Sheila Awino: How a friend’s music video kickstarted my career as a designer

When Sheila Awino joined boarding primary school in class four, she became a member of the drama and music club, where she enjoyed performing on stage.

"I loved being on stage. After the dance, I would sit and admire the costumes we used during the Baganda dances. They fascinated me and made me want to be on stage even more," Sheila says.

In high school, she introduced the Baganda dance in the school and took on the role of costume designer, a passion that followed her to university.

There, she continued designing costumes for her friends during various events and activities.

Sheila is also a self-taught makeup artist. Through her talent, she began receiving opportunities from friends who appreciated her work.

Her first job came through one of those friends, who was involved in a music video project.

"My friend called me to do her makeup and design her outfit for a music video shoot. When the artist saw my work, he asked me to do the same for the rest of the team, and I agreed at a fee. That was the first time I got paid as a designer," she recalls.

She describes getting paid for the first time as a surreal experience. It proved that her talent had value and could earn her an income.

Sheila shares that when she started, her parents were sceptical about her career path. They encouraged her to pursue a more conventional job.

"I am a trained psychologist, and for a long time, my parents didn’t see makeup artistry or design as a real job. They used to urge me to find a proper job to support myself. But over time, they have come to appreciate what I do and are now even interested in being part of my journey," she says with a smile.

Sheila has grown into a recognized set designer for many productions staged in Nakuru. One of her highlights was being part of the stage play Nafasi, although she acknowledges the journey has not been without challenges.

She explains that in Nakuru, many productions do not distinguish between the roles of a makeup artist and a designer, and the pay remains low.

She believes there is a need to recognize and properly define these roles as careers to attract more young people into the arts.

Set designers are responsible for designing, creating, and selecting props for theatrical or film sets. After reading the script, they conduct thorough research and collaborate closely with the director.

As a nature enthusiast, Sheila hopes to collaborate with established designers, grow her skills, and eventually create a platform to train young people in set design. Her goal is to help increase youth participation in the creative industry.

She emphasizes the importance of communication skills in set design. Designers constantly interact with directors and must be able to express their ideas clearly while maintaining strong interpersonal relationships.

"When everything finally comes together, it makes every part of the process worthwhile. The schedules can be exhausting, but you have to keep going," she concludes.