Lewisham Father's Mission to Close Representation Gap Leads to John Lewis Success
In a heartwarming story of parental dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, a Lewisham father has turned his personal quest for better representation into a thriving business now stocked in John Lewis. Patrick Adom, 49, founded Visibly Puzzled after noticing his daughter lacked content that reflected her identity, creating educational jigsaw puzzles that celebrate diverse figures from Brixton to Africa.
From Personal Concern to Purposeful Creation
Patrick Adom's journey began with a simple yet powerful question: "If I don't, who will?" After moving from Ghana to South East London, where he appreciated the visible diversity, he became acutely aware of representation gaps when his daughter was born in 2011. Watching her enjoy movies like Frozen, he realised mainstream content often lacked characters that looked like her.
"I got to a point where I thought - 'I need to be intentional showing her these things'," Patrick told MyLondon. "If I'm not educating her, then who will? I became really passionate about it." His response was to immerse his daughter in Black stories, characters, and Ghanaian food, planting the seed for what would become Visibly Puzzled.
The Birth of Visibly Puzzled
In 2018, after experimenting with designs and receiving enthusiastic feedback from family, Patrick launched his first African-inspired jigsaw puzzle. What started as a personal project quickly evolved into a business with multiple puzzle collections. These puzzles showcase influential figures from various geographies:
- Brixton edition featuring Ken Livingstone, David Bowie, Pearl Alcock, and Olive Morris
- London edition highlighting rapper Dave and Idris Elba alongside significant landmarks
- African country puzzles celebrating cultural heritage
"Brixton is an important example of a really important place in Black British history," Patrick explained. "A lot of the Windrush generation arrived there. It's a culturally significant part for the African and Caribbean community." His puzzles intentionally include diverse figures to present broad success stories without diminishing other communities' contributions.
Beyond Representation: Educational and Family Benefits
Patrick's vision extends beyond mere representation. He sees his puzzles as tools for education and family bonding. "It's disheartening to see how a lot of gains were being made with our history becoming more solidified in education," he noted, referring to recent cultural shifts. "Yet you've seen how easy it is to roll things back. I feel if there's little things to make people feel represented, then I have to do it."
Parents have praised the puzzles for being both educational and nostalgic, with many expressing they wish such products existed during their own childhoods. Patrick emphasises the importance of quality family time, stating: "I want families to spend that time together. I feel like everyone is always on a screen or device." He hopes the puzzles encourage families to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with each other.
Retail Success and Future Aspirations
Visibly Puzzled has achieved remarkable retail presence, with puzzles now available in John Lewis, Waterstones, and online platforms. Patrick also aims to expand into educational settings, planning to donate twenty puzzles to a Brixton school. He believes these puzzles can help change narratives around immigration by highlighting positive contributions.
"My puzzles are as much for non-Black people as they are for Black people," Patrick asserted. "I want everybody to see us in a positive light and celebrate us. I think it's important to highlight our contributions and successes." His work demonstrates how personal passion can address broader societal gaps while creating meaningful products that resonate across communities.
