Hello! I'm Nikki Sylianteng, an inventive product designer based in Brooklyn, New York. A few years ago, I redesigned the parking sign. Most recently, I held product design roles at Kinetic and Sidewalk Labs.
I split my time between personal projects and my day job. I like how one complements the other. As Williams Carlos Williams described, “It is not two jobs at all...one rests the man when the other fatigues him.” I am constantly on observation mode, noticing moments of frustration, asking Why? What if? then bringing those ideas to life. I'm interested in overlooked everyday things, bottom-up approaches, and designing tools and systems for how they should work.
If you like what you see here or have ideas you want to discuss, let's chat! I'm most active on Instagram @nsylianteng, then Twitter. You can also email me at [email protected].
If you’re looking for something that was once on this page, check out the archives: v1 (2010) and v2 (2013).
To Park or Not to Park?
Rethinking the parking sign
A guerrilla project to redesign the confusing parking sign. Collaborated with drivers, city officials, and the colorblind community. Created kits, maps, templates, and a parking sign generator. Piloted in Los Angeles, New Haven, Boston, and Brisbane. Studies showed up to a 60% improvement.
Kinetic
Designing for the stories behind the data
An early stage startup building a safety wearable for factory workers. As the first product designer, I transformed the company's approach to product design into one that was more human, iterative, collaborative, and strategic. This resulted in a 60% increase in worker engagement.
Park Time
Bringing neighbors back to neighborhoods
At Sidewalk Labs, I led design for an app that increased interactions among neighbors. I worked closely with engineers and city operations to scope, prototype, and test the tool with families in downtown Chicago. Read about it on the Sidewalk blog.
The Story of the ZIP Code
A History of Things zine
A hybrid physical/digital zine about the little known history of the ZIP Code. The History of Things looks back at when old ideas were new, what challenges they faced, and how they evolved into everyday things. These stories of invention, iteration, and paradigm shifts will change the way you look at the world. It will make you question what is, what should be, and give you ideas for pushing your own ideas forward.