Nikki Tooker

Organized

Creative

Motivated

Reliable

I have a diverse background that spans child care, graphic design, PACS system administration, and bookstore retail management. I thrive on soaking up new knowledge and tackling challenges head-on. Taking risks doesn't scare me; I'm all about diving into exciting opportunities!

Recently, I've been refining my skills across various domains, including UX Writing, UX Research, and UX Design. My interests are more varied than those specific areas, however. My true passion lies in gaining profound insights into the needs of different users, clients, or customers. My aim is to improve overall experiences by simplifying tasks and minimizing ambiguity. I accomplish this by closely observing the nuances of my customers-their emotions, motivations, and obstacles. This enables me to create an atmosphere of trust and empathy.

Contact Me

About Me

My story

I'm a passionate researcher and writer with a background in administration and graphic design. After years of working in administrative roles, I discovered my love for writing and design while creating marketing materials and user guides for my employer.

Inspired by this newfound passion, I decided to go back to school as an adult to pursue a career in technology and design. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Information Technology and also completed a Professional Diploma in UX Design, which provided me with a comprehensive understanding of user-centered design principles and best practices.

I also took classes at online institutions for UX writing, where I honed my skills in crafting clear and concise messaging that speaks directly to users' needs and desires. Additionally, I completed a certificate in UI design, which helped me develop a strong sense of visual hierarchy, typography, and branding.

My background in office work has given me a strong sense of organization, time management, and attention to detail, which are all crucial skills in UX research. My experience in graphic design has taught me the importance of visual design in creating effective UX content.

Residence: USA
Freelance: Available
Address: Longmont, Colorado
E-mail: pixelpeepdesign@gmail.com

Education

Studied at

2021-2022

UX Design
Institute

In 2022 I earned my Professional Certificate in UI Design and in 2021, my Professional Diploma in UX Design, credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University.

2017-2021

BAS Information Technology
magna cum laude

This degree was earned at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

2017-2019

AS Software Development
Honors

This degree was earned at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

2019

Front End Web
Specialist Certificate

This certificate was earned at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

2019

Web Programming Specialist
Certificate

This certificate was earned at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Experience

Working with

Present

Freelance Graphic Design,
3D Modeling, and Consulting

In 2020 I left South Florida and my job at X-Ray Copy Service, Inc. to move to beautiful Santa Clara, California. I was attending school during this break and I am currently still doing freelance graphic design and 3D modeling projects for X-Ray Copy Service, Inc.

2007-2020

X-Ray Copy
Service, Inc.

X-Ray Copy is a very small company, so I had to be a jack-of-all-trades. Graphic design, PACS station, invoicing, creating and managing social media feeds, customer service, shipping and receiving were all part of my every day responsibilities. What I enjoyed most, however, was the graphic design work. I used Photoshop and Illustrator to create exhibit boards of medical images, designed banners, logos, posters, and finally, some retouching work as well.

2005-2007

EB
Games

I was an assistant manager at EB Games before they were purchased by Gamestop. My duties included opening and closing the retail store, scheduling, training, and recruiting new staff members, managing daily deposits, setting up attractive merchandise and sales displays, and customer service.

2003-2005

Books-a-Million

I was in a management position at Books-a-Million. My responsibilities were employee payroll, scheduling, training staff, managing deposits and opening and closing of the retail space. I hosted a popular trivia night at the cafe once a month, and organized various social events in the store for customers.

UX and Design Skills

Creative ability

UX Research

I am skilled in a wide range of research methodologies that allow me to understand users' needs, motivations, and behaviors. I am passionate about uncovering insights that inform design decisions and improve user experiences.
My expertise includes conducting user interviews, usability testing, card sorting, and surveys to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. I am experienced in analyzing and synthesizing this data to develop personas, user journey maps, and other research outputs that provide valuable insights into user behavior.
I understand the importance of effective communication and collaboration in the UX design process and am committed to working closely with my colleagues to ensure that user needs are at the forefront of design decisions.
In addition to my technical skills, I possess a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and a deep empathy for users. I am committed to designing experiences that meet the needs of users and that are intuitive, engaging, and enjoyable to use.
Overall, I am dedicated to leveraging my skills and experience to drive meaningful improvements to user experiences, and I am excited to continue learning and growing in this field.
UX Writing

As a UX writer, my diploma in UX research provides me with a distinct advantage. The foundations of research are critical for any UX writer seeking success. I employ a range of methods such as competitor analysis, focus groups, conversation mining, and user interviews to ensure that every copy I produce is optimized for the user experience.
Before my words are released into the world to capture the attention of your audience, I leverage effective techniques such as comprehension surveys, usability testing, A/B testing, and cloze tests to fine-tune the power of the copy.
In addition, I have invested significant time in taking multiple online courses focused on UX writing, providing me with the expertise needed to deliver a professional and polished approach to every project.
UX writing is a critical component in ensuring that your users have an easy and seamless experience. My focus on intuitive messaging means that readers often don't even realize how well-crafted the content is, making their interactions with your product or service even more effortless.
UI Design

A good design needs to be as functional as it is beautiful. There's nothing more frustrating than a gorgeous design with fatal user experience flaws. My goal is to merge ease of use with playful design.
Graphic Design

I love graphic design in all its forms. I've designed marketing materials, mock-ups, logos, websites, and infographics but I also truly enjoy the "artsy" side of graphic design. Fantasy Photoshop manipulations, digital painting and shirt design are also part of my wheelhouse. Lately, I've been studying 3D design with Blender and 3D Slicer.
Photoshop

I've been a big Photoshop fan since 2005 and I continue to learn and grow with it every day. In the past, I have competed in and won numerous Photoshop contests on Worth1000.com (now DesignCrowd). I'm the one in the office everyone is always asking to retouch their photos, make a logo for their start-up, or edit a tiger into their wedding pics.
Illustrator / Affinity Designer

I have created art and logos in Illustrator and while I find it less intuitive than Photoshop (that's saying something!), it's still a program that is powerful and very fun to work with. I've actually been enjoying Affinity Designer more, lately. Much easier to use than Illustrator and less expensive!
Figma

I started with Figma when I decided to focus on my UI/UX Design career and every day I learn something new and useful. I have found it a tremendously useful tool for design and prototyping.
Procreate

Procreate is an easy to use, instinctive artistic app. It's just fun to play in and it has helped me progress in my drawing ability more than any other tool.
Management

Strong communication lies at the core of successful management. I have consistently demonstrated my proficiency in conveying clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and fostering open dialogue within teams. This has led to improved coordination, reduced misunderstandings, and enhanced employee engagement.
I'm skilled at tackling and smoothing out conflicts in a positive way. I'm an empathetic listener, and I've got a knack for finding middle ground and helping folks work things out. This approach has helped me foster an environment of trust among my team.

Soft Skills

They're a bit more nebulous

Social Skills

I enjoy collaborating and sharing ideas with others. I can easily fit into a group and not ruffle feathers, but I don't mind challenging the majority if I feel strongly about an issue.
Adaptibility

I've worked in many different fields and I always have fun with the learning process. I am adaptable simply because I am inquisitive and I am not afraid to ask questions of others who have more experience. I highly value the knowledge that other people are able to bestow upon me.
Organization and Documentation

This is one of my favourite things. Give me a project to organize, structure, and pay attention to nit-picky details and I can sit for hours working it out. I am also able to see the big picture, but it tends to be most satisfying to work on things that will eventually help others do their jobs well, and that means documenting and making sure everything makes sense. Years of creating Photoshop files with hundreds of layers trained me well to label and name efficiently. I love the preparation involved in making things easier for future users.
Critical Thinking

My innate curiosity helps with this skill, as well. I have a keen eye for details and I notice when things are not adding up - and I am curious enough to figure out why. I appreciate data and like to get my facts straight. Solving a problem is always a couse for celebration.
Empathy

Being an insatiable reader throughout my life has contributed to my empathetic ability. The act of "walking in another person's shoes" that occurs when we read novels translates well into real-world scenarios and being able to put myself into the mind of a user. I have no trouble seeing things from another person's point of view.

Contact

Let's talk

Nikki Tooker

UI/UX Designer, Researcher & Writer

Residence: USA
Address: Longmont, Colorado
E-mail: pixelpeepdesign@gmail.com

Nikki Tooker

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