Nigerian Designer Transforms Tech Access from Indonesia

A Nigerian woman is breaking barriers in Asia's tech industry while opening doors for others to follow.

Nabhel Harmony started her design journey in 2017 helping her mother create flyers using CorelDRAW. Today, she works as a senior product designer in Indonesia, creating digital solutions that impact thousands of users across the globe.

Her breakthrough came during graduate school when she discovered a Microsoft UX video. That single moment, combined with learning Figma, shifted her path from graphic design to product design focused on human-centered digital experiences.

One of her most impactful projects involved redesigning iglooconnect, a platform connecting smart locks with services like Airbnb. The old system was confusing and created real problems for property managers and small businesses, sometimes affecting their safety and income.

Harmony approached the challenge by becoming a user herself. She gathered insights from support teams, studied competitors, and streamlined the entire experience to make it intuitive for international users.

The redesigned platform now serves thousands of property managers worldwide, helping small businesses grow and making the system accessible across different countries. For Harmony, it proved that good design creates equity and opportunity, not just better-looking screens.

Why This Inspires

As often the only African woman in the room at Asian tech companies, Harmony faced bias and underestimation. She overcame these challenges by building networks with other designers and letting her work demonstrate her expertise.

Now she's paying it forward as a design tutor. She teaches junior designers to focus on problem-solving over tools, giving them real projects to build confidence and creating safe spaces for experimentation.

Her advice to emerging designers reflects her journey: stay curious, build portfolios that show your thinking process, and find communities to learn alongside. She emphasizes that while AI tools like Claude and Cursor are transforming workflows, critical thinking and empathy remain irreplaceable.

Harmony believes designers give back by creating access to knowledge and opportunities. Her work proves that talent knows no borders, and one person's success can light the path for an entire generation.