Creator Spotlight is a weekly series celebrating young Nigerians in the creative industry doing unique things. Everyone has a story, and 91大神 wants to tell it.
Hi, I鈥檓 Zonna. I鈥檓 a creative director, content creator, Interior artist, and photographer sometimes. I create wall and rug art. I watch videos of puppies before I go to bed because it calms me and helps me sleep well. I can dance, but people think I can鈥檛 for some reason.
Wow, you do a lot. How did it all begin? Did you just start doing everything at once?
I started fashion blogging in 2017 but stopped blogging around 2019 and focused on content creation.
I got into two years ago when my previous boss saw , liked what I was doing and asked me to be the creative director for his agency. Now, I have my own with my clients I work with and I don鈥檛 work at the agency anymore.
My interest in is relatively new, and the comments I receive whenever people come to my house inspired it. They鈥檇 mention that my space was aesthetic and ask me to help them recreate it in theirs. Eventually, I decided to start a career creating furniture or anything you鈥檇 need for interior decorating.
How do you find the time to pursue these many interests?
I won鈥檛 lie, it鈥檚 tasking. I just organise everything I do so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I have an account for my fashion influencing, one for my studio and another for my interior design. It helps me focus on each of them. I also have a journal where I plan out my day, so I don’t lose track.
It鈥檚 hard, but I’m passionate about these things, and when I like something, I give it my all and just get it done.
Did you get professional discipline in any of these?
No, I didn鈥檛. Even with photography, I sit with my camera until I get what I want, I didn鈥檛 study photography professionally either. I studied marketing in school, and after school, I wanted to work in an ad agency, but fashion in all its forms took over my life, and I can never go back to that depressing corporate world. I had to work at an office once, and being in a confined space with office chairs made me depressed. It was my first day.
As a creative person, I enjoy my freedom.
So how did you get into tufting? Where does it come in with all your passions?
That will be interior design. I make tufted rugs by myself from scratch.
How did you even decide that it鈥檚 something you鈥檇 like to do? I鈥檝e only ever seen it on TikTok
Exactly, I saw a video randomly on Instagram, and it just looked so unique and exciting, so I watched thousands of YouTube videos and I was obsessed. I started searching for where I could get the equipment and materials too. I saw it as a unique addition to my interior brand because I can count the number of people in Nigeria that do what I do.
It鈥檚 an untapped opportunity to have the first creator advantage because even the few people I know that tuft just use it to make traditional rugs. I make art. I鈥檝e always admired artists, but I didn’t know how to paint or draw, so tufting was my opportunity to be an artist. I didn鈥檛 even think twice. For me, it鈥檚 not about making rugs. It鈥檚 touchable art that can be in an exhibition someday.
How easy was it to get the material you needed?
Sourcing my materials was a struggle. Because very few people do it here, I only had one person I could ask for help or advice. But everything is fine now.
I like that you don鈥檛 second guess anything you want to do
I don鈥檛 waste time. I鈥檓 staring at my tufting canvas because it鈥檚 just beside my bed since I don’t have a workshop yet. In the morning, I just shift my bed aside and start working. When I first got my tufting gun and just got fabric to practise, I was like, 鈥淲hat is this?鈥 The gun is very heavy. Your hand will be weak, but I can tuft for hours straight now.
What鈥檚 the longest time it has taken you to finish a rug
Four days. I took time because I was feeling lazy. I haven’t had as many tasking design requests as I鈥檇 like yet.
So do you draw the pattern or just use a projector?
Since I started, I’ve been drawing by myself, but then I realised that I’m not an artist, so I caved and got a projector. So far, the most unique thing I’ve done is a CD rug inspired by the work of an interior designer, Sean Brown. For the CD rug I started off using my hand, but I realised I needed to use a projector so it could be much neater.
So is it paying off? What鈥檚 been your most expensive and least expensive order?
Because it鈥檚 a business where you can customise anything. Prices differ based on the design, size and how detailed it is. So far, I鈥檝e only made custom rugs. I haven鈥檛 made the actual art I want to do. I鈥檓 still treading slowly, and people are still trying to understand what I do but, it鈥檚 been a decent start. I plan to introduce more unique designs, so they just don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 customised rugs or mirrors.
What about the tuft mirrors? Ever broken any?
I haven鈥檛. The challenge with the mirror tuft is that I don鈥檛 have enough equipment to carve hardwood yet, so I use ply boards and use scissors to cut it. The wood is just supposed to back it up, so it works. To be honest, the mirror is easier to make since it takes up all the space, but rugs sometimes have complicated designs and can be more challenging.
What鈥檚 your favourite design so far?
The CD rug for sure, but I also have this 鈥淪tay weird鈥 wall hanging art, and I love the colour plus, it was freehanded and look how good it came out!
Speaking of the CD rug, are you a big Michael Jackson fan?
I am obsessed. I listen to MJ every day. My YouTube is just full of him.聽
It鈥檚 cool that he inspired that rug. Who inspires everything you do?
The answer is me. I was trying not to be proud. I never need a push to do anything. I go for everything I want. I inspire myself.
Bold, I love it! What do you do when you’re not busy creating art?
I love watching movies. I鈥檓 a big movie person, and it helps me zone out. I鈥檓 obsessed with horror movies, and they make me laugh. It鈥檚 not real, so it鈥榮 hard to take it serious. I like mystery and suspense, and horror movies always have that.
What goes in your head when you’re creating content outside? Do you get shy?
I don鈥檛. It doesn’t bother me. I’m very shameless when I need to create content. When you can tell that you鈥檙e about to create magic, you have to drop your shame. Just try not to care about who is watching you and take advantage of those precious moments.
As someone that gets shy taking pictures or documenting memories, I need your tips for more confidence
For me, I don’t care; I just do what I have to do. If I had to give someone advice, I’d say no one is really looking at you. Just pretend they are admiring you, and you鈥檒l get all the confidence you need.
Do you have a favourite career moment so far?
No, I don’t. But, I鈥檓 proud of myself for what I’m currently doing. I do so much at once, and I’m happy with how much I’ve improved my skills. I take myself seriously and always follow through when I set my heart on a project. I don鈥檛 have a favourite career moment yet, but I hope I get it soon.
Where do you not want to be in the next five years?
I don鈥檛 want to send email pitches about my work. I want to be requested. It鈥檚 normal to always sell yourself in life, but I don’t want to keep introducing myself. I want to be big enough by then. I鈥檓 doing what I can to ensure that happens鈥攕eizing opportunities and doing more than my best.
