About

Twenty years across industries, team sizes, and org structures have taught me one thing above all else: when the experience is right, the business results follow.

I'm Nikki — a design leader who connects customer insights with business goals, influences organizational change, and builds teams that create digital products people love to use.

I've led design for major brands — including Blue Cross NC and First Citizens Bank — and worked across agency, in-house, and startup environments. That range has made me a sharper strategist, a more adaptable leader, and a better collaborator.

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A designer by craft. A leader by nature.

Leadership

I've led and grown design teams, but I've also learned that some of the most meaningful leadership happens outside formal management roles. I have a knack for connecting dots – between people, ideas, and disciplines – and finding the common ground that helps good work happen.

Strategy

Great design starts with understanding the problem, not jumping to a solution. I work across business, product, research, and marketing to connect customer needs with business goals and find solutions that deliver meaningful value.

UX design

I've been passionate about holistic customer experiences since early in my career, when I spotted an opportunity to improve order confirmations at a startup and took the initiative to fix it. That instinct to look beyond the obvious and make experiences better has stayed with me ever since.

Brand and marketing

I've helped shape digital brands, contribute to rebrands, and create design systems and brand guidelines for consistency across platforms. I enjoy bringing brand strategy to life through thoughtful visual decisions and cohesive digital experiences.

Visual design

My roots are in print graphic design, and I've always believed that how something looks matters just as much as how it works. I bring a strong eye for visual craft and a focus on clarity to create experiences that draw people in and make information easier to understand.

Content

My experience as a copyeditor on corporate B2B projects shaped how I think about language, content hierarchy, and clarity. I believe the right words, organized in the right way, can make complex information easier to understand and help people take action.

See my work

A little more about me

My husband Chad and I have been married for over 20 years and have two children and a boxer. Outside of work you'll find me hiking, camping, catching live concerts, or at a stand-up comedy show. My drink of choice: coffee with cream by day, coffee-infused porter by night.