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Nathan Thomas
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Phoenix, AZ, United States
Toptal member since July 14, 2020
Bio
Nathan is a senior product designer for complex workflow software: loan origination, compliance tracking, and construction draws. He maps how the work actually happens, then consolidates it into something coherent. He designed the side drawer pattern that Fifth Third Bank's loan platform uses daily, built Showit's first design system, and currently leads design for an AI document analysis platform in construction lending. Clients get options with a recommendation and numbers he can back up.
Experience
- Information Architecture (IA) - 10 years
- Interactive Design - 10 years
- Interactive Prototypes - 10 years
- Systems Thinking - 10 years
- UX Design - 10 years
- Product Design - 10 years
- User Interface (UI) - 8 years
- User Experience (UX) - 6 years
Portfolio
Enterprise Software
Product Requirements Documentation (PRD)Stakeholder EngagementApp UIMobile UIDesktop App DesignCustomer Journey+ 9 more
Work Experience
Product Design Lead (Fractional)
2025 - PRESENT
Vertical Made, Inc.
- Defined the 0-to-1 product experience for an AI-powered document analysis platform that reads and routes construction-loan draw packages for human review.
- Simplified the homepage from a notification dashboard into a search-first project directory, moving automated analysis alerts into a separate review inbox.
- Anchored the MVP scope on document organization and trust, resisting feature creep toward full project management.
Technologies: Product Design, SaaS Design, Data Visualization, Platform Design, Dashboard Design, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fintech, Workflow Optimization
Senior Product Designer
2023 - 2024
Showit
- Designed and implemented a scalable, component-based UI system, ensuring consistency across Showit’s web and mobile platforms.
- Standardized typography, color palettes, button styles, and form elements, reducing inconsistencies and improving overall user experience.
- Created detailed documentation and component guidelines, improving collaboration between design and engineering teams.
- Developed a Figma component library, reducing design time for new features and accelerating iteration cycles.
- Ensured WCAG compliance by refining color contrast, interactive elements, and text readability, improving accessibility for a diverse user base.
- Established training resources and onboarding documentation, reducing ramp-up time for new team members and improving design adoption.
- Audited and removed outdated UI elements, aligning the design system with modern UX standards and creating a more cohesive experience across products.
- Optimized design tokens and UI components, ensuring the design system could scale with new product features without breaking visual consistency.
Technologies: Figma, Storybook, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Zeroheight, Interactive Prototypes, ClickUp, Beta Testing, Lookback, User Testing, Visual Design, UI Design, Interactive Design, User Experience (UX), Design Systems, UX Design, Agile Project Management, Planning, Customer Journey, Enterprise Design, Component Libraries, Business to Business (B2B), Rapid Prototyping, Desktop Web Design, Web UI Design, SaaS Design, Information Architecture (IA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Workflow Optimization, User Flows, Notion, FigJam, Platform Design
Senior UI/UX Designer
2020 - 2023
Provide
- Owned the UI/UX for the entire Provide product, including the customer-facing portal, the internal loan origination software tool, and the practice marketplace listing for a practice buying experience.
- Collaborated with the product team to map complex workflows, design, and prototype ideas for validation or stakeholder alignment. Worked with engineers to ensure feasibility daily.
- Built and managed two component libraries for marketing and customer-facing interfaces and our internal loan servicing tools.
- Mentored junior designers through sessions and workshops, fostering attention to detail, user-centricity, and strategic thinking, elevating team quality and innovation.
Technologies: Figma, UI Design, Product Design, UX Design, Collaboration, Systems Thinking, User Interface (UI), B2B, Dashboard Design, Wireframing, Mockups, UX Wireframes, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web Design, Startups, Dashboards, Web Platforms, User Journeys, Web App Design, Web App UX, Web App UI, Responsive Web Apps, Visual Design, Interactive Design, User Experience (UX), Design Systems, Fintech, User Testing, Interactive Prototypes, Agile Project Management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data-heavy Design, Data Visualization, Planning, Customer Journey, User Flows, Component Libraries, Business to Business (B2B), Rapid Prototyping, Desktop Web Design, Web UI Design, Marketplace Design, SaaS Design, Information Architecture (IA), Enterprise SaaS, Workflow Optimization, Fintech Design, Jira, FigJam, Platform Design
Product Designer, UI/UX
2018 - 2020
Freelance
- Managed the UX design and relationships with IT stakeholders and the outsourced development team for a major financial institution. My experience as a designer and a project lead led to the project's success.
- Developed the visual brand, designed the UX, and prototyped a teaching application for healthcare professionals. The content-driven mobile app teaches essential soft skills needed to thrive.
- Reimagined and modernized the UX of the Cancer Treatment Center of America's cancer survivor tree (IST). The IST provides hope, empowerment, and community for survivors and patients fighting cancer.
- Led the UX and UI for a Certified B Corporation founded by a nationally recognized neonatologist. This software improves accuracy and removes human error in assessing infants born withdrawn from in-utero substance abuse.
Technologies: UI Design, UX Design, Systems Thinking, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Wireframing, Mockups, UX Wireframes, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web Design, Branding, MVP Design, Web Platforms, User Journeys, Web App Design, Web App UX, Web App UI, Responsive Web Apps, Mobile UI, Mobile Design, Visual Design, Interactive Design, Fintech, User Testing, Interactive Prototypes, Agile Project Management, Data-heavy Design, Data Visualization, Planning, Customer Journey, User Flows, Enterprise Design, Business to Business (B2B), Rapid Prototyping, Desktop Web Design, Web UI Design, SaaS Design, Information Architecture (IA), B2B, Figma, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Enterprise SaaS, Fintech Design, Jira, Platform Design
Product Designer, UI/UX
2014 - 2018
Brushfire Interactive
- Designed 30 world-class custom-consumer and business products as the sole designer on the team.
- Created intuitive user experiences while collaborating with product owners, engineers, and project managers.
- Designed an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop lesson builder for Sunday school teachers and volunteers. The success of this product was due to the market and user research I conducted as a UI design consultant.
- Introduced and transitioned the team to work with Sketch, Figma, InVision, and Principle, which I used to present interactive functionality to clients and stakeholders.
Technologies: UI Design, UX Design, Collaboration, Systems Thinking, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Dashboard Design, Wireframing, Mockups, UX Wireframes, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web Design, Branding, MVP Design, Startups, Dashboards, Web Platforms, User Journeys, Web App Design, Web App UX, Web App UI, Responsive Web Apps, Mobile UI, Mobile Design, Visual Design, Interactive Design, User Testing, Interactive Prototypes, Agile Project Management, Planning, Customer Journey, User Flows, Business to Business (B2B), Rapid Prototyping, Desktop Web Design, Web UI Design, SaaS Design, Information Architecture (IA), B2B, Figma, Enterprise SaaS, Workflow Optimization, Jira, Platform Design
User Interface and Visual Designer
2013 - 2014
Freelance
- Designed elegant, innovative solutions, such as a beautiful UI/UX for a pixel-perfect website, a detailed icon set, and logo concepts for comprehensive branding projects.
- Created beautiful designs for major brands like Disney, Subway, and Pepsi, as a contractor for large agencies.
- Designed complete web experiences and art directed a video and photoshoot to create assets for a project.
Technologies: UI Design, Visual Design, User Interface (UI), Mockups, UX Wireframes, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web Design, Branding, Web App UI, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Web UI Design, User Flows, Jira
User Interface and Visual Designer
2012 - 2013
Mindspace Agency
- Designed high-end, pixel-perfect websites and digital marketing communications with solid attention to detail.
- Created beautiful, user-centered solutions for major brands like Shutterfly, LifeLock, Sage Group, and MGM Grand.
- Delivered superior-quality designs that functioned intuitively and in ways people could easily understand. Planned user experiences through sketching, wireframing, and site mapping.
- Presented design concepts, critiqued peers' work, and received constructive feedback as I cultivated strong interpersonal skills.
Technologies: Branding, Visual Design, User Interface (UI), Mockups, Web Design, UI Design
Visual Designer and Package Designer
2011 - 2012
Design Packaging, Inc.
- Designed world-class, dynamic packaging and created print-ready files for popular retail brands, such as Sephora, Barney's New York, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, and American Eagle.
- Produced innovative assets, including logos, brand systems, and packaging that reflected the brand.
- Developed and effectively communicated creative strategies to influence design solutions.
Technologies: Web Design, Branding
Education
2008 - 2011
Bachelor's Degree in Visual Design
The Art Institute of Phoenix - Phoenix, AZ, USA
Skills
Tools
Zeroheight, Lookback, Jira, FigJam, Adobe CC
Platforms
Figma, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Microsoft
Other
Visual Design, Interactive Design, Product Design, UX Design, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Wireframing, Mockups, Branding, MVP Design, Web App Design, Interactive Prototypes, Enterprise SaaS, Customer Journey, User Flows, Rapid Prototyping, Desktop Web Design, Information Architecture (IA), Collaboration, System Process Mapping, Systems Thinking, B2B, Dashboard Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web Design, Startups, Web Platforms, User Journeys, Web App UX, Web App UI, Responsive Web Apps, Enterprise Design, Design Systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), SaaS Design, Persona Design, Component Libraries, Business to Business (B2B), Web UI Design, Marketplace Design, Platform Design, UI Design, UX Wireframes, Dashboards, Mobile UI, Mobile Design, Design Leadership, UX Strategy, Planning, Consumer-facing Product Design, Storybook, ClickUp, Beta Testing, User Testing, Fintech, App UI, Agile Project Management, Product Requirements Documentation (PRD), Stakeholder Engagement, Desktop App Design, Workflow Optimization, Fintech Design, Data-heavy Design, Data Visualization, Notion, Large Language Models (LLMs), Typography, Color Theory, Fundamental Design Principles, Layout
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