Kai Ajayi is a 2019 graduate of the Interactive Media Management (IMMT) program and currently works at Evolve PR / Terminals.io, a video games PR agency. Taking on the roles of Account Coordinator and Website Administrator, Kai is responsible for various tasks such as verifying media credentials for press lists, running PR campaigns for indie games, and managing the distribution of early access keys for upcoming titles.
In 2011, Kai majored in Forensic Psychology at Ontario Tech University (previously known as UOIT) and minored in Communications. “I chose Psychology because I’ve always been curious about understanding people, their motivations, and how to connect with others,” he explains. After graduating, transitioning strictly into the Communications field was an easier process because of his minor degree, but he also had a history with the subject due to his work in film and television as a writer and director. He says, “I was interested in media production and creating content that POC could identify with.” His passion in this field led him to work as the Creative Director at a production company he started with a fellow UOIT grad called Blue Phoenix Studios. Even more involved in the creative field, Kai worked as a Freelance Photographer and has an array of images you can find on his portfolio.
This previous experience eventually led him to enroll in the IMMT program, which allowed him to explore other avenues of media, in particular, interactive digital experiences. “I decided to pursue the program from recommendations from friends who told me about how great the community was with the school. I also chose the program because of the success of previous graduates and the fact that there were many courses I felt the program offered were directly applicable skills that would make my resume more attractive in the future,” he says. The IMMT program emphasizes user experience and UX design, among other related topics, and Kai says, “The program did more than just inform on subjects of interest – they taught us how to problem solve in a more effective manner.”
Regarding the program overall, Kai explains, “I think it was one of the toughest tests of character in the best way possible. As a commuting student, there were a lot of late nights and early mornings.” Networking also played a major role in this program, as he says, “The networking opportunities provided by the program were instrumental in the way I work on a daily basis.”
In particular, networking, along with getting involved with the community, are just two components that Kai says are important when entering the industry he works in. “The next step is also figuring out what you love to do and turning it into an asset that either benefits you as a creator or contributor to the industry. There is definitely a role for everyone, and if you seemingly can't find one, the community loves new creators.”
The IMMT program had such a positive impact on Kai for numerous reasons, including the classmates he learned alongside. He says, “I made a lot of great friends in the short time I was there and wish I could have been there just a little bit longer to appreciate things even more.” His advice to the future students of the program is: “Set a goal and take advantage of every opportunity as a learning experience to achieve it.”
Find out more about Kai through samples of his work in UX design, photography, and filmography.
By: Alexandra Few