Publication
Play Is the Point: How UX Designers Can Break Into the Gaming Industry
https://www.toptal.com/designers/game-ux/game-ux-designer
Pam is available for hire
Hire PamPam Nicholls
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Toptal member since January 21, 2020
Bio
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.
Experience
- Gamification - 14 years
- Product Design - 14 years
- UX Design - 14 years
- Mobile Game UX - 10 years
- Software as a Service (SaaS) - 10 years
- Virtual Reality (VR) - 2 years
- Augmented Reality (AR) - 2 years
- Fintech - 1 year
Portfolio
Writing Samples | Toptal Engagements
Writing & EditingITEducationTechnical WritingWeb UX Design
Work Experience
Consultant Game Designer
2025 - 2025
Meta Fushko Inc
- Advised on the design of core gameplay loops, progression systems, and strategies for F2P mobile games.
- Explored and suggested innovative uses of AR and geolocation features in gameplay.
- Created wireframes for player onboarding, earning digital NFTs, and wallet flows.
- Advised on creating user experiences that balance retention and monetisation.
Technologies: Game Design, Telegram Bots, Figma, UX Design, Creative Concept Development, Art Direction, Game UI Design, Responsive Design
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, Figma Prototyping, Usability, Gamification, Gaming, Figma, Responsive Design
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, Graphical User Interface (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, Web UX Design, DXF, Web App UI, Web App UX, Usability, Technical Writing, Social Networks
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, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Mobile UX, Responsive UI, Agile, Strategic Design, User-centered Design (UCD), Mobile, Workshops, App Design, Mobile Apps, Usability, Conceptual Design, Product Ideation, Mobile Game UX, Gamification, Gaming, Figma, MVP Design, Social Networks, Art Direction, Game UI Design, Unity
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, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Mobile UX, Responsive UI, User-centered Design (UCD), Workshops, App Design, Mobile Apps, Usability, Conceptual Design, Product Ideation, Mobile Game UX, Gaming, Figma, MVP Design, Art Direction, Game UI Design, Unity
Other Experience
Education
2013 - 2015
Master of Environmental Design Degree in Industrial Design
University of Calgary - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Certifications
NOVEMBER 2024 - PRESENT
AI for Designers
Interaction Design Foundation
Skills
Tools
Visio, CAD, Miro, Microsoft Word, Figma Prototyping, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, Photoshop CS5, Proto.io, Lucidchart, Sketch 2, Alibre Design, Blender, SOLIDWORKS, AI Tools
Platforms
Xbox 360, Mobile, iOS, Android, Figma, Zendesk
Industry Expertise
Games, Education
Other
UX Design, Human-centered Design (HCD), Industrial Design, Video Games, User Flows, Mobile Design, Gamification, Ideation, UI Audits, User Experience (UX), UX Audits, User Testing, Mobile UI, User Onboarding, Co-design, Concept Sketching, Sitemaps, Mobile Game UX, Style Guides, PS4, Annotated Wireframes, Screen Flows, UX Documentation, Design Thinking, Product Design, Software as a Service (SaaS), Responsive Web Apps, Mobile App Design, Video Game Consoles, Mobile Games, Wireframing, Mobile Game Design, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), Game/Navigation Interface, Software Design, System Usability, Interface Design, Web Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Design Systems, User Interface (UI), Mobile Game UI, Wireframe to Product, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Mobile UX, User Stories, User Personas, MVP Design, iOS App Design, Leadership, Information Architecture (IA), Mobile First, UX Wireframes, User Journeys, Personas, Remote Usability Testing, Collaboration, Design Workshops, Ideation Workshops, Web UX Design, Responsive UI, Agile, Web App Design, Strategic Design, User-centered Design (UCD), Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Discovery Workshops, Gaming, Workshops, App Design, Mobile Apps, Usability, Data-driven Design, Conceptual Design, Product Conceptualization, Product Ideation, Creative Concept Development, Creative Design, Creativity, Game UI Design, Responsive Design, Auditing, Augmented Reality (AR), Design Leadership, UI Design, Art Direction, Brainstorming, Card Sorting, Paper Prototyping, Design, UX Prototyping, Customer Interviews, Stakeholder Interviews, iOS UX Design, Mobile UX Design, Game Design, UX Research, Usability Testing, eCommerce, Landing Page Design, Heuristic Review, Heuristic Analysis, 2D Games, UX Workshops, Prototyping, Content Writing, Copywriting, Interactive Prototypes, Mockups, Modular Design, Design Strategy, Component Libraries, SaaS, Agile Project Management, Product Design, Product Strategy, Consumer Products, Consumer-facing Product Design, VR Design, Social Networks, Testing, Service Design, Journey Mapping, Service Blueprinting, B2B, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web UX, Primary Research, Project Estimation, E-learning, Websites, 3D Modeling, iPad, Research, Art, Writing & Editing, Virtual Reality (VR), Enterprise, Narrative UX, UX Wireflows, Unity Game Assets, User Research, Rapid Prototyping, Fintech, UX Strategy, Visual Design, Finance, Booking Systems, IT, Technical Writing, Asset Design, 3D Design, User Engagement, Loans & Lending, DXF, Branding, Web App UI, Web App UX, Prompt Engineering, Data Visualization, Telegram Bots, Unity
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