About

I'm an Austrian User Experience Designer (he/him) from the wholesome city of Graz.

Right now, I live in Vienna.

Niq with Q

I want to set myself apart from all the other Nicks, Nics or Niks. My actual name is Nicolas, but nobody ever calls me that.

That's why I'm Niq with Q.

Me standing in a train compartment. I wear a snapback cap backwards, a olive shirt with a yellow hip pack, diagonally around the waist and khaki shorts. I smile tiredly towards the camera.

Credit: Sophia Keyn

With the pictures shown here, I made a real effort picking proper profile pictures (wow, what an alliteration).

Work

Helping people

When I became a computer user in my teens, I've had my fair share of usability problems with software. This really upset me. When software doesn't do what it's supposed to do and people can't figure it out intuitively, it's a matter of bad design.

My own frustrations were reason #1 why I became a UX Designer.

Helping myself.

I soon became aware, that it's not just me, who is facing badly designed software. Everyone benefits from software that is easy to use, looks aesthetically pleasing and doesn't make us think on how do reach our goals.

Other people's frustrations were reason #2 why I became a UX Designer.

Helping others.

Current job

Since 2020, I have been working as a User Experience Designer at Accenture Song. My work focuses on client projects in the public sector, which is how I got introduced to Web Accessibility.

Me studying a big black book that has the letters HTML written on it.

Credit: Chris Newman

Web Accessibility is my bread and butter. I never get tired of reminding my team to build with accessibility in mind, no matter if it's designers, developers, business analysts, QA or PMs. This is the only way we can build truly inclusive software.

I used doors as a metaphor for inclusive design in my post The Accessible Door.

Blog

In the beginning of 2023, I launched my blog.

I love to tell stories and blogging is my way to reflect on topics that are very close to my heart. Writing has evolved me as a person and I constantly evolve my writing. Writing is personal. Writing is painful. Writing is wonderful. For me, it had to be painful for it to eventually become wonderful. I love writing.

I write about how writing broke and rebuilt me in How not to write.

Me looking very focused in front of a laptop. Next to me on the bench stands a dog with his tongue out.

Credit: Sophia Keyn

At the end of every blog post, I invite my readers to reply by email and share their thoughts.

I respond to every email. Don't hesitate to reach out.

Travelling

Deep down, we are all nomads.

Travelling brings out the best version of myself. In 2024, I set off to travel around the world. I launched a travel blog in German called Niqs Reisen.

Me sitting on a scooter. I have my girlfriend on the back and both of us smile happily in the camera. Next to us stands our scooter rental friend, Jeremy.

Credit: Frederick

I write about the places I visit, the people I meet and the adventures I have and you are most welcome to follow along.

More about me

I like to read, write, listen to podcasts, play video games and be out in the nature. I love hiking and Austria is just the right place for that.

I also maintain a now page, which shows my current priorities in life.

Me in a museum in front of a statue, in an effort to imitate the statue's pose. I have my legs stretched forwards, one arm straight in front of me and my other arm over me as if I were holding a dagger.

Credit: Sophia Keyn

Even more about me

If you want to learn even more about me, contact me.