Hi, I'm Nikki!
I am a strategy-driven UX designer passionate about data with 10+ years of work experience. My background includes working with global teams in e-commerce, education, and FinTech. I specialize in interaction, product, and responsive web design with an emphasis on the user experience using analytics, heat mapping, user testing, and accessibility.
Skills
Management
Leadership, Mentorship, 1-1s, Empathy, Delegation, Agile Project Management
Tools: Asana, JIRA, Azure DevOps, PPM Express, Paychex, Zenefits
Strategy
Research, Surveying & Customer Insight, Competitor Analysis, Problem Solving, Product Roadmaps
Tools: Coda.io, PPM Express, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey
User Interface & User Experience
Wireframing & Protoyping, Usability Testing, A/B Testing, Analytics, Heatmapping, Customer Interviews & Surveying
Tools: Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch, Invision, Usability Hub, Maze, Google & Adobe Analytics, Hotjar, Lucky Orange
Responsive Web & Mobile App Design
Wireframing & Protoyping, Usability Testing, A/B Testing, Analytics, Heatmapping, Customer Interviews & Surveying
Tools: Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch, Invision, Usability Hub, Google & Adobe Analytics, Hotjar, Lucky Orange
Documentation
Product Guides, Departmental Practices, Brand Guidelines, ResearchOps
Tools: Coda.io, Notion, Confluence
Experience
Manager of UX & Design
Evention LLC – Chicago, Illinois | February 2021–Present
» Built the design department from the ground up.
• Created departmental practices, including identifying and onboarding software instrumental to the design process. Includes project management, heat mapping, analytics, surveying, user testing, and more
• Grew the design team from a solo-designer position to a matrix organization with two designers per product along with a multimedia graphic designer. Responsible for all hiring, managing, and mentoring of designers
• Spearheaded the creation of user personas, customer journey maps, service blueprints, and competitor analysis for the organization
• Defined a new design system for product redesigns using Figma and Material Design
» Instrumental in product strategy and roadmaps
• Responsible for creating the end-to-end design of our new emerging products. From feature conceptualization and functionality ideation, to research, to full fidelity design
• Collaborates with Product Management, Implementation, Development, Sales, and Customer Support to create product solutions that meet business goals and objectives
• Defined SaaS responsive redesign to a platform solution with a user-centered focus
• Gathered additional insight through Conjoint Analysis, Willingness to Pay, and additional external surveys to validate product concepts
» Launched three new brands: instatip, Payment Direct, and Total Recon
• Identified product names through internal crowdsourcing surveys and market research
• Validated naming through surveys with external users and trademark registration
• Designed new logos and collateral
Web & User Experience Designer
Shure Incorporated – Chicago, Illinois | August 2019–February 2021
» Led the design and UX for Shure’s new global content management system and SAP B2B platform in an agile, scrum environment
• Conducted user research through surveys and interviews with real customers to strategize and implement the UX roadmap
• Provided additional market research and built user personas
• Reviewed heat mapping and analytics to drive the UX design
• Completed wireframes and full-fidelity design with prototyping functionality for stakeholder feedback
Additional responsibilities include:
• Developed a Design System using Adobe XD, Zeroheight, and Storybook
• Conducted user research and competitive market analysis for the implementation of the new variant selector, Careers page, cart experience, and product pages for Shure.com
• Developed a Design System using Adobe XD, Zeroheight, and Storybook
• Conducted user research and competitive market analysis for the implementation of the new variant selector, Careers page, cart experience, and product pages for Shure.com
Senior Designer
Enova International – Chicago, Illinois | June 2016–August 2019
» Design and UX for 10 major US and UK FinTech brands
» Directly managed and mentored new designers
» Created detailed documentation for departmental onboarding procedures
» Piloted a Design System across all 10 brands
» Utilized user experience research, Adobe and Google Analytics, usability testing, and A/B testing to design and pitch solutions to stakeholders for website redesigns, application flows, and user account design in an Agile environment
» Worked in an Agile, sprint-based environment with the Mobile team to develop the CashnetUSA app
» Rebranded and redesigned On Stride Financial (UK B2C lending company) and The Business Backer (US B2B lending company)
• Entire site rebrand included research, accessibility, and updates to brand colors, iconography, landing pages, application funnel and user accounts
Art Director
R. Crusoe & Son – Chicago, Illinois | May 2013–June 2016
» Provided art direction and UX oversight for the new website
» Art-directed bi-monthly publication reaching over 60,000 subscribers
» Worked with print, promotional, and photo vendors to price and deliver materials for print, email, and web services
Lead Graphic Designer
Ruffalo Noel Levitz | June 2012–August 2013
» Built out the design department of the MASTERS' division
• Created departmental procedures and standards for print, email, and customer surveys
• Implemented a branding library of client assets including brand style guides and logos for print and web
• Worked directly with clients such as the University of New Mexico, the University of Southern California, and the American Heart Association
Education
Master of Business Administration
DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois
Dual Degree: MBA in Management, MBA in Marketing
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication & Graphic Design
Harrington College of Design | Chicago, Illinois
Certification in UX | University of Michigan
Introduction to User Experience Principles and Processes, Evaluating Designs with Users, Understanding User Needs