Habeeb Azeez, a product designer known for combining deep user empathy with strategic design thinking, has been awarded the Outstanding Product Design Excellence Award at the 2024 Africa Beacon of ICT Awards, held in Lagos, Nigeria.
The prestigious ceremony, held on May 25th, 2024, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, celebrated innovation and excellence across Africa’s ICT landscape, honoring individuals and organizations driving transformative progress in the digital sector.
Habeeb, who currently works at Brass, was recognized for his significant contributions, where he helped simplify complex financial workflows for small and medium-sized businesses. Through his work, he has consistently delivered intuitive, user-centered solutions that prioritize usability, accessibility, and business impact,driving meaningful improvements in how SMEs across Africa manage their finances.
While presenting the award, Mr. Ken Nwogbo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of CommunicationsWeek Media, praised Habeeb’s influence on the design and tech ecosystem: “Habeeb represents a new generation of African designers who are not just solving problems, but doing so with clarity, empathy, and purpose. His work stands out for its impact at scale and his commitment to uplifting others in the industry.”
Beyond his role at Brass, Habeeb has made significant contributions to the broader design community. He is an active contributor to the Figma Community, where he publishes open-source design tools and systems that empower other designers across Africa and beyond. He also supports junior talent through mentorship, community design critiques, and public resources focused on design maturity and career progression.
In 2023, he was featured as a speaker at a regional design summit, where he delivered a talk titled “Balancing Act: Navigating Design Trends and Timeless Principles.” In it, he explored how designers can stay current without losing sight of foundational principles—emphasizing thoughtful decision-making, visual clarity, and long-term value in digital products.
Reflecting on the award, he said: “It’s incredibly humbling to receive this recognition. I see it not just as a personal milestone, but as a testament to the rising standard of product design in Africa. I’m proud to contribute to a community that’s creating meaningful, accessible solutions for real people.”
The event drew attendees from across the African technology landscape, including government officials, corporate executives, and tech enthusiasts—gathered to honor trailblazers shaping the continent’s digital future.
With this win, Habeeb joins a distinguished circle of innovators driving progress through technology, creativity, and leadership.
