From selling plain tees in university to leading the visual identity of Nigeria’s most iconic football teams, Big Mitch has crafted a journey defined by creativity, persistence, and purpose. As the Lead Designer for the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, his work has transformed how fans experience Nigerian football — visually and emotionally. In this conversation, he shares how his passion evolved into a profession, the stories behind some of his most memorable campaigns, and how he channels the energy of Nigerian football into every design.
How did your journey into design begin?
My first sort of introduction to design started when I was in my first year of university. I was selling plain tees in school, and a friend of mine suggested getting prints on them so we could raise the price of the tees. Initially, I started with the eraser tool in Photoshop (that was the only tool I knew how to use, lol) to cut out cool pictures I found online and place them on the T-shirt. Then, towards the start of my second year, COVID happened, and I had the opportunity and time to learn Photoshop in depth.
How did you become the Lead Designer of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons?
Funny story, I was the designer at a travel booking company, and I didn’t feel like I was supposed to be there. I wasn’t having fun. It wasn’t the kind of design I wanted to do (very Gen Z thing to say, I know, but I can’t do my best if I’m not enjoying my job), and it went on for months, productivity reaching all-time lows, designs getting mid till I decided to resign. The day I resigned, I was invited to the AFCON 2025 draw watch party at Hard Rock, and I met my current boss there. The rest was history.
What was the first project you worked on for the National Team?
My first official project with the national team was with the qualifiers in March. I was charged with creating a rollout for the squad list for our games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. That went pretty well because, from the comments I read, people knew there was someone new handling the designs. My first tournament experience came in July when I was the design lead for the Mission X campaign for the Super Falcons.
How are you able to merge the Nigerian love for football and its energetic spirit in your designs?
In Nigeria, football isn’t just a sport; it’s a culture, it’s an identity. I try to merge all of these by using our vibrant green, bold typography and storytelling. I’m honestly still trying to find the balance, blending our raw expressive spirit with world-class designs so that Nigerian football looks as powerful visually as it feels emotionally.
What are the factors that influence your designs?
Probably the conditions of the match. Recently, we had a must-win match against Benin, so I knew it had to be epic or the Unity Cup promo poster in May.
When designing for a matchday or tournament, what’s your creative process like from concept to final artwork?
I think the first thing for me is getting a feel for the match. Understanding the history with our opponents and conceptualizing something befitting of the occasion
Leading the charge for rebranding the visual identity of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, what was the thought process behind it? How were you able to connect the followers with the new identity, and what has been the reception so far?
I think the first thing for me was to make our visuals epic, something befitting of the giants of Africa, and visuals that are acceptable on the world stage. The reception so far has been astronomical as we’re getting so many more engagements.
How do you measure the impact of your designs beyond social media engagement in terms of how fans connect or respond emotionally?
To be honest, there’s really no direct measure for that. The impact of my designs outside social media, however, has definitely shown in the fact that I’ve seen random people’s wallpaper with my designs, which in turn means that there’s a high connection between the art I create and the people who come across it outside the social media spectrum.
What are some of your favorite pieces or campaigns you’ve created so far?
Uhm…the “where is the list” video we did for the rollout of the international squad. I had a quick brainstorming session with my boss early that morning, and I had to execute in like an hour. Also, the Unity cup promo poster for the Jollof Derby and the Mission X campaign.
From matchday rollouts to full-blown national campaigns, Big Mitch is proving that design is more than just visuals — it’s storytelling, culture, and emotion blended into art. His journey reminds us that when creativity meets purpose, it can redefine how an entire nation sees its heroes. And for Nigeria’s football faithful, the future looks as bold and vibrant as his next design.
