Publication
Can Designers Make the Metaverse Less Awkward?
https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/designing-for-the-metaverse
Pam is available for hire
Hire PamPam Nicholls
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Location
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Toptal Member Since
January 21, 2020
Pam has worked for clients such as Yahoo!, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Dreamworks, Hasbro, Mercedes-Benz, and SiriusXM. She has shipped 20+ applications and video games across multiple platforms, including directing an AR application's branding and UX design with an 8-member distributed team over six months. Pam has also driven new product design and culture development, including assembling and mentoring cross-functional team members.
Work Experience
UX Designer
2023 - 2023
Max Planck Institute - Main
- Audited an online game designed for researching human behavior and AI.
- Designed a high-level onboarding flow to increase player retention.
- Scoped and provided estimates for required deliverables.
Technologies: UX Design, User Flows, UX Audits, User Engagement, Game Design, User Journeys
Senior UX Designer
2023 - 2023
Etika
- Improved a SaaS lending management system's user experience and the website's functionality.
- Conducted primary and secondary research and usability testing.
- Created wireframes, prototypes, and ready-for-dev annotated wireframes.
Technologies: Miro, Figma, UX Wireframes, Remote Usability Testing, UX Workshops, SaaS Design, Fintech, Responsive UI, UX Strategy, Agile, Web App Design, Modular Design, Strategic Design, Design Strategy, User-centered Design (UCD), Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Discovery Workshops, Component Libraries, Mobile, SaaS, Web UX Design, loans and lending
UX Writer | UX Designer
2020 - 2023
Toptal Clients
- Created copy and content for Yahoo Ryot Lab's help center, specifically for an internal 3D modeling augmented reality tool.
- Designed the interface for an SDK to enable real-money tournaments across multiple game titles on mobile devices for Ryu Technologies.
- Documented the UI functionality for a VR project and grant proposal for Arizona State University.
- Produced copy for weekly and monthly newsletters for the nonprofit organization, Teach for America.
- Documented several functions of a cloud-based AWS system in a GitLab wiki for Syngenta.
- Edited financial services content for Prudential Asia's e-learning management platform.
Technologies: E-learning, Writing & Editing, Microsoft Word, Virtual Reality (VR), Mobile UX Design, Lucidchart, Miro, Augmented Reality (AR), Zendesk, Figma, Enterprise, GUI, User Personas, Prototyping, MVP Design, Information Architecture (IA), User Research, Content Writing, Copywriting, User Journeys, UX Wireframes, Remote Usability Testing, Collaboration, Design Workshops, Ideation Workshops, Interactive Prototypes, Mockups, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Discovery Workshops, Web UX Design
Senior UI/UX Designer
2022 - 2022
AviaGames
- Created wireframes based on data gathered through user surveys.
- Conducted brainstorming sessions to generate concepts for the design.
- Developed a prioritized feature list to guide implementation.
Technologies: Mobile Game Design, UI Design, Mobile Games, Game Design, Product Design, UX Design, User Flows, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), UX Research, Game/Navigation Interface, Software Design, System Usability, Usability Testing, Interface Design, Games, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Design Systems, User Interface (UI), Mobile Game UI, Wireframe to Product, GUI, Mobile UX, Responsive UI, Agile, Strategic Design, User-centered Design (UCD), Team Leadership, Discovery Workshops, Mobile
Senior UX/UI Designer
2022 - 2022
Amira Learning corp
- Audited and designed a new user flow to optimize engagement for children for a tutor game app for kids.
- Created a style guide to be referenced by the team.
- Conducted brainstorming sessions to create concepts for the storyline.
- Developed wireframes and flows for a character creation feature in the application.
Technologies: UX Design, Narrative UX, Brainstorming, UX Wireflows, Gamification, Mobile Game Design, UX Documentation, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), UX Research, Game/Navigation Interface, System Usability, Usability Testing, Interface Design, Games, Design Systems, User Interface (UI), Mobile Game UI, Wireframe to Product, GUI, Mobile UX, Responsive UI, User-centered Design (UCD), Team Leadership
UX Lead
2017 - 2017
Education Payroll
- Built, managed, and led a team of five designers for an education payroll system where the platform was a website.
Technologies: Sketch 2, Proto.io, Visio, Landing Page Design, Web Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Design Systems, Heuristic Review, Heuristic Analysis, GUI, User Stories, Leadership, Rapid Prototyping, Personas, UX Wireframes, UX Workshops, Mockups, Agile, Web UX Design
User Experience Design Lead (Fixed-term Contract)
2016 - 2017
tagSpace
- Conducted co-design sessions with end-users and provided UX expertise with a 2-week turnaround time before product launch.
- Built relationships with clients by engaging them in the product strategy and design process; also provided guidance around strategy for the product release.
- Built, managed, and led a team of five service designers which included mentoring, coaching, and assisting in the development of designers.
- Recruited, conducted, and analyzed results for user testing of products.
Technologies: Screen Flows, Annotated Wireframes, Concept Sketching, Card Sorting, Brainstorming, User Onboarding, User Testing, Education, E-learning, Enterprise, Design, Project Estimation, Responsive Web Apps, iOS UX Design, Ideation, Primary Research, Human-centered Design (HCD), Adobe Photoshop, UX Documentation, iPad, Sitemaps, Paper Prototyping, Art Direction, Websites, Software as a Service (SaaS), UI Design, Photoshop CS5, UX Prototyping, Android, iOS, Mobile App Design, Web UX, Mobile Design, UX Audits, User Experience (UX), UI Audits, Co-design, Design Leadership, Augmented Reality (AR), UX Research, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, UX Design, Visio, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, Research, Customer Interviews, Stakeholder Interviews, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), Game/Navigation Interface, Usability Testing, Landing Page Design, Web Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Heuristic Review, Heuristic Analysis, Mobile Game UI, Wireframe to Product, GUI, Mobile UX, Agile, Visual Design
UX Lead
2016 - 2016
Goodgame Studios
- Provided UX expertise for a mobile RPG game with two week turnaround time before beta launch.
- Worked on IOS and Android phone and tablet platforms.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Wireframing, User Flows, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), UX Research, Game/Navigation Interface, Games, Responsive Web Design (RWD), User Interface (UI), Unity Game Assets, Mobile Game UI, Wireframe to Product, GUI, Mobile UX, Agile
User Experience Lead
2015 - 2016
Navcast
- Created mobile navigation applications for aviation and marine industries.
- Designed the entire UX of the product.
- Branded the product.
- Assisted with the product launch at the Miami Boat Show.
Technologies: Screen Flows, Annotated Wireframes, Concept Sketching, Card Sorting, Brainstorming, User Testing, Project Estimation, iOS UX Design, Ideation, Primary Research, Human-centered Design (HCD), UX Documentation, iPad, Sitemaps, Paper Prototyping, Art Direction, Mobile UI, UI Design, Photoshop CS5, UX Prototyping, Android, iOS, Mobile App Design, Mobile Design, UX Audits, User Experience (UX), UI Audits, Co-design, Design Leadership, UX Research, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, UX Design, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, eCommerce, Landing Page Design, Web Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), GUI, iOS App Design, Mockups, Agile, Visual Design
Senior User Experience Designer
2015 - 2015
Behavior Interactive
- Introduced the UX brainstorming process utilized for project management and requirements gathering.
- Created wireframes, flows, and prototypes for the front-end UI.
- Designed an app for mobile phones and tablets for 8- to 16-year-old girls with a physical toy component.
- Conducted heuristic analysis on existing games to improve player retention.
Technologies: Screen Flows, Annotated Wireframes, Style Guides, Concept Sketching, Brainstorming, User Onboarding, User Testing, Project Estimation, iOS UX Design, Ideation, Primary Research, Human-centered Design (HCD), UX Documentation, iPad, Sitemaps, Paper Prototyping, UX Prototyping, Android, iOS, Mobile App Design, Mobile Design, UX Audits, User Experience (UX), UI Audits, Co-design, Mobile Game UX, Gamification, Video Games, Video Game Consoles, Mobile Games, UX Research, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, UX Design, Visio, Proto.io, Adobe Illustrator, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), Game/Navigation Interface, Games, User Interface (UI), Agile
Senior User Experience Designer
2013 - 2014
Ubisoft
- Established a new UX process for the console development team.
- Built relationships with marketing and user research teams.
- Designed a multi-player mode in three days with the game design team.
Technologies: Xbox 360, Screen Flows, Annotated Wireframes, PS4, Concept Sketching, User Testing, Project Estimation, Ideation, Primary Research, Human-centered Design (HCD), UX Documentation, Paper Prototyping, UX Audits, User Experience (UX), UI Audits, Video Games, Video Game Consoles, Mobile Games, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, UX Design, Visio, Proto.io, Adobe Illustrator, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), UX Research, Game/Navigation Interface, Games, User Interface (UI)
User Experience Designer
2007 - 2013
Electronic Arts
- Created wireframes and flows for iPad and iPhone as part of my role.
- Worked with the art director to create an adapted UI and style guide to use on multiple platforms.
- Introduced user experience design process and documentation to Visceral Games Studio.
- Partnered with the Dead Space team in San Francisco to determine the UX strategy of the product.
- Designed the UI for the front end and in-game pause menus for Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii.
Technologies: Xbox 360, Screen Flows, Annotated Wireframes, PS4, Concept Sketching, User Testing, Project Estimation, Ideation, Primary Research, Human-centered Design (HCD), UX Documentation, Sitemaps, Paper Prototyping, UX Audits, User Experience (UX), UI Audits, Video Games, Video Game Consoles, Mobile Games, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, UX Design, Visio, Proto.io, Adobe Illustrator, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), UX Research, Game/Navigation Interface, Games, User Interface (UI)
Other Experience
Education
2001 - 2005
Master of Environmental Design Degree in Industrial Design
University of Calgary - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1996 - 1999
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art
Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada