I am a passionate art director, designer, and educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience delivering emotive branding and minimalistic, user-centered design across web, mobile, print, and environmental mediums. I embrace a holistic UX philosophy that applies to all mediums and emphasizes empathy, accessibility, and practical impact across projects of varying scale. I collaborate with cross-functional teams, guiding research, ideation, and iterative design from concept to go-live, while maintaining a strong work ethic and a commitment to helping brands grow through thoughtful, human-centered design.…

Nicole Wang

I am a passionate art director, designer, and educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience delivering emotive branding and minimalistic, user-centered design across web, mobile, print, and environmental mediums. I embrace a holistic UX philosophy that applies to all mediums and emphasizes empathy, accessibility, and practical impact across projects of varying scale. I collaborate with cross-functional teams, guiding research, ideation, and iterative design from concept to go-live, while maintaining a strong work ethic and a commitment to helping brands grow through thoughtful, human-centered design.…

Available to hire

I am a passionate art director, designer, and educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience delivering emotive branding and minimalistic, user-centered design across web, mobile, print, and environmental mediums. I embrace a holistic UX philosophy that applies to all mediums and emphasizes empathy, accessibility, and practical impact across projects of varying scale.

I collaborate with cross-functional teams, guiding research, ideation, and iterative design from concept to go-live, while maintaining a strong work ethic and a commitment to helping brands grow through thoughtful, human-centered design.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance & Consulting at San Francisco Bay Area
April 1, 2007 - Present
Notable accounts include Google, LinkedIn, Continental Mills, Roche, Genentech, The Bold Italic, Sephora, ShopStyle by Popsugar, Nordstrom, Sunglass Hut, AT&T, eBay, Tiny Prints, and Diageo Wine Brands. Created UX journey maps for a pitch securing a ~$6M annual account for a digital marketing agency. Implemented end-to-end application design processes from research to go-live. Provided photo/art direction, interaction, and visual design for numerous projects. Developed brand identity and content strategy for social media campaigns to increase brand awareness.
Associate Creative Director, UX at Firewood Marketing, San Francisco, CA
April 30, 2020 - August 1, 2025
Conducted user research to guide design decisions and prioritize MVP to north star solutions. Facilitated multidisciplinary teams and clients through the design process leading to co-creation, prototyping, and hypothesis validation. Designed B2B/enterprise web applications replacing spreadsheets, automating tools to reduce about 35% of manual work, increasing workflow efficiency and data accuracy.
Visual Design Instructor at General Assembly, San Francisco & Oakland, CA
December 31, 2015 - August 1, 2025
Taught design principles and processes to a class of 18 students with little to no visual design experience. Mentored students in digital software skills to aid class assignments and overall creative practice.
Associate Art Director at Digitas, Boston, MA
November 30, 2006 - August 1, 2025
Art directed and designed marketing communications from concept through completion. Collaborated closely with copywriters to develop creative solutions recognized in marketing campaigns. Managed all aspects of creative process including photography selection and print materials. Led quarterly distributed magazines for Celebrity Cruises, resulting in increased bookings.
Freelance & Consulting at Boston, MA
September 30, 2003 - August 1, 2025
Provided design services for Houghton Mifflin Publishing, Partners Mortgage, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Summit Partners, Massachusetts Biotechnology Councils, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Freelance & Consulting at Self-employed, San Francisco Bay Area
April 1, 2007 - Present
I have worked with notable clients including Google, LinkedIn, Roche, Genentech, Sephora, Nordstrom, and others. My work ranges from creating UX journey maps that helped secure multimillion-dollar accounts, to leading end-to-end application design processes involving research, ideation, wireframing, and iterations. Additionally, I provide photo and art direction, interaction and visual design for online and offline projects, and I develop brand identities and social media content strategies that boost brand awareness.
Associate Creative Director, UX at Firewood Marketing, San Francisco, CA
April 30, 2020 - August 7, 2025
Conducted user research to guide design decisions from MVP to north star solutions. Facilitated multidisciplinary teams and clients through collaborative design processes to prototype and validate hypotheses. Designed B2B and enterprise web applications that replaced spreadsheets, reducing about 35% of manual work and improving workflow efficiency and data accuracy.
Visual Design Instructor at General Assembly, San Francisco & Oakland, CA
December 31, 2015 - August 7, 2025
Taught visual design principles and processes to a class of 18 students with little to no prior design experience. Mentored students to develop digital software skills for assignments and overall creative practice.
Associate Art Director at Digitas, Boston, MA
November 30, 2006 - August 7, 2025
Art directed and designed marketing communications for well-known accounts such as Cadillac, CARE, Celebrity Cruises, Cirque du Soleil, and Procter & Gamble. Collaborated with copywriters to develop creative solutions recognized in marketing campaigns. Oversaw creative processes including photography selection and print materials. Led quarterly magazine production for Celebrity Cruises, increasing booking rates.
Freelance & Consulting at Self-employed, Boston, MA
September 30, 2003 - August 7, 2025
Provided design services to clients including Houghton Mifflin Publishing, Partners Mortgage, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Summit Partners, Massachusetts Biotechnology Councils, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Graphic Design II Teaching Assistant at New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University, Boston, MA
December 31, 2002 - August 7, 2025
Supported students through all phases of their design assignments and provided motivational feedback to encourage design excellence.
Freelance & Consulting at Self-employed, San Francisco Bay Area
April 1, 2007 - Present
Managed multiple notable accounts such as Google, LinkedIn, Sephora, and Nordstrom. Created UX journey maps contributing to securing a ~$6M annual account. Led end-to-end application design processes including research, wireframing, and implementation. Provided photo/art direction, interaction, and visual design for diverse online and offline projects. Developed brand identity and social media campaign content strategies enhancing brand awareness.
Associate Creative Director, UX at Firewood Marketing, San Francisco, CA
April 30, 2020 - August 7, 2025
Conducted user research to prioritize solutions aligned with company objectives. Led multidisciplinary teams and clients through design processes to co-create, prototype, and validate design hypotheses. Designed B2B/enterprise web applications replacing manual spreadsheets, resulting in 35% reduction in manual work and improved data accuracy and workflow efficiency.
Visual Design Instructor at General Assembly, San Francisco & Oakland, CA
June 1, 2015 - August 7, 2025
Taught visual design principles and processes to students with little to no prior experience. Mentored students to develop digital software skills and fostered their overall creative practice.
Associate Art Director at Digitas, Boston, MA
November 30, 2006 - August 7, 2025
Art directed and designed various marketing communications from concept through completion for accounts including Cadillac, CARE, Celebrity Cruises, Cirque du Soleil, and Procter & Gamble. Collaborated closely with copywriters to develop creative solutions recognized in marketing campaigns. Orchestrated creative processes including photography selection and print materials. Led quarterly magazine production for Celebrity Cruises, increasing bookings.
Freelance & Consulting at Self-employed, Boston, MA
September 1, 2003 - August 7, 2025
Provided design services to organizations including Houghton Mifflin Publishing, Partners Mortgage, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Summit Partners, Massachusetts Biotechnology Councils, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Graphic Design II Teaching Assistant at New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University, Boston, MA
June 1, 2002 - August 7, 2025
Supported students through all assignment phases and provided constructive feedback aimed at fostering design excellence.
Freelance & Consulting at Various clients (Google, LinkedIn, Continental Mills, Roche, Genentech, Sephora, ShopStyle by Popsugar, Nordstrom, Sunglass Hut, AT&T, eBay, Tiny Prints, Diageo Wine Brands)
April 1, 2007 - Present
Created UX journey maps for pitches; implemented end-to-end process of application design from research, ideation, wireframing, iterations, to go-live; provided photo/art direction, interaction, and visual design for online/offline projects; developed brand identity and content strategy for social media campaigns.
Associate Creative Director, UX at Firewood Marketing
April 1, 2019 - April 1, 2020
Conducted user research to inform design decisions, prioritizing from MVP to north-star solutions; facilitated multi-disciplinary teams and clients through the design process to help teams co-create, prototype, and validate hypotheses; designed B2B/enterprise web applications that automated workflows, reducing about 35% of manual work and improving data accuracy.
Visual Design Instructor at General Assembly
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Taught a class of 18 students in design principles and processes; mentored students in gaining digital software skills for class assignments and their overall creative practice.
Associate Art Director at Digitas
September 1, 2003 - November 30, 2006
Art directed and designed various marketing communications from concept through completion; partnered with copywriters to develop creative solutions, leading to recognition in campaigns; orchestrated all aspects of the creative process, including photography selection and print materials; led quarterly magazines for Celebrity Cruises, increasing bookings.
Freelance & Consulting at Boston market (Houghton Mifflin Publishing, Partners Mortgage, MAHP, Summit Partners, MBC, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, etc.)
January 1, 2002 - September 1, 2003
Provided design services for publishing, mortgage, health, and biotech clients; contributed to branding, print, and digital design projects.
Graphic Design II Teaching Assistant at New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University
January 1, 2002 - June 1, 2002
Supported students with all phases of assignments and provided feedback motivating design excellence.

Education

BFA, Fine Art Photography at California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
BFA Graphic Design (Magna Cum Laude) at New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002
at Regent’s College & Design Bridge Internship, London, UK
September 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Study Abroad and Internship Program at Regent's College & Design Bridge, London, United Kingdom
September 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
BFA, Graphic Design at New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002
BFA, Photography at California College of the Arts
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Study Abroad at Regent’s College & Internship Program at Design Bridge, London
September 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001

Qualifications

Communication Arts Interactive Annuals Web Watch & Webpick of the Week: Visual Design for The Bold Italic
January 1, 2012 - August 7, 2025
International Photographers Awards (IPA) Book of the Year: Book Design for North Korea
January 1, 2013 - August 7, 2025
IPA Book of the Year: Book Design for North Korea
January 1, 2013 - January 8, 2026

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Retail, Healthcare, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, Education, Consumer Goods
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