Fully Managed

How Intentional Design Shapes Products, Careers, and Creativity with Rotimi Solola

Episode Summary

On today’s episode, Shannon sits down with Rotimi Solola for a deep, insightful conversation about building a meaningful design career, navigating pivots in the creative industry, and developing the skills, mindset, and discipline needed to stay competitive in an ever-evolving field. They explore the realities of design work, how inspiration truly plays a role, and what young creatives should focus on if they want to thrive long-term.

Episode Notes

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

Why strong fundamentals matter more than software trends when building a long-lasting creative career.

Rotimi discusses the importance of mastering core design principles, problem-solving skills, and creativity over relying solely on tools or trends.

How to grow as a designer by embracing feedback, taking risks, and developing a consistent personal process.

Learn how to handle critique, anticipate challenges, and prepare for compromises while keeping your creative vision intact.

What separates product design from graphic design — and how Rotimi navigated his own pivot toward a more impactful design path.

Insights into collaborating with engineers, understanding constraints, and balancing creativity with practical execution in product design.


About Rotimi Solola & So Design: 
- Website: https://www.so-design.co/ 
- Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rotimi-solola-b93a916a/