The finest graphics man and an Entrepreneur, Akinsipe
Ayodeji Micheal popularly known as SYG, who was born in Lagos but grew up in Sango
Otta is a graduate of Moshood Abiola polytechnic Abeokuta. he recently had a jaw-jaw with Odunayo Adewalure of PublicFaces Magazine where
he talked about how he never liked graphics, his foray into graphics, how he managed work
with school and his change of mind for
moving into photography.
Excerpts……..
For the sake of our readers who are reading
about you for the first time, tell us who SYG is?
My name is Akinshipe Ayodeji
Michael, I was born in Lagos. I started my primary education in a Catholic
school at Ipaja Ayobo, my secondary school education was also at Ipaja Lagos. I
didn’t finish in that school because of my change of environment, we had to
move to Ogun State where I had to finish my secondary education in Sango Otta Ogun
State. Finally my tertiary education was at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic where I studied
Mass Communication, I finished last year, now I am waiting for NYSC.
So where did the name SYG come from?
The SYG came from my nick
name while I was in secondary where they call me Syllabus, so when I ventured
into graphics in 2012 I started with the name Syllabus then, but still not
known gradually when I saw people were loving my job, I had to find something
in that name to make more sense and make a good brand name, so I picked the S
and Y from syllabus and the G represents graphics.
Kindly share your foray into graphics?
I never liked graphic at
all but when I started, I started with a popular application on computer system
called PAINT while using it, it was hard for me to do graphics with it.
One day I uploaded one of
my graphic work on Bbm I had a guy on my list that was in my class called
OLAMIDE WCG, we don't talk much, we were
just this hello pals, so when he saw my display picture, he was like I can see
something in you by that time I was in ND2 then in Mapoly during our industrial
training. So he asked me to come over to his place at Iyana Ipaja to teach me something
and I got there, within 15 to 20 minute he taught me a lot because he is a very
busy guy. I got the software he introduced me to when I got home I started
practicing with it gradually, I continued training myself because for a while I
did not see him. He did not teach me much but still I was so happy inside of me
when he taught me then because I could even do something better than after I continued
training myself. I watch videos on you tube to improve my work.
What are the Challenges in your type of job
and how have you been able to stand out among your competitors?
When I started then, I
never had a laptop I used my desktop computer my dad bought for the family. I
had issues with electricity because then I never had much to buy fuel and if we
power on the generator, it’s only going to be on for two hour. So there was
limited power supply to work. When I have 10 jobs I use 2hour to do them which I
am not okay with but still I try to meet up and satisfy my clients. I had a
friend I use his account to receive money from clients so I saved money for a laptop
from it which took me up to a year to save in 2013, I was happy when I got it
and that was when people started to know me more because I could work any time
of the day, when anything happens in the society I work on it, for instance
when Ebola broke out in Nigeria.
I am not competing with
anybody, I do what makes me happy and what makes people happy too. I can mention one person who I am on the same
level of popularity with, which is HDesign and this is because he started
before me. Everything is in the hands of God and that is how he wants it to be
for me and I respect any graphics designer I have ever met but I accept I’m
good in creativity of ‘dps’ and others but pure graphics I have people I
respect a lot because there is a difference with pure graphics and ‘dp’
graphics.
How were you able to combine study with work
while you were in school?
It was not easy, I get to
class very late every morning and even on Fridays I work for three clubs in Abeokuta,
De Ambience, Gallileo, and De-Rich lounge. Sometimes I miss one period of
lecture out of two.
We also heard you into photography, how true
is this?
I started that late last year,
and it was not that I wanted to go into photography, I have passion for cinematography.
You need huge Money to get the best video camera but I had money for photography camera so I had to buy it, so that I could be able to use it work
and save for the main camera I want.
Last year you won Sound Sultan Instagram
design contest, how do you feel about this?
It was nice. My design
was not the best but people supported because it was SYG’s, also GOD was with
me and wanted me to win too. He gave me a phone, and gave me lot of clients and
advice. I further worked with him to but he does not really like my work because
I am yet to get the style of graphics he wants, but I helped his artistes also,
he later made me work with lot of celebrities and I am so grateful.
Where do you see yourself in the next five
years?
I am starting to like
photography than graphic now! So I don't see my self doing graphic in the next
5years. I am going be a photographer. One thing is, people don't want to pay
for graphics and I am not getting any younger. The money I get in graphics is
small and it can’t pay all the bills!! So I see myself doing photography and
it’s not like I am going to completely stop, maybe once in awhile.
We heard you have a baby mama and a daughter
how true is this?
Yes people say I have a
baby mama but as far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a baby mama because we
don’t know tomorrow, I might get married to her and yes I have a daughter.
At your leisure time, how do you unwind?
I don't go out, I just
stay in door with my laptop and browse. If there are events, I attend and see
what’s going on there. I don't club and if there is electricity, I am on the
internet learning new things.
If
anybody wants to start your kind of business, what will be needed?
A laptop, because you
can't do without it and there are different laptops for graphics you can't just
buy any one but graphical laptops to make your art attractive so you can be
happy with what you are creating and if you buy an apple laptop, be rest
assured that you have the best.
What are your social media handles?
On Instagram is @SYGdesignz
and on facebook is Ayodeji SYG Graphics. My twitter account is dead as my
friend would say.
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