I’m Adekunjo Oluwatimilehin David, but most people call me AO David.

If you had met me as a teenager and asked what I wanted to become, I would have told you without hesitation that I was going to be one of Nigeria’s finest soldiers. There was something about the discipline, the presence, the sense of purpose. I carried that dream with so much energy and conviction.

Life had other plans.

Before I got into the university in 2018, I had already started picking up bits and pieces of design, learning from a distance, experimenting, and observing. Nothing structured at first, just curiosity doing its thing. But once I got in, that curiosity found direction. Design became more than something I liked. It became something I could grow into.

Today, I work as a brand identity designer and brand strategist, helping ideas find clarity, form, and meaning.

Interestingly, I studied Political Science. At first glance, it might feel unrelated. But if you look closely, design has always lived inside politics in the messaging, the persuasion, the identity, and the way ideas are communicated and understood. In many ways, I didn’t leave politics. I just found a different lens to express it.

I have had the chance to work on projects I am genuinely proud of. Some I was hired for, some I collaborated on, and all of them have shaped how I think and create. Even with that, I am still learning. I do not think that ever stops.

Outside of design, photography has quietly stayed with me. I like capturing places, moments, and whatever my eyes find interesting. It is less about perfection and more about perspective. Maybe I will monetize it someday, maybe not. I am letting that unfold naturally.

I am also part of Tekisite, where I serve as a volunteer, member, and tutor. We go into secondary schools across Nigeria, including Ibadan, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, and Anambra, teaching young people practical skills they can build on. For me, it is not just about skills. It is about planting something meaningful early, giving them options, and helping them stay away from paths like cybercrime. If even a few of them find direction through what we share, that is impact.

And if you ask me what I am doing outside of being a designer, I will tell you the truth. I am still figuring out who I am.