Designing The Designer – Hamed Abdulsalam On Growth, Grit, And The Craft Of UX Thinking

Every great product begins with intention and so does every great designer. In this exclusive interview with Naija News, Hamed Abdulsalam, a self-taught UX expert, reflects on his evolution from designing posters in his room to leading UX and accessibility efforts at Oxfam GB, one of the world’s most influential nonprofit organizations.

Formerly a Product Manager at Diza’s Empire in Abuja, Hamed has worked across industries, mentoring aspiring designers, simplifying complex systems, and championing inclusive, human-centered design. His story is one of grit, growth, and purpose, a reminder that UX is more than wireframes and workflows. It’s about empathy, clarity, and solving real-world problems.

From his earliest spark of curiosity to shaping digital experiences at scale, Hamed shares hard-earned insights on career development, mindset shifts, and why great design always begins and ends with people.

Let’s rewind. What first sparked your interest in UX design, and how did that curiosity grow into a career?
My entry into UX wasn’t conventional. It all began in 2020 in my room, using CorelDRAW to design a poster for my father, a mechanical engineer. That project earned me 20,000 naira (about £50 at the time) and lit a spark. I started binge-watching design tutorials, often losing sleep out of excitement. By June, I became fascinated with how people interact with digital tools. What began as a design for fun quickly evolved into a desire to solve real-world problems. Removing friction, creating clarity, and improving lives through design.

Were there any early moments or mentors that shifted your thought about UX design?
Absolutely. Working at Ventures Platform in Abuja was a turning point. I was the only UX designer collaborating with multiple startups and organizations like UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and Ayada Lab. I had to simplify complex concepts and communicate design decisions clearly to diverse stakeholders. That experience cemented my understanding of user-first thinking and taught me that design is ultimately about people, not pixels.

What has been the biggest challenge in your UX journey and how did you grow from it?
One of the biggest challenges was learning to communicate design value to non-designers. I overcame this by grounding my work in research and data, translating intuition into evidence. Whether speaking with engineers or stakeholders, I now focus on alignment and inclusivity from day one and that’s made a world of difference.

How do you define growth as a UX designer:  is it skills, mindset, impact?
Growth happens at the intersection of all three. Skills bring technical confidence, mindset builds adaptability, and impact ensures you apply both meaningfully. Whether improving onboarding or building scalable design systems, I always focus on how my work empowers people and drives measurable outcomes.

You currently work at one of the largest charitable organizations in the world why did you choose the nonprofit sector?
I’m driven by impact. Many designers naturally gravitate toward fintech, but I believe our role is to solve human problems wherever they exist. The nonprofit space needs that same level of innovation and care. Contributing to meaningful causes through design is both fulfilling and necessary.

Have you ever felt like an outsider in the UX world? How did you push through that?
Definitely, being self-taught, I often felt like I had to catch up. But I leaned into my strengths, curiosity, grit, and willingness to learn. I built real-world projects, asked questions, and immersed myself in communities. Over time, that helped me confidently earn my seat at the table.

What do you do when you hit a creative or professional plateau?
I teach. Helping others allows me to look at familiar problems through fresh eyes. I also draw inspiration from adjacent fields like psychology, storytelling, and accessibility. My Master’s degree in UX Design has been instrumental in broadening my perspective and deepening my practice.

How has your UX approach evolved over the years?
It’s become far more strategic. I now emphasize discovery and research before diving into design. I’ve developed a deeper focus on accessibility, ensuring products are inclusive by default. Recently, I’ve also started exploring how AI can enhance workflows and decision-making in UX design.

Are there any principles that guide your work today?
Absolutely. “Design with, not for” is a key principle I live by. Co-creation ensures we meet real needs, not assumptions. I also prioritize clarity over cleverness because effective UX should guide, not confuse.

How do you stay sharp learning, experimenting, reflecting?
All of the above. I reflect regularly, experiment with tools like Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator and Hotjar, and monitor user behaviour through analytics. I also stay engaged with design communities and lead a UX-focused community in the charity sector, where I facilitate conversations and knowledge-sharing. I take a lot of courses and read research papers.

If you could give your earlier self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Start before you feel ready. Don’t wait for perfection. Just begin: learn, iterate, and grow. Confidence is built through action, not waiting.

Closing Thought:
Hamed Abdulsalam’s journey reminds us that UX design is more than a skill set; it’s a mindset. His path from a self-taught creative to a leader in accessibility and human-centred design shows how curiosity, resilience, and purpose can transform a career and in turn, transform the experiences of others.