ux design ⁕ information architecture ⁕ product vision & strategy ⁕ systems thinking ⁕ storytelling ⁕ ai ⁕ growth ⁕ user research ⁕ usability testing ⁕ accessibility ⁕

ux design ⁕ information architecture ⁕ product vision & strategy ⁕ systems thinking ⁕ storytelling ⁕ ai ⁕ growth ⁕ user research ⁕ usability testing ⁕ accessibility ⁕

Oh hey, you dyed my hair!

Hello, I'm Nica!

Oh hey, you dyed my hair!

Hello, I'm Nica!

I bring focus to magic moments to drive business goals with a touch of delight.

Lead product designer at Zendesk. Previously at Target.

Featured work

AI-native trial activation

Rearchitected trial onboarding that drove 1,200% AI engagement lifts

Product-led growth patterns

Defined patterns that drove up to 750% adoption lifts across the Zendesk platform

Enterprise trust and safety

Over 2 years, defined product area vision and 0→1 execution that brought in +$25M ARR and secured $100M+ ARR retention in the Enterprise segment

About me

how to say

Nica

/knee-kah/

years of experience

10+

10+

10+

in a nutshell

I'm a self-taught design generalist. I have a strong systems thinking foundation having come from an Information Systems background. That took me to a few enterprise systems and front-end development stints in the Philippines until my move to the US. Full circle, I now thrive best at the intersection of design and complex products.

ux design ⁕ information architecture ⁕ product vision & strategy ⁕ systems thinking ⁕ storytelling ⁕ ai ⁕ growth ⁕ user research ⁕ usability testing ⁕ accessibility ⁕

current toolset

design journey

⏺

Product Design at Zendesk (Present)

Product Design at Zendesk (Present)

Product-led growth, Trust and Safety, Admin Experience

⛰️

Moved to Seattle

Moved to Seattle

⏺

Product Design at Zendesk

Trust and Safety

⏺

UX at Target

UX at Target

Enterprise and Stores UX team, Connected Commerce

⏺

Content Management at OpenText

Content Management at OpenText

Web content and graphic design internship

🇺🇸

Moved to California

Moved to California

Freelanced graphic design while navigating life in a new country

🇵🇭

Manila, Philippines

Manila, Philippines

Front-end development internships
B.S. Management Information Systems, Enterprise Systems
Born and raised 💕

i bake and organize bake sales

i make things with clay

© 2026 Designed and built by Nica

nicaelarivera@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/ncrivera

© 2026 Designed and built by Nica