Long before the cameras come on, the banners go up, and every other amazing thing DRIF is known for comes to life, an invisible language is already at work. Colors, symbolism, shapes, stage arrangements, and razzmatazz: design. At the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), design is never just decoration; it is a storytelling tool that reflects the forum’s values, its host country, and the collective vision of inclusion and rights in the digital age.
In this behind-the-scenes conversation, we sit down with Kenneth Oyeniyi, Senior Communications Officer for Paradigm Initiative and one of the creative minds shaping DRIF’s visual identity year after year. From translating themes into powerful visuals to ensuring each edition of DRIF feels a notch better than the last, Kenneth takes us through the thinking, inspiration, and quiet pressure of designing one of Africa’s leading digital rights convenings:
Hi Kenneth, can you tell us what you do for DRIF and what your role entails?
For DRIF, I wear many hats, and my role spans several departments, but for the context of this interview, I coordinate the visual branding elements for the digital rights and inclusion forum, carefully orchestrating how the event’s overall look supports the forum’s overarching goal.
What inspires your work on DRIF’s design and visual branding?
Many things have inspired DRIF’s visual branding in the past, from the event theme to the thematic areas to be discussed, and, very importantly, we have also constantly tried to pay homage to the host country. The last DRIF, for Instance, DRIF25, was done with David Chima, our design intern at the time, and the idea around it was Ubuntu, which not only corroborated the theme, it also referenced the region where DRIF was held – Zambia. It explored the idea of puzzle pieces coming together, symbolising both individuality and cohesion.
For how long have you been at this, and what motivates you to keep pushing for creativity year after year?
DRIF26 would be my 6th DRIF at Paradigm Initiative, and DRIF has definitely evolved a lot from its early days. There’s been a lot of learning, and these lessons have informed how the event has been approached.
PIN has a longstanding culture of making every DRIF we host the best DRIF ever, and then the next one after that even better. This encourages a lot of iteration and continues to push the boundaries of how we can make design contribute to that mission.
DRIF 2026 is around the corner. Can we expect any new twists or surprises in the visuals and the overall event branding?
Hahaha, you’re asking a wizard to reveal his potions? You know that’s not going to happen, but, as it is every year, you can expect that, like every DRIF before it, we intend to break new ceilings.
Do you have a personal motto or mantra that guides your design work in general, and specifically for DRIF?
The motto is “It has to work in the context it’s being applied.” The brand’s visual is not exclusive to the brand; whether people pay attention or not, it subconsciously influences how people interact with the message. Visual communication is still communication and, as such, must support the communication process, not distract from it.
If you could sum up DRIF 2026 in one word or phrase, as someone involved in the entire process behind the scenes, what would it be?
Electric!
What is one fun or unexpected thing about working on DRIF that people might not know?
One thing many people might not know is that the next DRIF starts before the current one ends. It’s understandable that many people “look forward to the next DRIF,” but for the team, before the ongoing DRIF ends, planning for the next one has already begun.
