5 Notable Production Designers In Modern Nigerian Cinema

Production design is essential to film. Production designers are prominent in advancing the Nigerian film industry, utilizing various visual techniques and styles to enhance storytelling. Their work involves creating captivating visual backdrops and turning film locations into admirable and authentic scenes to match the expectations of the film. Adopting cultural elements and aesthetics in their work, they work with the director and other production units such as art, cinematography, and costumes to enliven the storytelling vision and infuse depth in productions. The production designer may be slightly distinguished from the art director, in that the art director is responsible to the production designer, helping to execute his aesthetic vision and plans. 

Through their craft, production designers have successfully created believable and spectacular settings, enabling an immersive experience for the audience. Over the years, the importance of production designers has been recognized in the Nigerian film industry, with the establishment of events for the celebration of excellence in this department. Platforms such as the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) and Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have award categories for production designers and art directors. 

Here are some production designers, living and deceased, who have significantly impacted modern Nigerian cinema.

Pat  Nebo

Before he died in 2023, Pat Nebo was a frequent collaborator and associate of Kunle Afolayan’s, working with him as a production designer and art director on groundbreaking projects like The Figurine (2009), Phone Swap (2012), and October 1 (2014). He also worked with Izu Ojukwu on the historical drama ’76 (2016), Omoni Oboli on the romantic comedy Being Mrs. Elliot (2014), Desmond Ovbiagele, Genevieve Nnaji on Lionheart (2018) and Desmond Ovbiagele on The Milkmaid (2020). Owing to his artistic vision and style, he is considered one of the foremost production designers whose work is instrumental to the development of modern Nigerian cinema. Pat Nebo was a recipient of the AMAA Best Production Design award for his efforts in Phone Swap and ’76.

Tunji Afolayan 

Tunji Afolayan is one of the successful art directors and production designers of the current age of Nigerian cinema. His profile is loaded with a number of Nollywood productions, including critically acclaimed projects like Tunde Kelani’s Maami (2011), Izu Ojukwu’s Amina (2021) and Femi Adebayo’s Jagun Jagun (2023). An award-winning art maestro with over two decades of experience, Afolayan continues to influence the aesthetics of Nollywood productions and make significant impacts under the aegis of his Production Design outfit Telegenic Media. 

Olalekan Isiaka

Also known as Lekan Swanky, Isiaka got into production design for the first time in 2009 but it was not until three years after that his official journey in Nollywood as a creative in that department began. He began with TV reality shows, working as an apprentice to Mr. Bedford Oluebi on the sets of MTN Project Fame, Nigerian Idol, and X Factor, among others. He was introduced to mainstream cinema by his boss and worked as a set and props designer for EbonyLife TV’s reality shows, Sistaz and Mo’s Search. In 2016, he collaborated with Funke Akindele for the set design of her TV series, Industreet, after which he earned her trust and worked on other productions such as Jenifa’s Diary, Ayetoro, Omo Ghetto: The Saga. Lekan Swanky has also worked on the sets of Tunde Kelani’s Cordelia (2021), Inkblot’s The Perfect Arrangement (2022), Obi Emenloye’s Badamasi (2021), Uche Jombo’s Onyeegwu (2023) and Xavier Ighorodje’s Shanty Town (2023). 

Abisola Omolade

An AMVCA winner and alumnus of London Film School, Abisola Omolade is the brains behind the impressive set design and visuals of the recently released period film, House of Ga’a, produced and directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters. Her Nollywood resume also includes Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys (2018), Yemi Morafa’s The Wait (2021), Kayode Kasum’s All’s Fair In Love (2024), Mildred Okwo’s Le Femme Anjola (2021), and EbonyLife’s Blood Sisters (2022), on which she worked as art director and production designer. She is the current winner of the AMVCA Best Art Direction award for her efforts in Tolu Ajayi’s Over The Bridge. 

Okechukwu Frost Nwankwo

Okechukwu Frost Nwankwo is a fast-rising production designer and art director who has made tremendous strides in the industry, working on projects like Tosin Coker’s Lara and The Beat (2018), Niyi Akinmolayam’s The Set Up (2019), EbonyLife’s Chief Daddy 2: Going For Broke (2022), Dare Olaitan’s Ile Owo (2022) and Kayode Kasum’s Afamefuna (2023). One of his recent efforts is the critically acclaimed BB Sasore faith-based film, Breath of Life, where he worked together with the team as a production designer.