Nicholas Berry,
Design Manager
Hi there, most people call me Nick. I am a Seattle-based Product Designer with 16 years experience designing within and managing visual design and digital product teams.
Currently I manage a team of experience designers and developers creating enterprise training products and solutions at Nordstrom.
Latest Case Studies
These three case studies are a quick glimpse into the type of work I've done in the last 7 years in UX, Product, and Visual Design in a manager and individual contributor role. For additional project references please contact me via LinkedIn.
eCommerce Redesign
I was the Design Lead on the client side for site replatform and redesign. It was a large effort spanning internal product teams, one in Seattle and one in Amsterdam, and two agencies were involved. This included integrating branding standards as they were being developed, advocating for a design system, educating why accessibility mattered, and managing expectations based on timelines and budgets.
- Responsible for new design system
- Lead global eCommerce redesign & replatform
- Created internal DesignOps process for sustainment
No-Code Training Tool
Managed end-to-end design approach and implementation of no-code application for salespeople across the company. In partnership with program managers, learning designers, sales teams, and end-users we launched a beta mobile-first application supporting on-demand microlearning.
- Leveraged no-code solution
- Concept to deployment in 60 days
- Facilitated adoption of scalable solution across orgs
Collective Intelligence Decision Engine
Taste identifies like-minded users around the world with the most similar movie taste to build communities of users. I joined this startup for various phases of product feature development and roadmap planning.
- Native iOS and Android apps
- Translation of complex data science to simple UX
- Rapid iteration using 7-day sprints
Agile Sprint
Atomic Design Systems
Design Thinking
Double Diamond Design Process
HTML, CSS, JS
Ideation Facilitation
Prototyping - Lo & Hifi
Qualitative Research
System Design
Universal Design
User Testing
Figma & Figjam
Framer
G-Suite & M365 Suite
HotJar
InVision
Jira
Maze & Useberry
Miro
Sketch
Webflow
DEI Advocate
Employee Resource Group Leader
Formal UX Mentor
Coaching & Feedback
Change Management
Inclusive Hiring
Lead Distributed Teams
Resource Management
Vendor Management
Recent Experience
Nordstrom
Senior Design Manager
2018 - Present
Currently managing a diverse team of 6 learning experience designers and developers responsible for end-to-end digital products supporting enterprise training and development of Nordstrom employees. Using Design Thinking pillars our human-centered design approach to employee and leadership development in a highly collaborative organization, we are reimagining learning for our employees within a competitive retail and employment landscape.
Responsibilities include designing full experiences for deskless and corporate employees, leverage no-code solutions, and encouraging the creation and adoption of accessibility standards in a mobile first environment, and most importantly supporting the development on designers and developers on my team and reporting to others as well.
- Manage a team up 8 designers
- Hired and shaped team to strategically meet business needs
- Support top business and people development priorities for 70k+ employees
- Leader of ERG and key contributor to recent company Crisis Management efforts
Taste Labs
Product Designer (freelance)
Nov 2020 - May 2022
As a consultant to a tech startup, I’ve partnered with a small founder team to design, test, and release feature enhancements and UI redesigns for web and Native apps.
Responsibilities included the development and roll out and new features as the start-up progresses through rounds of funding and significant user growth and adoption. In an individual contributor Product Designer role I closely partner with the lead Product Manager and lead Developer on one week sprints.
- Partnered with highly-skilled founders (Product Lead and Developer)
- Designed product features to increase investment
- Defined users stories, executed prototypes for user studies, and defined user flows
- Leader of ERG and key contributor to recent company Crisis Management efforts
Brooks Running
Design Manager
Mar 2015 - May 2018
Focused on supporting high-growth in global ecommerce and the evolution of digital products that connect the soul and science of Brooks Running to the needs of runners around the world. Developed programs and systems that scaled to meet growing digital content and localization needs. Lead a 7+ person team of Interaction Designers, Visual Designers, and Creative Designers across organization and agency partners. Held directly accountable by company executives for the implementation and replatform and a global ecomm site, design system, and web apps.
- Managed team of 5 designers ranging from senior to early in career
- Coached and developed group of 7 designers responsible for global redesign across internal teams and external partners
- Successful in aligning goals and building trust among a cross-functional team to successfully launch new products on time
- Accountable to gain C-suite approval on high value redesign and new web apps
Hammerquist Studios (Wonderman Thompson)
Lead Designer
Oct 2008 - May 2014
Developed brand design systems and interactive advertising campaigns for manufacturers of technical outdoor gear and software. Brought to life the soul of a brand through video, product marketing, and imagery. Made complex product features relatable and simple for end-users and trade.Responsibilities include designing full experiences for deskless and corporate employees, leverage no-code solutions, and encouraging the creation and adoption of accessibility standards in a mobile first environment, and most importantly supporting the development on designers and developers on my team and reporting to others as well.
- Lead designer on 3 accounts at a time
- Developed Design Systems for internal and external teams
- Responsible for gaining buy-in to product redesigns and multi-year visual design programs
- Visual Designs for omni-channel brand and product campaigns
Early Career
Square Tomato - Art Director
Apprenticeship that started in 2007 that evolved to a staff Jr. Art Director role by 2008. Efforts focused on design production, advertising concepts, and self-promotion to gain clients like Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Microsoft, Gates Foundation, Gene Juarez, and more.
Rainier Club - Customer Service Roundsmxn
In a humbling experience from 2007-2008 I developed customer service and teamwork skills not attainable in university, I worked in every role but Cook in support of excellent customer service for diners, hotel guests, and event patrons.
digital.forest - Web Designer
First design job starting in 2006. Responsibilities were to redesign business-to-business website and update brand style guide for web hosting company. First exposure to the tech world.
Publicis - Account Executive Intern
In 2005 I was an Account intern, worked on telecommunications account. Contributed to strategy and research teams, and assisted in client relations.
Education
Google UX Design Certificate Program
Certificate Program (2021 - 2022)
Expanding understanding of Google's approach to UX, and refresh of what new-to-UX designers are being taught to better align with new employees.
School of Visual Concepts
Various Design Courses (2004 - 2009)
Participated as a mentor to a UX Design portfolio student (2018-2019) and participated as a UX Program portfolio review panelist. Earlier in my career a full of classes to further my art direction, classic visual design principles, and motion design skills.
American Intercontinental University
Visual Design Study Abroad (Fall 2005)
Post-graduate efforts to add formal visual design training in Central London. Studied typography, design history, and illustration. This experience was the foundation for my love for designed user experiences, whether it be Tube wayfinding or purchases via self-serve digital kiosks.
Seattle Pacific University
B.A. in Business Administration (2001 - 2005)
Business school education and continued practice of economics and business strategy theories in my design work proves to be a cornerstone of how I manage complex business problems and provide creative solutions in an ethical manner.