Rukayya Muhammad, popularly known as Ummeeta, is the founder and Creative Director of Ummeeta Spire. Her journey is shaped by resilience, curiosity, and an unwavering desire to create value.
She grew up in Saudi Arabia, where she completed her primary and junior education. At the time, Arabic was the only language she understood. When she returned to Nigeria, she struggled significantly with English, which made reintegration into the educational system challenging. Those early struggles, however, taught her adaptability and persistence—qualities that continue to define who she is today.
Despite many obstacles, she remained committed to self-growth. Every phase of her journey, from language barriers to career uncertainty, has contributed to the person and creative professional she has become.
Her entry into the digital space began out of necessity. After attending the Digital Bridge Institute through a scholarship program, she discovered that participants could not obtain their certificates due to unresolved government payments. This moment became a major turning point.
She decided to learn graphic design as a way to create value for herself and build an independent skill set. What started as a survival decision soon became a passion. Through consistent learning, experimentation, and practice, she found herself deeply drawn to visual storytelling and design.
As a woman from Northern Nigeria, her inspiration came from the desire to break limitations—both personal and societal. She wanted to prove that background, language, or geography should not define how far one can go.
The lack of representation of Northern women in digital and creative spaces pushed her even further. Her goal became to stand as an example that it is possible to build a global-standard creative career while staying true to one’s identity, culture, and faith.
One of her biggest challenges was the lack of resources and community support. In the beginning, very few people believed in her abilities. Access to tools, mentorship, and opportunities was limited.
She overcame these challenges through self-learning, discipline, and consistency. By focusing on improving her craft daily and allowing her work to speak for itself, results gradually replaced doubt, and opportunities began to open.
Her background plays a major role in her creative expression. Her religion, culture, and personality are deeply embedded in her work. She approaches branding with intention, meaning, and emotional depth.
She is particularly drawn to minimalist design, using clean visuals, thoughtful typography, patterns, and subtle illustrations to communicate strong brand identities. A personal touch is always present in her work, ensuring that every design feels authentic, purposeful, and unique.
Through Ummeeta Spire, she specializes in brand identity design, branding strategy, digital design for modern brands, strategic brand storytelling, website design, and digital marketing. She helps brands tell their stories visually by translating their values, mission, and emotions into cohesive visual identities that connect deeply with their audience.
What sets Ummeeta Spire apart is an intentional and emotional approach to branding. Design is not treated as aesthetics alone, but as a tool to shape perception and emotion. Her work is guided by culture, storytelling, and strategy, with every brand receiving a tailored experience that reflects its uniqueness while aligning with global design standards.
She continues to grow by committing to continuous learning and improvement. By keeping up with design trends, studying global designers, and constantly challenging herself creatively, she remains relevant in a fast-changing digital space. Discovering designers like Abi Connick, a UK-based brand designer, played a significant role in refining her interest in branding and pushing her toward excellence.
Through her work, she hopes to serve as a source of inspiration and proof of possibility. Her aim is for young women and creatives in Northern Nigeria to see that digital skills can transform lives. Her journey—from language barriers, lack of resources, and uncertainty to building a successful brand—stands as evidence that others can do the same.
One of her most memorable projects is Athadhib. The project tested her creativity across patterns, illustrations, and a minimalist branding system. The client’s feedback was deeply fulfilling, and the project opened multiple opportunities, marking a clear turning point in her branding journey.
Her advice to young women in Northern Nigeria who want to venture into digital design, branding, or tech-related fields is simple: invest deeply in learning, remain consistent and patient, master your craft because it pays bills, and never wait for validation or rescue. At the end of the day, nobody will save you—your future depends on the effort you put in today.
