Introduction
In today’s digital economy, user experience (UX) is no longer just about aesthetics or smooth navigation. It is about creating systems that foster trust, enable inclusion, and sustain engagement. In emerging markets—where fintech has become a lifeline for millions—designers face a dual responsibility: to build tools that scale technologically while remaining empathetic to diverse user needs.
Few professionals embody this balance as fully as Atinu Odunuga. With a background that spans fintech, SaaS, education, and enterprise platforms, she has developed a reputation as a research-driven design leader who connects human-centered design with business growth and societal impact.
Now serving as Senior Product Designer and Acting Head of UX Research at Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s most distinguished fintech organizations, Atinu is leading not only projects but also conversations through published research, public design critiques, and strategic leadership. Her career offers a roadmap for how designers can drive innovation and inclusion.
Readers can explore her body of work at her professional profile: Atinu Odunuga – ResearchGate Publications
Publications that Shape the Conversation
Atinu has consistently sought to share her insights with broader audiences through scholarly and professional publications. Her writing situates design at the intersection of technology, policy, and human behavior.
One of her most notable works, “Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Digital Finance: A Strategic Approach” (2024), examines how regulations can be integrated into digital finance design rather than treated as external obstacles. She reframes regulation as a design challenge by analyzing how compliance frameworks affect adoption and usability. In doing so, she contributes to a rare but critical dialogue—bridging fintech design practice with policy strategy.
Her earlier MSc thesis at the University of Brighton produced another published work: “Designing a Mobile Application for the Housing Industry: Creating a Guarantor Request Platform for International Students (Student Nest)” (2023). The project documented a complete design cycle, from research to prototyping and usability testing, addressing international students' specific barriers to securing housing abroad. The outcome was a functional prototype and a published case study in inclusive design, demonstrating her commitment to applying UX principles to real-world challenges.
In 2024, she authored the professional insight piece “Trillion Trees UX Audit: A User Delight Focus” for ASquared’s Insights blog. This article publicly critiqued a global environmental platform's usability and engagement features, offering concrete design recommendations. By sharing her evaluation openly, she showed that UX critique is not just internal consulting but a public-facing discipline that can influence broader communities.
Together, these works illustrate Atinu’s role as an author and thought leader: someone who not only practices design but also documents and shares knowledge that informs academia and industry.
Original Contributions that Drive Measurable Change
What makes Atinu’s career especially impactful is the tangible outcomes of her design contributions.
At Fidelity Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions, she reengineered digital banking platforms serving more than nine million customers. Her redesign streamlined onboarding, simplified navigation, and localized interfaces for diverse users. The results were clear: an 18% increase in customer retention and a 10% rise in digital adoption. These metrics reflect more than good design—they represent strategic business transformation.
As the founding designer of Venlab at Olubrain Technologies, she created the UX foundation for a platform enabling entrepreneurs to register businesses, open bank accounts, and file taxes digitally. Within just three months of launch, Venlab experienced 40% revenue growth—a testament to how design decisions can accelerate both adoption and profitability in startup ecosystems.
Her tenure at ASquared, a UK-based consultancy, showcased her adaptability across fintech, health, and HR sectors. She delivered design solutions that improved client satisfaction by 20%, reduced time-to-market by 30%, and increased client referrals by 60%. Importantly, ASquared also became a platform for her public UX publications, amplifying her reach and professional credibility.
At Interswitch Group, her impact now extends beyond product interfaces. She is responsible for building UX research frameworks, mentoring design teams, and aligning product decisions with regulatory compliance and market strategy. This role highlights her evolution from practitioner to strategic design leader.
Leadership Across Distinguished Organizations
Atinu’s ability to take on critical roles in major organizations has shaped her influence in the fintech and design ecosystems.
- Interswitch Group (2025 – present): Leading UX research strategy and design execution for Africa’s leading fintech.
- Fidelity Bank Plc (2019 – 2020): Driving digital adoption and retention strategies for over nine million customers.
- Olubrain Technologies (Venlab): Building the foundational design for a fast-scaling entrepreneurial platform.
- ASquared (2021 – 2023): Designing for international clients while publishing open-access UX insights.
Each of these positions demonstrates not just participation, but leadership and strategic influence in shaping digital platforms at scale.
Bridging Practice and Scholarship
A defining feature of Atinu’s career is her ability to bridge academic research with professional execution. Her MSc in User Experience Design at the University of Brighton provided her with a strong foundation in research methodologies, usability testing, and inclusive frameworks. Certifications such as IBM Design Thinking Practitioner and User Experience Associate reinforce her technical expertise.
But what makes her unique is her consistent commitment to publish her work. By sharing both scholarly research and professional case studies, she has established herself as a knowledge producer, not just a practitioner. Her regulatory analysis paper connects micro-level design choices to macro-level policy. Her Student Nest project contributes to conversations about international education and housing. Her Trillion Trees audit demonstrates how designers can contribute to NGO and global impact projects.
This synergy elevates her profile: Atinu is a designer whose practice is informed by research, and whose research is shaped by practice.
A Designer for the Next Decade
As digital finance expands globally, the demand for inclusive, user-centered, regulation-aware design is becoming urgent. Payment systems must scale across borders, digital banking must meet the needs of diverse populations, and compliance requirements must be integrated seamlessly into product experiences.
Atinu Odunuga’s career shows that she is uniquely positioned to meet these challenges. She designs platforms at scale, launches startups successfully, publishes insights that bridge policy and practice, and mentors the next generation of designers.
Her trajectory demonstrates how a designer can grow into both a strategic leader and a public voice, shaping not only products but also the frameworks by which industries understand digital design.
Looking Ahead
Atinu Odunuga’s career is defined by a consistent pattern: innovation backed by publication, leadership grounded in research, and design that delivers measurable impact.
Her ability to move between scholarship and practice, startups and global corporations, and local challenges and international discourses makes her one of the most compelling figures in UX and fintech today.
As fintech and UX industries grapple with the challenges of inclusion, regulation, and rapid digital adoption, voices like Atinu’s will play a vital role. She is designing platforms and shaping the frameworks through which we understand and practice digital experience in finance.
Discover more of her work here: Portfolio; LinkedIn
Media Contact
Atinu Odunuga welcomes opportunities to collaborate with startups, fintech innovators, and banking institutions committed to strengthening their digital platforms. Through her consultancy work, she provides:
- Tailored training for design and product teams
- Product design strategy sessions for leadership and founders
- Executive workshops on user-centered design, scalable digital solutions, and data-driven retention strategies
By combining her hands-on industry experience with advanced design methodologies, she helps organizations transform complex workflows into intuitive, high-performing digital products that deliver measurable business impact.
Email: info@innovatorsprofessionals.com
Website: www.innovatorsprofessionals.com
Media Contact
Company Name: Innovators Professionals
Contact Person: Atinu Odunuga
Email:Send Email
Country: Nigeria
Website: https://www.innovatorsprofessionals.com/
