Welcome to NBD.Design — Where Strategy, Craft, & Purpose Converge
What NBD.Design is (and isn't)
NBD.Design is me, Nick Becker. This is a small studio, not a bloated agency. I focus on brand identity, digital product design, and design leadership for organizations that need real results, not another deck full of abstract concepts.
I spent years working in GovTech, which taught me something most designers never learn: how to design for trust, clarity, and compliance under insane constraints. That discipline translates beautifully to startups trying to explain complex ideas simply, nonprofits building donor trust, and enterprises navigating acquisitions without losing their identity.
I've led design through product launches, major rebrands, and acquisitions. I know how to keep a brand consistent when the company underneath it is being ripped apart and put back together.
What I do (the stuff that actually matters)
I'm not a full-service agency. I don't do everything. I do the things that move the needle.
Brand strategy and identity systems
Positioning. Naming support. Visual identity. Typography. Iconography. Functional brand guidelines that people actually use. Built to scale, enforced across teams, designed to survive you.
UX/UI and digital experiences
Product-first UX. Conversion-focused landing pages. Polished UI systems. I design with your users in mind, but also with your product and engineering constraints. Pretty doesn't matter if it can't ship.
Rebrands, refreshes, and acquisition transitions
High-stakes rebrands are brutal. Stakeholder alignment is a nightmare. Rollout timing is critical. I've guided organizations through mergers and acquisitions, protecting brand equity while preparing for what comes next. This is not my first rodeo.
Design leadership and team enablement
Design audits. Process coaching. Mentorship for in-house teams. I help internal teams think strategically and ship reliably. Sometimes the best thing I can do is make your team better at their jobs.
Campaigns and creative production
Landing pages. Social assets. Print collateral. Campaign creative that matches your brand voice and conversion goals. Fast, focused, on-brand.
Why people work with me
You're probably deciding between a freelancer, a giant agency, or doing it in-house. Here's where I fit and why it works.
GovTech discipline, startup speed. Government technology taught me to design for trust, clarity, and compliance. Those same principles help startups and nonprofits land complex messaging with simplicity. I bring structure without bureaucracy.
Strategic and hands-on. I'm not just throwing concepts at you. I execute. Positioning decks to pixel-perfect UI. Strategy to shipping. I own both.
Battle-tested through acquisitions. I've led design during acquisition processes and major brand transitions. I know how to balance speed, legal constraints, communications nightmares, and brand continuity. Most designers have never seen this. I've lived it.
Collaborative, not combative. I integrate with product, marketing, engineering, and leadership teams. Communication is direct. Timelines are clear. Deliverables are practical. No drama.
Flexible engagement models. Project-based rebrands. Ongoing design subscriptions. Interim design leadership. Pick what fits your needs and budget. I'm not trying to lock you into some ridiculous retainer.
How I work
I keep process simple and results-focused. Here's what a typical engagement looks like:
-
Discovery and audit. Brand audit. Stakeholder interviews. Focused competitive review. No fluff, just the truth.
-
Strategy and direction. Messaging pillars. Creative direction. Measurable goals. We define success up front.
-
Design and iterate. Identity. UX flows. UI comps. Feedback cycles mapped to milestones. You see progress, not promises.
-
Handoff and rollout. Brand guidelines. Component libraries. Asset delivery for your teams to implement. Everything you need to move forward without me.
-
Ongoing support. Quarterly reviews. Campaign support. Subscription model for continuous design velocity. I'm here if you need me, gone if you don't.
-
Real outcomes, not just pretty files
People work with me because the work is measurable. A clear brand reduces confusion and shortens sales cycles. A consistent design system means faster product iteration and fewer alignment meetings. A well-executed acquisition brand strategy protects existing customers and positions you for growth.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
- Improved conversion and engagement across marketing funnels
- Faster design-to-dev handoffs and fewer implementation errors
- Consistent brand usage across channels and teams
- Reduced rework after leadership changes or acquisitions
Who I work with (and who I work best with)
My sweet spot is organizations that care about clarity, trust, and growth. People who understand that design is a business tool, not a vanity project.
Startups. Quick brand foundations and product-focused UX that scale with you. No over-engineering, no wasted time.
Nonprofits. Mission-first identity and digital experiences that amplify donor trust and engagement. Your story matters. Let's tell it right.
Marketing teams. Reliable creative capacity without the overhead of hiring full-time designers. Plug me in when you need me.
Enterprises and GovTech organizations. Disciplined brand systems and acquisition-ready rollouts. I speak your language.
Case notes and credibility
I've led design through multiple acquisition scenarios and GovTech product overhauls where clarity and compliance were non-negotiable. I've worked cross-functionally with founders, CMOs, product teams, and engineering to deliver consistent brand systems and usable digital products.
If you want references or specific case narratives, I'll share them up front. Transparency matters. I'm not hiding behind vague portfolio pieces.
Let's get to work
If you want blunt, useful design that pushes business outcomes, we should talk. I'll ask tough questions, define a clear scope, and map out the simplest path to real results.
No fluff. No filler. Just work that works.