Hi, I'm Nicki.
I’m a UX/UI design strategist with 20+ years experience who has a passion for all things bikes and mindfulness. I am a Senior Web Designer for KUKUI and live in Pittsburgh.
My design approach is user-first — I have an excellent ability to understand and balance the needs of the users with an organization’s goals. I'm always seeking to understand the whole picture — data analysis, user interviews, user testing, stakeholder interviews and project discovery are all essentials in my toolkit. My work is supported by quality decision making, a collaborative spirit (I'm very comfortable facilitating workshops and leading meetings), a positive mental attitude, an energetic approach and most of all, the desire to not take myself too seriously. I thrive on having interesting problems to solve and always enjoy getting other people’s perspectives on the issues we’re trying to tackle. Some rules I try to live by: Talk less and listen more. Ask the right questions. Approach everything with an open mind. A well-timed break might be all that’s needed.
From 2018 through 2023 I had the experience of owning and managing a family business which pushed me outside my comfort zone in an unfamiliar domain (classic British car restoration). While it was extremely challenging at times, the experience taught me so many important personal and professional lessons — the nuances of managing people, trying to see around corners, asking the right questions, helping subject matter experts shine, making good decisions with limited information, being 100% accountable and responsible at all times to my team members, my clients, the bottom line and myself.
I was fortunate enough to maintain a design project load while balancing the responsibilities of small business ownership. I also invested in furthering my skills and completed my UX Certification with the Nielsen Norman Group as well as three certifications from IDEOU — Foundations in Design Thinking, From Ideas to Action and Insights for Innovation.
You can get in touch with me at nicki {at} nickilock dot com.
CERTIFICATIONS & CREDENTIALS
UX Certification
Nielsen Norman Group
January 2023
Foundations in Design Thinking
IDEOU
April 2o21
From Ideas to Action
IDEOU
April 2o21
Insights for Innovation
IDEOU
February 2o21
Bookshelf
You can find out a lot about a person by looking at what they read. While I love a good mystery (I’m looking at you, Thursday Murder Club), these books have all been instrumental in my personal growth and made big differences in how I approach life.
Bikeshelf
I’m crazy about cycling. I ride all the bikes — mountain, road, cyclocross, bike park — which means I have a bike (or two) for every one of those disciplines. This is completely normal, I swear.
