Hi, I’m Nicola Williams, a seasoned designer in Toronto, Canada.
I like operating using design frameworks and system thinking to enhance lives.
I have a diverse set of interests, with a particular focus on health and new technologies.
One Design Language
Northstar vision and strategy for Expedia Group's new design system, enhancing traveller experiences through an Omni-channel communications approach. Review
Email Design System (EDS)
The Email Design System (EDS) simplifies email creation with cohesive design guidelines, reusable templates, and modular components, ensuring brand consistency and efficiency. Review
Expedia Rewards Launch Comms & Rewards Hub
The comprehensive redesign of the Expedia Rewards Loyalty Program Review
OCADU - Black Creative Collective
Through Black Creative Collective, we aimed to create a dynamic online platform for OCADU that fosters engagement and connectivity within the global Black art community, celebrating its diversity and richness.
Design concepts into healthcare solutions
Transforming design concepts into innovative healthcare solutions that enhance patient outcomes and improve healthcare experiences. Review
My career has been full of diverse projects, fantastic client partners, and exploring innovation.
My curiosity for all things different and the experiences that came with it started early in my life.
Time flew by in the '70s and '80s. Once in a while, my mom would stay late at her job at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Library Information Science, so I would get to play in the library after daycare. I used to go there and sketch on the chalkboard as an outlet for exploration. I first laid eyes on a computer when I watched my mom use it; ever since then, my fascination with computers and the possibilities they present continued to rise.
My UX and UI career started during the pioneering days of Online Education.
In the early stages of online education, I embarked on my professional journey in UI design, focusing on developing user-friendly and engaging interfaces for educational platforms. This role allowed me to combine my dedication to enhancing students' academic experience worldwide with my passion for design. Later, when I transitioned to a student-focused travel company, I utilized my design expertise to create intuitive and enjoyable travel planning tools and print materials tailored for students’ travel. This empowered students to explore the world with ease and confidence.
The Transition From Education to Travel.
I moved from the online education industry to becoming a senior visual designer in the travel industry. This transformation allowed me to apply my design abilities by creating a product that is both functional and visually appealing and that can be enjoyed by travelers worldwide.
Master of Design (MDes)
A significant turning point in my career occurred when I expanded my expertise beyond my role as the Lead User Experience Designer in online travel to include a focus on healthcare, accessibility, and systems thinking. Driven by my goal to leverage my design skills to enhance technology accessibility and improve health outcomes,
Expanding my expertise
I pursued a Master of Design (MDes) in Design for Health. This advanced education, with a strong emphasis on supporting the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), provided me with a deeper understanding of designing and researching for accessibility. This enriched my career and enabled me to apply these principles to improve online travel experiences and health Design and system thinking outcomes, achieving my goal of making technology more accessible for all.