Abdullah Makinde

ProAvailable to hire

I am a creative professional specializing in Children's Book Illustration, Graphic Design, Presentation Design, and Pitch Deck Design, Book cover design, Motion Graphics, Character Design.

About

I am a creative professional specializing in Children’s Book Illustration, Graphic Design, Presentation Design, and Pitch Deck Design, Book cover design, Motion Graphics, Character Design. I work with startups, brands, content creators, authors, game developers, and businesses to create engaging visual content that captures attention and delivers results.

My services include cinematic video editing, AI-generated video production, explainer videos, motion graphics, animated content, character creation, children’s book illustrations, marketing graphics, brand assets, investor pitch decks, business presentations, and visual storytelling. Whether you need a professional video editor, animator, illustrator, motion graphic designer, character designer, or presentation designer, I provide creative solutions tailored to your goals.

I combine creativity, technical expertise, and attention to detail to produce high-quality work that strengthens brands, improves audience engagement, and communicates ideas effectively. I am committed to clear communication, reliable delivery, and creating visuals that help clients stand out in competitive markets.

Languages

  • EnglishFluent

Industry experience

  • Other
  • Agriculture & Mining
  • Financial Services
  • Gaming
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Travel & Hospitality

Projects · 14

The City That Forgot Tomorrow | Book Cover Design

I created this premium book cover design for “The City That Forgot Tomorrow,” a dystopian fiction concept centered around a forgotten city, survival, isolation, and an uncertain future. The visual direction combines a ruined urban landscape, dramatic architecture, a lone human figure, and warm cinematic lighting to create a strong sense of mystery and storytelling. I used bold, distressed typography for the title to complement the post-apocalyptic atmosphere while keeping the overall composition clean, professional, and easy to read. The contrast between dark atmospheric tones and golden light helps create depth and immediately draws attention to the title and central scene. The complete design includes the front cover, spine, and back cover, maintaining a consistent visual identity across the entire book. Careful attention was given to typography hierarchy, spacing, alignment, imagery, color balance, and readability to achieve a polished, cinematic, and market-ready book cover suitable for dystopian, sci-fi, survival, and speculative fiction.

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • +2
Nature’s Hidden Engineers Book Cover Design

Nature’s Hidden Engineers is a book cover design project created to capture the fascinating connection between living organisms and the natural systems they help shape. The goal was to build a cover that feels educational, fresh, and visually engaging while keeping a professional publishing style. The front cover uses a rich natural landscape with ants working together in the foreground, helping communicate the idea of small creatures making a meaningful impact on the environment. The typography is large and clear, with green and warm golden tones that connect naturally with the surrounding scenery. For the back cover, I continued the same visual atmosphere using forest details, a woodpecker, distant mountains, and clean space for the book summary and barcode. The spine was designed to connect both sides smoothly and keep the title easy to recognize on a bookshelf. I created the full cover layout and presentation using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, focusing on typography, composition, image balance, color harmony, readability, and a polished final result suitable for print and portfolio presentation.

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • +2
Narrow Places Horror Book Cover Design

Narrow Places is a horror book cover design created for a client who wanted a dark, unsettling, and memorable visual identity for their story. The main goal was to build a strong sense of fear and mystery before the reader even opens the book. I developed the concept around a narrow hallway filled with deep shadows, intense red lighting, mysterious figures, and reaching hands to create a feeling of danger and isolation. The front cover uses a central character and dramatic perspective to immediately draw attention toward the unknown, while the bold horror-style typography gives the title a strong presence. The spine continues the same visual mood so the book remains recognizable when displayed on a shelf. For the back cover, I extended the disturbing environment with a shadowy figure, an empty chair, and a dim corridor to keep the visual story consistent across the complete cover. I created and refined the presentation using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, focusing on composition, typography, lighting, contrast, color balance, and realistic details. The final result is a complete front, spine, and back cover with a cinematic horror atmosphere and a professional finish.

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • +2
Fantasy Novel Book Cover Design for Aaron Vayne

Overview Designed a complete front, spine, and back cover for Aaron Vayne: La Naissance du Fléau, a fantasy novel featuring magic, mystery, adventure, and character-driven storytelling. The objective was to create a professional book cover that would immediately immerse readers in the novel's fantasy universe while establishing a strong visual identity for the series. The Challenge The author needed a cover that showcased the protagonist while conveying the dark and magical atmosphere of the story. The design had to balance character illustration, fantasy symbolism, typography, and world-building elements while maintaining a polished appearance suitable for both digital and print publication. My Approach I developed a custom fantasy-themed cover featuring the main character, mystical symbols, atmospheric lighting, and a dark forest-inspired environment. Elegant typography and carefully integrated visual effects were used to reinforce the magical setting and enhance the premium feel of the book. The full-wrap design was optimized for paperback printing, ebook publishing, and promotional use. Results The final cover successfully captures the tone of the novel while providing a professional publishing-standard appearance. The design helps attract fantasy readers, strengthens the author's branding, and creates a memorable first impression across online bookstores and marketing platforms. Services Provided Fantasy Book Cover Design Character Illustration Integration Front, Back & Spine Layout Design Typography Design Print-Ready Cover Formatting eBook Cover Design Promotional Book Graphics Publishing Asset Preparation

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • +2
PROP Thriller Book Cover Design & Marketing Mockup

Overview Designed a professional thriller book cover and promotional mockup for PROP, a suspense novel by Stanley Lowe. The goal was to create a visually compelling cover that would instantly communicate mystery, danger, and psychological tension while attracting readers browsing online bookstores and promotional platforms. The Challenge The client needed a cover that stood out in a crowded thriller market. The design had to convey suspense and intrigue without revealing key plot details. It also needed to remain impactful at both full size and thumbnail size, ensuring visibility across digital marketplaces and social media promotions. My Approach I combined cinematic photo manipulation, dramatic typography, atmospheric color grading, and carefully placed visual elements to establish a strong thriller aesthetic. The cover features a tense character portrait, urban backdrop, and crime-inspired visual motifs that reinforce the story's dark and suspenseful tone. A custom promotional mockup was also created to enhance marketing presentation and showcase the book in a realistic setting. Results The final design delivers a professional publishing-standard appearance suitable for Amazon KDP, online bookstores, author websites, advertising campaigns, and social media promotion. The cover effectively communicates the novel's genre while creating curiosity and encouraging reader engagement. Services Provided Book Cover Design Thriller Cover Artwork Typography Design Photo Manipulation Promotional Mockup Design Print & Digital Cover Preparation Marketing Visual Assets

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Pitch Deck Designer
1942: A Herald of Woe – Historical Book Cover Design

1942: A Herald of Woe – Book Cover Design A striking historical fiction book cover designed to capture the turmoil, sacrifice, and uncertainty of one of the most significant periods in modern history. The cover features a distressed rising sun motif fractured across the composition, symbolizing conflict, national struggle, and the lasting impact of war. The visual direction combines bold typography with symbolic illustration to create an immediate emotional connection while maintaining strong readability across print and digital storefronts. The muted vintage palette and weathered design elements reinforce the historical setting and dramatic tone of the narrative. Project Goals: Create a compelling cover for a historical fiction title Communicate themes of war, loss, resilience, and transformation Ensure strong visibility in online bookstores and marketing materials Balance historical symbolism with modern publishing standards Services Provided: Custom Book Cover Design Historical-Themed Visual Development Typography & Layout Design Print-Ready Formatting Marketing Mockup Creation Publishing Platform Asset Preparation Design Highlights: Bold title treatment for maximum visibility Symbolic fractured rising sun illustration Vintage-inspired color palette and textures Professional composition optimized for digital and print formats Strong visual storytelling aligned with the book's themes This project showcases expertise in historical book cover design, publishing graphics, visual branding, and market-focused creative direction for authors and publishers.

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • +2
Confessions of a Witness, Book Cover Design & Publishing Mockup

Confessions of a Witness – Book Cover Design A professionally designed book cover created for a contemporary family drama novel. The concept centers on a black cat as a silent observer, symbolizing hidden truths, family secrets, and emotional journeys unfolding throughout the story. The design uses a minimalist black-and-white color palette with bold red accents to create strong visual contrast and instant shelf appeal. The red yarn motif connects the front, spine, and back cover, visually tying the entire book together while reinforcing themes of connection, mystery, and revelation. Project Goals: Create an eye-catching cover suitable for online and print distribution Communicate mystery, emotion, and family drama through simple visual storytelling Maintain a clean, professional layout that remains readable at thumbnail size Develop a cohesive wraparound design for front cover, spine, and back cover Services Provided: Custom Book Cover Design Typography Selection & Layout Front, Spine & Back Cover Design Print-Ready Formatting 3D Book Mockup Presentation Publishing Platform Ready Assets Design Highlights: Minimalist publishing-style layout Strong visual hierarchy for title and author name Symbolic cat illustration and red yarn element High-contrast color scheme for maximum visibility Professional print and digital publishing presentation This project demonstrates expertise in book cover design, visual storytelling, publishing graphics, and marketing-focused creative design.

  • Book Cover Designer
  • Book Illustrator
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • +1
Feisty's Journey Home — Book Cover Illustration

Cover illustration for the children's picture book Feisty's Journey Home by Heather Gaytan. A joyful grandmother runs with open arms across a flower-filled meadow at sunset, reuniting with her beloved cat Feisty bounding toward her, tail high and full of excitement. Rendered in a warm, textured style reminiscent of classic storybook illustration, the piece uses golden sunset light and soft color pencil-like linework to evoke tenderness, homecoming, and the special bond between a pet and its owner.

  • Book Illustrator
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Comic Illustrator
  • +3
The Rainbow Door to Evergarden — Book Cover Illustration

Cover illustration for the children's picture book The Rainbow Door to Evergarden. A curious young girl stands at the base of an ancient tree, discovering a glowing rainbow-colored door nestled within its trunk. Set at golden-hour sunset with fluttering butterflies and blooming flowers framing the path, the cover blends warm, magical lighting with a sense of wonder and adventure, drawing young readers into the story's fantasy world.

  • Book Illustrator
  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Comic Illustrator
  • +3
Dahlia's Special Wish, Book Cover Illustration

Cover illustration for the children's picture book Dahlia's Special Wish, written by Nwabata Adaeze Abioye. The piece introduces Dahlia, a curly-haired girl daydreaming at a table, with a sparkling wish-fulfillment fantasy — a princess version of herself — floating in the starry sky behind her. Soft pastel purples and pinks were used throughout to give the cover a dreamy, whimsical feel appropriate for the story's theme of wishes and imagination.

  • Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
Book Presentation Design

This Book Investor Pitch Deck was designed to create a strong, emotional connection while presenting a powerful brand story in a clear and professional way. The main goal of this project was to showcase the book, its message, and its market value in a way that feels both inspiring and investor-ready. We used a bold red and white color palette to reflect confidence, energy, and authority perfectly aligning with the theme of empowerment and leadership. Each slide was carefully crafted to balance storytelling with structured information, making it easy for viewers to follow the journey from concept to opportunity

  • Graphic Designer
  • Pitch Deck Designer
  • Presentation Designer
OlivOps Investor Deck

A clean and modern investor pitch deck for OliveOps, designed with a minimal layout and strong visual hierarchy. Focused on clarity, branding, and professional storytelling to effectively communicate IT and security services

  • Graphic Designer
  • Pitch Deck Designer
  • Presentation Designer

Work experience· 4 roles

Presentation & Pitch Deck Designer · FiverrApr 2025 – Present · 1 yr 8 mos

Design professional presentations and investor pitch decks for startups, entrepreneurs, and corporate clients. Create visually compelling slides, business presentations, sales decks, startup pitch decks, and branded presentation materials that communicate ideas clearly and help clients secure funding, partnerships, and business opportunities.

Video Editor & Motion Graphics Designer · Creative Media SolutionsFeb 2025 – Present · 1 yr 10 mos

Produce high-quality video content for businesses, brands, and content creators. Specialize in video editing, AI video editing, motion graphics, social media videos, promotional content, YouTube videos, and explainer videos. Transform raw footage into engaging visual stories that increase audience engagement and strengthen brand identity.

Children's Book Illustrator & Character Designer · Independent Creative StudioJul 2024 – Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

Design original characters, illustrations, and visual assets for children's books, educational materials, games, and digital media projects. Create expressive character concepts, storybook illustrations, cover artwork, and animation-ready designs while working closely with clients to bring creative ideas to life through compelling visual storytelling.

Multimedia Creative Designer & Animator · FreelanceMay 2023 – Present · 3 yrs 7 mos

Education

Diploma in Graphic Design and Digital Media · Adekunle Ajasin University2021 – 2025

Certifications and awards

Professional Certificate in Digital Design & Animation2022 – 2026

Professional training in digital design, animation, illustration, motion graphics, visual storytelling, and creative media production, with practical application across video editing, character design, graphic design, and digital content creation.

Adobe Certificate in Digital Illustration & Character Design2022 – 2026

Training focused on digital illustration, character development, concept art, visual storytelling, composition, and creating polished artwork for publishing, gaming, animation, and digital media projects.

Capcut Certificate in Video Editing & Motion Graphics2026
Capcut Certificate in Video Editing & Motion Graphics2022 – 2036

Professional training in video editing, motion graphics, visual effects, transitions, storytelling, promotional videos, social media content, and post-production workflows for digital media.

Testimonials · 5.0 from 7 reviews

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