall.
More than just crafting interfaces, Oluwatosin’s career is defined by his ability to align design with acute business goals and user needs, a strategic advantage honed by his unique educational background.
Oluwatosin’s foundation began far from product designing. He graduated from the University of Lagos in 2019 with a degree in Finance. However, his time at the university also sparked a passion for design, which served as both a creative outlet and a source of income. Following graduation, he spent a year in investment research, gaining valuable, first-hand insight into financial analysis.
It was this deep exposure to how fintech platforms function that ignited his interest in technology, turning his passion into a driving force and a clear competitive advantage in his subsequent career. Currently, he is furthering this strategic mindset by completing his Master’s in Project Management with Data Analytics.
Oluwatosin’s official entry into the field was with FirstBank Nigeria, a defining experience that immediately threw him into the deep end. Recalling his first day, he admits to initially feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar terms and a demanding design task handed to him in the form of complex paperwork.
However, he overcame the initial hurdle, and his efforts culminated in what is now one of the bank’s flagship merchant platforms—a solution currently in use by numerous merchants. This early experience in a high-stakes environment provided him with the necessary resilience and exposure to handle large-scale, impactful projects.
When discussing his most impactful work, he points to a project in 2022 with a fintech company focused on increasing active users. Despite daily sign-ups, the team realised their activation rate was lagging. A thorough user research uncovered a flaw in the onboarding process: users were abandoning the sign-up flow at the point where Bank Verification Number (BVN) input was required.
“ Users were wary of providing vital information without first establishing trust, and were hesitant to proceed. The critical question became: “How do we approach our onboarding to help users trust the brand more and comfortably provide relevant details?” Oluwatosin said.
The solution, which he helped champion, was a decisive one, moving the entire BVN validation process in-app, allowing users to build a relationship with the product before being asked for sensitive data.
This single, human-centred design decision, coupled with continuous user engagement, resulted in the conversion of 48,000 inactive users to active users, marking a significant milestone in his career and a powerful testament to the value of thoughtful design strategy.
A Designer’s Philosophy: Skills, Strategy, and Suppressing Imposter Syndrome
Jesutofunmi’s approach to design is fundamentally rooted in a human-centred philosophy. His process focuses on understanding the entire user journey, including the range of emotions users experience while using the product, to ensure it is of satisfactory use.
He specialises in techniques such as user testing, prototyping, user research, and stakeholder management, which he sees as indispensable skills that drive his success.
Despite his achievements, he has faced the same psychological hurdles many professionals encounter, Imposter Syndrome.
He describes it as a pervasive challenge, especially in a field where continuous learning is mandatory. His method for overcoming it is an exercise in humility and growth.
“Over the years, I’ve realised you can’t know it all. our willingness to stay open to learning is what sets us apart,” Oluwatosin said.
This mindset is what also inspired his Master’s degree. He noted the disconnect between design and project management, and sought to bridge it. Understanding the thought process and strategic planning of project managers has “shaped how I think, not just as a designer, but as a business-minded one,” enabling him to approach projects with a deeper understanding of business decisions and how design integrates into the bigger picture.
His passion for community stems from his early career struggles. Initially, he found it difficult to secure mentorship, forcing him to learn through extra effort and resilience. This experience taught him the critical importance of creating accessible support structures.
Now, as a community manager at Sections, he is focused on paying that lesson forward. The community is dedicated to creating spaces where designers can grow, access opportunities, and learn from industry leaders, hosting insightful sessions with names like Harrison Wheeler, Suraj Soren, and Victor Fatanmi.
For Oluwatosin, community management is more than just networking; “it’s about creating spaces where others can grow and access opportunities, too.”
Advice for Aspiring Technologists
When asked for advice for the next generation of product designers, Oluwatosin’s message is simple but profound: “Keep showing up.”
He draws an analogy to a child learning to walk, noting that mastery is a result of consistent effort, not instant success. While persistence is key, he stresses that it must be coupled with conscious effort to improve.
His final piece of advice is about networking: “Mix with people who are better than you and learn from what they do because that’s how you discover growth.”
