Victor Idongesit Akpan, an award-winning art director, production designer, fine artist, props creator, and special effects makeup artist, has spent over a decade creating visual worlds for films, television productions, and commercials. A native of Ukana Sasak in Akwa Ibom State, Akpan’s creativity has earned him industry recognition, including three nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for his work on Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019), Blood Vessel (2023), and Suky (2024), which was nominated for Best Art Director.
Akpan’s passion for production design started with his love for creating things with his hands. As an artist and sculptor, he enjoys props making, special effects makeup, set dressing, miniature creation, painting, and sculpting. His interest became stronger after watching behind-the-scenes footage of Hollywood films and wondering why Nigerian films could not achieve similar realistic visuals. At the time, he was working in a production house involved in music videos and television cookery shows for brands.
Akpan's journey into production design took a significant turn when he met Oge Obasi through a friend. He recalled watching a Nigerian movie on VHS and criticising the set, pointing out things that could have been added to make it more realistic and believable. One of the major turning points in his career was Desperate House Wives Africa, which he described as the first international-standard set he worked on. For 11 months, he managed the entire art department, creating props almost every day.
Akpan has worked on numerous productions, including Desperate House Wives Africa (2015), MTV Base Shuga Season 4 (2019), Collusion Course (2021), She Man of God (2022), That Must Be Obeyed (2023), and Dead Serious (2024). He also won the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Art Director for Swallow (2021). His other credits showcase his versatility in creating visual worlds for various stories.
According to Akpan, production design plays a major role in how African stories are presented to audiences at home and abroad. He explained that without proper production design, it would be difficult to establish the period, culture, religious background, social status, or location of a story. Akpan also believes good production design can contribute to tourism by showcasing Nigeria’s cultural and tourist attractions and, in the process, helping the country earn foreign exchange.
Akpan identified Blood Vessel (2023), Suky (2024), and Sylvia (2018) as three projects that remain particularly close to his heart. The AMVCA recognition for Suky was both a professional achievement and encouragement. “Being nominated means I am doing something right,” he said, noting that being recognised from thousands of entries gave him greater confidence to continue pushing boundaries.
Akpan studied at Yaba College of Technology and also trained as a special effects makeup artist at the Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles, California. He advocates for better attention to the welfare and health of film workers, regulations covering working hours, and measures to address the use of unskilled workers when experienced professionals are available. For Akpan, the future of Nigerian film depends not only on telling good stories but also on creating believable worlds in which those stories can live.
Key points
- Victor Akpan has been nominated for three Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for his work on Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, Blood Vessel, and Suky.
- Akpan won the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Art Director for Swallow (2021).
- Akpan believes good production design can contribute to tourism by showcasing Nigeria’s cultural and tourist attractions.
