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Hello! I’m Nicholas Henning, a game designer who blends sharp analytics with playful creativity to build engaging player experiences. My work spans mobile game design, education-focused projects, and data-driven optimization, collaborating with engineers and artists to ship features that delight players and drive monetization. I thrive at the intersection of creative vision and rigorous research, from prototyping new characters and game mechanics to leading cross-functional teams across studios. I’m committed to pushing interactive entertainment boundaries and delivering impactful solutions for clients and players alike.…Hello! I’m Nicholas Henning, a game designer who blends sharp analytics with playful creativity to build engaging player experiences. My work spans mobile game design, education-focused projects, and data-driven optimization, collaborating with engineers and artists to ship features that delight players and drive monetization. I thrive at the intersection of creative vision and rigorous research, from prototyping new characters and game mechanics to leading cross-functional teams across studios. I’m committed to pushing interactive entertainment boundaries and delivering impactful solutions for clients and players alike.

Nicholas Henning

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Hello! I’m Nicholas Henning, a game designer who blends sharp analytics with playful creativity to build engaging player experiences. My work spans mobile game design, education-focused projects, and data-driven optimization, collaborating with engineers and artists to ship features that delight players and drive monetization. I thrive at the intersection of creative vision and rigorous research, from prototyping new characters and game mechanics to leading cross-functional teams across studios. I’m committed to pushing interactive entertainment boundaries and delivering impactful solutions for clients and players alike.…Hello! I’m Nicholas Henning, a game designer who blends sharp analytics with playful creativity to build engaging player experiences. My work spans mobile game design, education-focused projects, and data-driven optimization, collaborating with engineers and artists to ship features that delight players and drive monetization. I thrive at the intersection of creative vision and rigorous research, from prototyping new characters and game mechanics to leading cross-functional teams across studios. I’m committed to pushing interactive entertainment boundaries and delivering impactful solutions for clients and players alike.

Available to hire

Hello! I’m Nicholas Henning, a game designer who blends sharp analytics with playful creativity to build engaging player experiences. My work spans mobile game design, education-focused projects, and data-driven optimization, collaborating with engineers and artists to ship features that delight players and drive monetization.

I thrive at the intersection of creative vision and rigorous research, from prototyping new characters and game mechanics to leading cross-functional teams across studios. I’m committed to pushing interactive entertainment boundaries and delivering impactful solutions for clients and players alike.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Game Designer at AppLovin; Machine Zone

January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025

Prototyped mini-game adaptations, boosting first-time user retention by 6%. Authored design specs and balanced gameplay data for two major character features in Reign of Vampires, which became core pillars of the game’s gach a and monetization systems. Collaborated with art and engineering teams, coordinating via Jira and Git to realize the project vision. Crafted narrative text and integrated mechanical design with storytelling elements to create cohesive player experiences. Co-designed a collaborative design cycle with another designer, enabling faster iteration and feedback loops praised by leadership as top-performing.

Associate Data Analyst at Count

October 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Designed and implemented streamlined data structures for a new project format, securing buy-in from state-level educators and clients. Interpreted complex datasets with thousands of student information points using Excel, SQL, R, and SPSS, translating findings into actionable feedback for state Departments of Education. Composed and presented comprehensive reports with subject-matter expert review and developed state-level guidelines to evaluate standardized assessment validity.

Education Manager of Data & Analytics at Fusion Academy

November 1, 2020 - October 1, 2022

Reenvisioned and implemented operational procedures for enrollment and annual testing across 75+ campuses nationwide, improving clarity and operational systems and increasing asset assessment completion from 63% to 88%. Built evergreen data training for campus administrators using Articulate, expanding institutional knowledge and data literacy. Coached administrators in data tools (Tableau, Power BI, Excel), contributing to a nationwide self-reported satisfaction increase from 3.1 to 4.2 on a 5-point scale.

Head & CO GX Manager at Fusion Academy

August 1, 2017 - December 1, 2018

Led the GX program and cross-functional teams, coordinating game-related projects and learning initiatives to enhance student engagement and program outcomes.