TCN Monthly Recap: January 2025 Edition
Here's a recap of the stories—news, events, opportunities, resources, insights, opinions and conversations—we published in January 2025 and some other recommended stories for you
Hi there,
Phew, 2025 is off to an amazing start. January is over and we are halfway into February. I hope your year has been off to a great start.
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As you may already know (and for those who are new here), every month we bring you TCN Monthly Recap; a recap of all the exciting stories—news, events, opportunities, resources, insights, opinions and conversations—we published all through the month. We also share interesting reads and recommended stories at the end. Watch out!
In this edition of TCN Monthly Recap, you will find;
The Creatives Note: A 2024 Recap
Nigerian multidisciplinary designer releases first typeface—Agụ Display, a decorative, rounded, sans-serif display typeface—in collaboration with Google Fonts
Nigerian Real Estate Development Company, Adron Homes, unveils new logo
Nigerian mobility-tech company MAX NG is now MAX
8 African companies that rebranded / refreshed their brand identity in 2024
Paystack's founding designer quits company after 9 years
The Creatives Note: A 2024 Recap
While 2024 was a tough year for the media industry globally, it proved pivotal for The Creatives Note. With the support of you—our readers, we were able to curate, document and tell important stories throughout the year.
At the beginning of the year (2025), we looked back at some of the highlights from 2024. From our reporting on Google Fonts’ type project in Africa to launching TCN Monthly Recap to The Creatives Note turning 2. We also shared some of our growth in numbers and the top 15 stories that resonated most with you—our readers.
Nigerian multidisciplinary designer releases first typeface—Agụ Display, a decorative, rounded, sans-serif display typeface—in collaboration with Google Fonts
On January 1, Seun Badejo, a Nigerian multidisciplinary designer with a focus on Type and Brand Design announced the release of his first typeface—Agụ Display, a decorative, rounded, sans-serif display typeface featuring a morphing substitution axis that makes the letters dance—in collaboration with Google Fonts.
With origins in the Ekpe secret society, Agụ Display brings the ancient mystique of Nsibidi symbols to life with inspiration from a rich West African heritage, extending from Cross River to Cameroon, the official website notes.
According to Google Fonts, Agu Display serves as a bridge between historical symbolism and modern typography.
Nigerian Real Estate Development Company, Adron Homes, unveils new logo
Last month, Adron Homes, a pan-African real estate development company, unveiled a new logo to “mark a new chapter in its journey.”
While the company says the rebrand is its way of staying ahead of the curve, it has received criticism for the new logo from many, with some calling it unprofessional and a downgrade from the previous logo. “This is rather hard to read. All your logos before this were easy to identify from afar without straining the eyes, if it’s not broken don’t fix it,” says one comment.
“The old logo looks way way better. The new logo looks like a logo one old man designed in the year 1800. The old logo is far more better,” another shared.
Nigerian mobility-tech company MAX NG is now MAX
Nigerian mobility-tech company MAX NG, on January 15, announced “a bold new identity” as it said “goodbye to MAX NG and hello to MAX.”
For its latest move, the company—with the vision to power Africa’s forward movement—is doing away with the NG in its name as it embarks on its mission to lead Africa’s transition to electric mobility. “Say goodbye to MAX NG and hello to MAX — a bold new identity at the forefront of Africa’s transition to electric mobility,” the announcement stated.
For this move, MAX (Metro Africa Xpress) is doing away with the NG in its name but retaining other visual elements—from the typeface to its vibrant yellow.
8 African companies that rebranded/refreshed their brand identity in 2024
2024 was a challenging year for many businesses around the world, even more challenging for African businesses—from businesses shutting down to companies laying off staff.
Despite the challenges, many companies continue to forge on. And in a bid to reflect their growth and evolution, some of these companies embarked on rebranding or brand refresh projects, and we were there to document them.
From tech startups to media publications, telecom corporations and VC firms, we shared 8 African companies that rebranded/refreshed their brand identity in 2024.
Paystack's founding designer quits company after 9 years
Last month, Opemipo Aikomo, Paystack’s founding designer, announced on LinkedIn that he has left the company after “9 years of designing and leading what has become one of the most important companies of our generation.”
Opemipo, who is one of the three founding team members alongside Shola and Ezra, shared that he quit Paystack in August [2024].
According to Opemipo, since leaving Paystack last August, he has spent time figuring out what he wants out of life. “I've spent the last six months figuring out what I want out of life, and being in the shadows won't get me there,” he wrote. “My life's goal is enablement: I want to build a creative practice that incubates global enterprise, especially from West Africa.”
Recommended Opportunity
Emerging Expressions—curated by Creath—is now accepting submissions for this year’s edition of the art fair, themed ‘HOW DO WE LEARN TO SEE.’
The art fair—which featured 58 artists from across 50+ Nigerian universities and art institutions and 2000+ attendees in its first edition—is expanding its horizons to include not just visual art, but also film and documentary works for its second edition.
Deadline for submission: February 28th, 2025
Recommended reading
Together with his four artist brothers, Alfred Addo is creating sustainable, one-of-a-kind work through his choice of language and material.
Created by the trio of Abba T. Makama, C.J. “Fiery” Obasi and Michael Omonua, the festival is set to mark its fourth edition. As the filmmaker-focused film festival beckons, Seyi Lasisi sat down with Makama and Omonua to discuss their perspectives on the Nigerian indie film landscape, the overarching themes guiding the festival, and the films they are most excited for audiences to see this year.
The filmmakers behind the short film explore the power of joy and community as a way to amplify the worrying state of cervical cancer amongst women in Nigeria.
Genuine human connection and interaction can be achieved by being intentional as it requires directing efforts toward it... Building on relationships and connections is crucial
That will be all for January. Thank you for reading. And HAPPY NEW MONTH!!!
We enjoyed bringing you these updates and putting this recap together. See you at the end of this month. Until then, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay up to date.
