Ajayi Feyikemi Mabel is a Lead Product Designer at IQ.wiki, where she directs design initiatives across the entire BrainDAO ecosystem. ^[1] With a unique background in biochemistry and a passion for inclusive design, she specializes in creating intuitive user interfaces for blockchain and Web3 products.

Early Life and Influences

Being left-handed fundamentally shaped Mabel's perspective on design and accessibility. Her daily challenges with common objects like spiral notebooks, doors, scissors, and right-handed school desks sparked her initial interest in design thinking. These early experiences fostered a deep appreciation for inclusive design principles and accessibility, though she wouldn't formally pursue design until later in her career. These everyday challenges would later influence her approach to creating more equitable and accessible digital experiences. ^[3]

Education

Mabel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University, where she studied biochemistry and molecular biology while gaining additional knowledge in other science courses, including Computer Science. Her scientific background has proven invaluable in her design career, as she actively incorporates analytical thinking and scientific methodology into her design process to create human-centered, technologically feasible solutions that bridge the gap between user needs and business objectives. ^{[2] [3]}

Career

Early Career and Transition to Design

Mabel's design journey began in 2021 when she took a leap of faith as an Intern UX Designer at Zuri Chat team and HNG Internship, despite having no prior formal design training. During her HNG Internship, she demonstrated natural leadership abilities by successfully managing a cross-functional team of five members, including developers and a digital marketer. Her role involved overseeing implementation and ensuring effective communication of design decisions across the team. ^[2][4]

In October 2021, she transitioned to a part-time UX Designer role at the Zuri Chat team. In this position, she made significant contributions to the design system team, particularly in typography development, and worked closely with the UX team to design and implement missing flows for Zurichat. ^[4]

IQ.wiki

Mabel joined IQ.wiki as a Product Designer in February 2022, later advancing to the position of Lead Product Designer. Since then, she has worked on several groundbreaking projects within the blockchain space. She was involved in designing the comprehensive Crypto Encyclopedia platform, IQ.wiki, creating an invaluable resource for researchers, analysts, and developers to access in-depth information on various blockchain topics. Her work extended to creating several other solutions across products in the BrainDAO ecosystem. ^[1]

Throughout her time at IQ.wiki, Mabel has consistently delivered impactful results. She has successfully streamlined complex user workflows through intuitive design solutions, reducing user friction and costs while making it easier for users to achieve their goals. Her comprehensive approach includes conducting extensive user research to understand both existing user experiences and emerging user needs, translating these insights into actionable design solutions. ^[2]

In addition to her direct design work, Mabel has established and maintained comprehensive design systems and style guidelines that ensure brand consistency across multiple products in the ecosystem. She manages the full design lifecycle, from initial research through to implementation, including wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. Her commitment to team development is evident in her mentorship of junior designers and interns, contributing to the overall growth and success of the design team. ^[2]

Professional Development

Currently, Mabel is expanding her technical expertise by studying Frontend Engineering, with the goal of transitioning into UX Engineering. This additional technical knowledge not only complements her design capabilities but also deepens her understanding of implementation challenges, allowing her to create more feasible and efficient design solutions. ^[6]

Community Involvement

As an Executive member of the Roadtrip community, Mabel plays a vital role in supporting creatives from Nigeria and Africa in building successful careers in design and tech. She actively mentors aspiring designers, sharing her knowledge and experience to help them navigate their design journey. Her commitment to design education and knowledge sharing within the tech community has made her a valued contributor to the growth of the design community in Africa. ^[5]

Personal Activities & Interests

Mabel's creative pursuits extend beyond digital design. She enjoys creating digital art on Procreate, and engages in traditional crafts such as sewing and crocheting. She is an avid gamer, particularly enjoying titles like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero. Her curiosity about different cultures manifests in her current study of the Korean language, and she harbors dreams of traveling the world to learn about different cultures and their people.

Her leisure activities are diverse and enriching. Music plays a significant role in her life, as she believes it has a strong connection with design and can influence thoughts and ideas. She spends considerable time exploring various genres on music streaming platforms. She enjoys outdoor activities such as camping and hiking with friends, and maintains a broad interest in films across different genres and languages. Her love for learning extends to literature, as she regularly reads books spanning various genres. ^[3]

Design Philosophy

Mabel's approach to design is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and scientific background. She believes in creating memorable user experiences through intuitive, responsive, and accessible interfaces. Her scientific training enables her to approach design challenges with analytical rigor while maintaining a strong focus on human-centered solutions. She emphasizes the importance of empathy in digital product creation, ensuring that her designs not only meet business objectives but also genuinely serve user needs. Her personal experience as a left-handed individual has instilled a deep appreciation for inclusive design, driving her commitment to creating products that serve diverse user groups effectively. ^[3]