Welcome to my Corner of the Digital World
My name is Ayo-Oluwa Salawu - founder of As Designed - and I'd like to share my journey and aspirations with you.
Who is Ayo-Oluwa Salawu?
Ayo-Oluwa Salawu (Olu for short) holds a B(Eng) in Architecture and Environmental Engineering; however, alongside this, he has developed a passion for learning and teaching about Neurodiversity, Mental Health, and Personal Development. As an individual with ADHD who has also dealt with various mental health difficulties; the only reason he is alive today is because he committed to work with his challenges and accept his true self. Therefore, he continues to overcome various obstacles he faces in his life - some of which are testament to having ADHD.
What is As Designed?
There are 2 main aims for this brand.
1. To build a community of people, and help them on their journeys with Neurodiversity and Mental Health, through personal development
2. To develop and share my skills as a Designer by offering various creative services based on the skills I have developed from over a decade of experience in Architecture.
Under the banner "As Designed" (ASD), Olu carved out his personal brand. ASD currently stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder, however, our aim at As Designed is to change the perspective of Neurodiversity from being a disorder to being a gift. We do not believe that Neurodiverse individuals are broken and need to be fixed. We believe that all Neurodiverse individuals are 'As Designed'.
At its heart, As Designed is about fostering Awareness for Neurodiversity, Mental Health, Personal Development, and Artist Empowerment. My path to becoming an Architect has been marked with various challenges including periods of mental health difficulties and other personal hurdles. Nevertheless, I've persevered and come this far thanks to an incredible support network that has continuously propelled me forward, even when obstacles seemed insurmountable.
The story behind As Designed is rooted in resilience and a desire to inspire others facing similar challenges. I'm still navigating my own journey, which includes various ongoing difficulties, including ADHD. I created this brand to share my personal experiences openly to show others in my position that it's okay to not have everything perfectly under control.
My aim is simple: to encourage and empower those who, like me, encounter obstacles along their path and wish to overcome them. Together, we can learn to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds.
How Can We Help You?
As aspiring Architects, Designers, and Content Creators focused on Neurodiversity, Mental Health, Personal Development, and Artist Empowerment, we offer a unique perspective. I believe that our personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined. Through our content, we explore the intersections of Architecture, personal development, and mental health, aiming to provide valuable insights, encouragement, and practical guidance.
We hope that sharing our stories and being vulnerable will inspire anyone in a similar position to us to be true to themselves as well. This is going to be a log of our personal development journey, so thank you to anyone who supports us along the way. We hope that our content is of service to you just as much as you are of service to us for listening.
To all Creators, Artists, Designers, and Entrepreneurs out there - keep going, keep inspiring, and keep being you. The world is brighter because of people like you, so keep shining your light.