Nickolas KolaAbout
About
Fifteen years across enterprise, government and SaaS, from Microsoft's cloud and AI content ecosystem to Stanford Medicine. Research-led, systems-minded, and hands-on from discovery to delivery.
Sydney, Australia · open to relocating to the US
AI first
AI runs through every stage of how I design, from research and concepts to prototypes and production-ready code. I work in tools like Figma Make and Claude Design, and direct teams of agentic AI that research, draft, build and test alongside me. The result is more explored, better tested and faster to ship, and still grounded in what users need.
From a blank brief to launch, I directed my team of agents through design, development and QA. The build is its own case study.
See how it was madeFounded and ran a product design consultancy delivering UX, UI and product design, shipping mobile apps, mobile games and web experiences for clients.
Owned UX, UI and product design for two mobile products and a back-end CMS, from discovery to delivery.
See TripCash × TravelFreeA single project: creating the Sheridan Design System for their website, with UX and UI for desktop and mobile web and a Figma design library for consistency and speed.
Built Microsoft's enterprise usability testing framework, and led UX and research for the clients listed here.
See the Microsoft case studyUX, UI and product design for early-stage and scaling products across web and mobile, shaping direction with founders.
Founded an agentic AI training and implementation practice that designs, builds and deploys custom AI agents for SMB and enterprise clients, and trains teams in agentic AI, from discovery to controlled deployment.
Leading UX, UI and research for large-scale platforms for multinational clients across APAC and the United States.
6 months
Leading UX, UI and research for large-scale platforms for multinational clients across APAC and the United States.
2 years
Founded an agentic AI training and implementation practice that designs, builds and deploys custom AI agents for SMB and enterprise clients, and trains teams in agentic AI, from discovery to controlled deployment.
1 yr 3 mos
UX, UI and product design for early-stage and scaling products across web and mobile, shaping direction with founders.
3 yrs 8 mos
Built Microsoft's enterprise usability testing framework, and led UX and research for the clients listed here.
See the Microsoft case study6 month contract
A single project: creating the Sheridan Design System for their website, with UX and UI for desktop and mobile web and a Figma design library for consistency and speed.
2 years
Owned UX, UI and product design for two mobile products and a back-end CMS, from discovery to delivery.
See TripCash × TravelFree9 yrs 6 mos
Founded and ran a product design consultancy delivering UX, UI and product design, shipping mobile apps, mobile games and web experiences for clients.
Specialist research and usability testing, including the case for research on projects that hadn't planned for it.
Information architecture, interaction design and design systems for complex content ecosystems.
Workshops, service blueprints, Figma prototypes and close work with engineers through to launch. Accessible by default.
Setting standards for the discipline, mentoring designers, and working with executive stakeholders across time zones.
Say g'day