Let me introduce myself

Portrait of Nicole Cadden smiling, in front of a bright window

From Actuary to Product Designer

I’ve always loved solving problems. That led to a love for numbers and mathematics which eventually led to a career in actuarial science. While I thoroughly enjoyed the analytical side of my work as an actuary, after a while I knew something was missing. I wanted to keep solving problems, but I wanted to solve problems in a way that allowed me to be creative and directly impact people. That is what led me to product design.

Transitioning from a career as an actuary to a designer, I’ve found a fulfilling blend of creativity, problem-solving, and analytical thinking. My experience spans from digital agency to B2B SaaS companies. This diverse background has equipped me with a broad perspective on design challenges and strategies, allowing me to effectively adapt to different environments and project scopes.

I am passionate about solving complex problems and translating them into intuitive, innovative, user-centered solutions. I enjoy collaborating with teams that prioritize customer needs and value creative, out-of-the-box thinking. My goal is to create designs that not only meet user expectations but exceed them, turning complex challenges into seamless experiences.

— Nicole

View my work

Design Experience

  1. Product Designer IIDebtBookOctober 2025 - Present
  2. Product DesignerSalesloftOctober 2023 - October 2025
  3. UX DesignerJBi DigitalDecember 2021 - April 2023

Full history on LinkedIn

What I Bring

  • I think analytically.

    I firmly believe in making decisions backed by data. One of my favorite parts of the design process is doing the research and analyzing the data to ensure that my designs are backed by concrete evidence.

  • I innovate.

    I am constantly looking for ways to improve not just the products I work on, but also myself. I love to challenge myself to design products that can improve the lives of users in unique and innovative ways.

  • I work efficiently.

    As the saying goes, work smarter, not harder. I am always looking for ways to improve processes and streamline my work. I work quickly, but I also work thoroughly.

  • I collaborate.

    I appreciate how every person can bring their own unique perspective and experience to the design process. I believe collaboration is an important part of improving products and growing as a designer.

  • I learn quickly.

    I am a hands-on learner. I learn new things best when I can dive right in and immerse myself in the work. As a result, I find I am able to adapt to new tools and techniques rather quickly.

  • I empathize.

    I have always been fascinated by psychology and human behavior. I am constantly trying to get into the mind of my user to better understand their attitudes and habits so I can best meet their needs.

My Design Skills

Product Design | UX Design | AI Product Design | AI Fluency | Product Strategy | Systems Thinking | User Research | Survey Design | Data Analytics | Usability Testing | A/B Testing | UX Audits | Workshop Facilitation | Personas | User Journeys | User Flows | Information Architecture | Prototyping | Coded Prototyping | UI Design | Interaction Design | Design Systems | Accessibility | HTML & CSS

My Toolkit

Figma | FigJam | Claude | Claude Code | GitHub | Jira | Productboard | Mixpanel | Fullstory

On a more personal note

  • A family of four standing on a green hillside in Ireland, dated 2004

    I've moved around a lot

    I was born in America, raised in Ireland, and briefly lived in Australia before returning to America in my teens. Upon graduating college, I lived in New York City briefly before moving to London. After 18 months there, I finally returned back to Atlanta.

  • Nicole in sunglasses standing in the gardens in front of the Taj Mahal

    I love to travel

    Traveling is a big part of who I am and how I was raised. I love experiencing the unique cultures and history different places have to offer! I’ve had the privilege of traveling to every continent except Antarctica and hope to be able to cross that one off in the near future.

  • Nicole on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris, arm raised, pointing back at the Eiffel Tower

    I speak French (barely)

    I took French in high school but never got past the basics. I’ve picked it back up and I’m somewhere around A2 now, which means I can now order myself dinner and find the Eiffel Tower. I’ve always wanted to speak another language fluently, and I’m determined to get there eventually!

Think we might work well together?

Take a look at my work to see what I’ve been up to and how I can apply my skills to serve all of your product design needs.

View my work