There’s a real chance you’ve already crossed paths with Dedejae’s work without knowing. 

Maybe it was printed unto a tee from Motherlan, hidden in the backdrop of a Slawn installation, or flashing across a screen during a campaign you double-tapped without thinking. You might’ve worn something he helped bring to life. Reposted something he quietly directed. Felt the energy of his work without ever clocking the name.

He’s the kind of creative who you don’t typically see just anywhere. Whether it’s designing merch that moves like it’s for a protest, or helping shape the visual DNA of some of the continent’s most influential brands, Dedejae’s been designing the look and rhythm of this generation, all while keeping his name out of the frame.

A Creative Raised by the Culture

Oritsetserundede Jemide [aka Dedejae] comes from Warri, Delta State, with deep Itsekiri roots. “We Itsekiri people are very stylish and exuberant by tradition,” he tells us, and you can see that show up in his design choices: vibrant, layered, and intentional.

His earliest muse? His mum. A fashion designer herself, she gave him his first tools,  sketch pads, paintbrushes, a sewing machine  and, more importantly, freedom. 

She let him experiment. Whether it was arts & crafts at summer school or sketching characters from cartoons, those early years planted the seed for what would become a career in design and storytelling.

 

DONDA, BEEN TRILL, Tumblr and the Blueprint of Influence

Like many creatives of his era, Dedejae’s worldview shifted in the early 2010s,  Tumblr, Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music run, BEEN TRILL, early Virgil, A$AP Mob, that whole wave where music, fashion, and internet culture blurred into something new. He absorbed it all. “That era gave people like me a reference point for what was possible,” he says.

 

 

And It’s no surprise that his personal brand, Jaecreate, functioned like the much acclaimed -DONDA — offering graphic design, production, and creative direction to brands like FoodCourt, Cult Army, Sleeks Matcha, and SweatBox.

One moment that really hit different for him, one of those rare “yeah, am I really doing this” moments— was designing the Off-White x Motherlan collaboration tee. For someone who credits Virgil Abloh as one of the key reasons he even picked up graphic design in the first place, getting the chance to leave his mark on the brand Virgil built wasn’t just another commission. It felt full circle. Like his work, quietly planted in the corners of culture, was blooming into something bigger. “It just felt like I was fulfilling my purpose,” he says. And if you’ve followed his journey long enough, you’d agree…..it tracks.

 

Linking with Slawn

Though they’d known each other since 2016 where they used to hangout at wafflesncream, it wasn’t until 2023 that Dedejae began working professionally with Slawn, one of Nigeria’s most visually disruptive artists. As Creative Director, Dedejae helps translate Slawn’s wild, unfiltered imagination into polished, wearable and collectable pieces.

 

 

One standout moment? Although he says his most iconic piece hasn’t even been released yet, The 2025 FA Cup Final is the next best, where — Dedejae led the design of the pitch banner. It wasn’t just mare art but a cultural placement on one of football’s biggest stages.

 

 

Shaping Motherlan and the Power of Timeless art

Dedejae also works closely with Motherlan, handling creative direction and apparel design. From poster design for the Dr. Martens collab to the Off-White x Motherlan tees, his fingerprints are on pieces that have connected Lagos streets to global runways.

 

 

 

But here’s the thing: most people wouldn’t know. And that’s the point.

He’s not chasing Validation,  he’s chasing timelessness. “Good design stands the test of time,” he says, borrowing from the Virgil Abloh school of thought while carving his own path.

Some Projects You’ve Definitely Seen (but didn’t know he was involved in)

• Off-White x Motherlan

• Slawn x Rolex

• Motherlan x Dr. Martens

• FA Cup Final 2025 (design graphics)

• Davido x Motherlan merch

• Supreme x Slawn

• That FTP airplane

• eBay x Slawn

• He designed the promotional material for Slawn Air Max 90 releases.

• Davido x Foodcourt

 

Shade Club and What’s Next

In between consulting, designing, directing, and building, Dedejae has quietly launched his own brand: Shade Club. It’s not just clothing  by the way,  it’s a space to express the different sides of his identity. He also has dreams of directing films, curating exhibitions, and maybe even modeling.

 

“I want to build a multi-dimensional art brand that does more than just sell,” he explains. “Something people can connect to from different entry points — fashion, visuals, music, design.”

Legacy Goals

When asked what success looks like, Dedejae doesn’t hesitate: freedom and longevity. “To be able to do what I love, fund it, and not worry too much about who’s watching.” But make no mistake,  people are watching.

From the new crop of Nigerian designers looking for a blueprint, to global brands wanting a piece of the Lagos aura, his name comes up in every room that matters.

And as for advice to the next generation? “Don’t wait for anyone to give you permission. Just start. Your dreams are valid, no matter how wild they sound.”