By Nnasom David

Nigerian art director Samuel Udeh is earning recognition for his role in shaping the visual identity of some of the country’s award-winning films as the local film industry continues to pursue more ambitious productions.

Udeh, who works across film, television and digital media, has built a reputation for creating authentic visual environments that bring stories to life through production design, set aesthetics, colour schemes and costume direction.

One of his most notable projects is the feature film White and Black, where he served as Art Director. He was responsible for developing the film’s visual language, colour palette and initial costume concepts while overseeing artistic continuity across the wardrobe and production design departments.

His contribution helped the film secure a nomination for Achievement in Costume Design at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), one of the continent’s leading film awards.

Udeh also served as Art Director on When the Poor Smile, leading the visual concept and costume direction for the production from its early stages.

Beyond those projects, he has worked within the art department on several notable productions, including the historical feature Out of Breath, which won the Achievement in Production Design category at the 2024 AMAA and was selected as the closing film of the 2024 Africa International Film Festival.

His filmography also includes the television series Ojukwu and Living in Abuja, where he managed artistic continuity and supervised set properties. He has further served as Art Director and Standby Art Director on a number of narrative short films and independent productions.

Speaking on his work, Udeh described the art department as “the physical soul of a story,” saying his creative process is driven by research and a commitment to ensuring every visual element reflects a character’s background and the story’s cultural context.

According to him, his approach combines modern aesthetics with cultural authenticity to create environments that feel believable to audiences.

Before transitioning fully into filmmaking, Udeh held a leadership role during the nationwide launch of TECNO Mobile’s flagship smartphones, where he directed large-scale experiential marketing campaigns linked to television shows such as Big Brother Naija and Nigeria Idol.

He said the experience strengthened his project management, logistics and creative coordination skills, which have proved valuable in overseeing complex film productions within tight budgets and deadlines.

As Nigerian cinema continues to expand into historical epics, period dramas and large-scale productions, Udeh believes art direction will play an increasingly important role in enhancing storytelling and raising production standards.

He is currently open to collaborations on feature films, television productions and international projects.