I grew up in a small restless town in southwestern Nigeria called Sango Ota.

It wasn’t a place of grand opportunities but one where resilience was second nature. Our roads were unfinished, pockmarked with waterlogged potholes, and the air carried the scent of damp earth and burning wood—a quiet reflection of how we survived on what the land gave us.


As a child, I learned to look closely at the world, not because I wanted to,

but because I had to. We didn’t have much, but what we lacked in material wealth, we made up for in ingenuity. Every day, my family would seek what nature had hidden for us—firewood to cook our meals, shrubs like lemongrass to brew tea, and even rabbits or grass cutters for the occasional feast. These tasks, though ordinary, shaped my eyes and hands, teaching me to notice,

to adapt, to create with what was available.


I still remember the first time I saw something that made my heart race with curiosity. A neighbor—just a boy, really—held a toy car he had crafted from

tin cans and cardboard paper. It wasn’t perfect; the edges were rough, the wheels didn’t turn smoothly. But to me, it was magic. He wasn’t just making

a toy; he was shaping the world as he wanted it to be, with his hands and

a quiet focus that I envied.


I would sit and watch him work, mesmerized by the precision with which

he carved shapes into the cardboard, folding and taping until flat sketches became solid forms. Something stirred in me then—a need to make things,

to bring ideas to life. It wasn’t just about the car; it was about the possibility

that I could do the same.


Beyond objects, my mother shaped my love for storytelling. Her vivid tales

of her youth transported my siblings and me into other worlds. We inherited her gift, retelling stories of our lives, dreams, and even movies with a flair that made them our own.


My father, in his quiet way, inspired me too. His modest library was a treasure trove, and its colorful book covers fascinated me. Those covers told stories

in a single image, sparking my curiosity about design and visual storytelling.


Nature, creation, storytelling, and design—these early influences became

the foundation of my identity. They taught me to see beyond the obvious,

find beauty in the overlooked, and create meaning from simple materials.

Even now, I look back and realize how much those moments shaped me.

They planted the seeds of the designer I would one day become.


This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for part 2 as I share the next chapter

of my journey. In the meantime, if any part of my story resonates with you,

I’d love to hear your story too.


With heart and care🤍
Kanayo Uzo