This article is part of the NGD Morning Bre Series. Names have been withheld for privacy.
I Started Design as an Intro Tech Teacher
I finished school early. Good at calculations, shapes, and technical drawing, I took the most accessible job I could find — teaching Introductory Technology in a high school. I was young, enjoying the classroom, and teaching lines for a living.
That love for precision quietly laid the foundation for my design career. By the time I touched tools like Adobe Illustrator, I didn’t need anyone to explain Bézier curves, layout grids, or perspective.
I already understood them instinctively. All I needed was to figure out which buttons did what.
The Job Race Kicked Off
Design gigs started rolling in — one after the other. The thing about design is: it’s easy to start, and if you’re good, people keep coming back.
Eventually, a friend recommended me for a temporary position at a leading newspaper. One of their designers had gone on leave, and I was brought in as a replacement.
That short-term role opened up an entirely new world.
My First Real Taste of Structured Savings
At the newspaper, things were different. Pension contributions and HMOs weren’t optional — they were standard.
Coming from freelance jobs, this structure was new to me, but welcome. I was required to contribute between 7% – 12% of my salary into a pension plan.
The money I had to put in was about ₦12K, not up to what I spent on drinks on the weekend. At the time, I thought: If I can spend over ₦12K on drinks every month, I can definitely save ₦12K for my future.
That Was My First Deep Dive Into Pensions, and I Loved It.
For someone who struggled to save, this was a game-changer. Little by little, something was being set aside — automatically. When I moved to other workplaces, I always looked for this feature. But eventually, my luck ran out.
Designers Aren’t Structured.
For people who struggle with saving, a pension plan is a great safety net. You contribute a little, your company matches it, and you can’t touch it until you’re 50. It’s a solid feature for days when you’ll need to transition.
By 50, I may not want to draw Bézier curves anymore — even if I still can. But at least I’ll have something to fall back on. The problem? Most design employers aren’t structured. My current workplace doesn’t offer a pension plan, and I genuinely miss it.
Yes, I have millions saved. But when I think about being 50 and relying only on a few million naira, it gets scary.
I can try to put money aside on my own, but nothing beats having your employer match your contributions. That’s the beauty of a pension plan.
We’re Not Doctors, Nurses, or Teachers.
These professionals have unions. They can go on strike. Ever heard of designers going on strike?
Exactly.
These are real issues our industry needs to confront. Most designers don’t have pension plans, and no one’s talking about it.
I’m currently trying to raise this conversation in my workplace. But even my colleagues see it as a luxury, not a necessity.
What I’ve learned about old age as a designer:
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Be frugal.
Frugality isn’t just for when you’re broke — it’s a lifestyle. Live simply, and use your spare funds for important things like pensions and savings. It adds up. -
Pensions and investments are luxuries — plan for them.
If I weren’t working extra gigs at the newspaper, ₦12K might have felt like a lot. If I had kids, it would have been harder to spare.
Your ability to save depends on your responsibilities. Don’t overburden your income. Keep things lean.
Design is good money. But it’s time we talk about structure, stability, and the systems that help us build long-term security.
But I’m Still Concerned
I realize that my savings and investments are not the same thing. It’s important to know this and not think some money locked up is an investment.
If I have millions locked up and they aren’t bringing anything, then I’m not set up really, and that’s all I really have, millions locked up, no returns from anywhere.
These are realities that keep me on my toes. It’s a nice problem to have and resolve while there’s still time. The future is always here, not far away. If I don’t resolve these things now, things don’t look good, and that’s my concern.
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