NIKOLAS FERRARIO
Vancouver, BC
nikferrario@gmail.com
About:
My name is Nikolas Ferrario, and I am currently a third-year Industrial Design student at Emily Carr
University of Art + Design in Vancouver, Canada. I am passionate about creating products that, through intuition and curiosity, explore creative solutions to design challenges. My process focuses on developing human-centered designs that integrate form, functionality, and innovation. With each project, I am deeply committed to exploring how thoughtful design can act as a positive force for change and improve our everyday interactions with objects.
Skills:
Design & Process
Concept Sketching | Form Development | Ideation | Storyboarding | User Research | Technical Drawings | Model Making | Material Exploration | Pattern Making | Sewing | Laser Cutting | 3D Printing | Rapid Prototyping
Digital Tools & Media
Rhino | SolidWorks | KeyShot | Adobe Illustrator | Photoshop | InDesign | Product Photography | Videography
Education:
Bachelor of Design, with a major in Industrial Design
Emily Carr University of Art & Design
Experience:
Product Design Intern,
VSSL Gear,
Vancouver, BC
Summer 2025
VSSL Gear is a Canadian outdoor brand specializing in premium, compact coffee and beverage products designed for overlanding,campers, and hikers. I collaborated across the Product, Customer Experience, and eCommerce teams to strengthen VSSL’s product storytelling, consumer research systems, and brand presence.
- Collaborated across the Product, Customer Experience, and eCommerce teams to develop visuals for their website’s PDPs, DTC storytelling and internal documents.
- Conducted consumer research and competitive analysis reports for new product concepts; created stretches, 3D models (SolidWorks) and renders (KeyShot) for product presentations.
- Helped ideate and design their Digital User Manual Hub, including research, wireframes, and visuals used to improve user education for their current product offering and recent Rift Tumbler launch.
Brand Communication Designer,
Kepat,
Vancouver, BC
Summer 2024
Collaborated with the founder of a local startup to create promotional materials for their initial baby carrier product launch. Developed creative storytelling strategies to inspire people to embrace and share the brand ethos of "keeping families exploring.”
- Created mail-out cards featuring a space for personalized handwritten notes, enhancing customer experience and building brand loyalty.
- Designed promotional business cards to insensitive purchases and Kepat-branded crewnecks to encourage brand awareness.
- Aligned all communications with the brand guidelines developed by Jacknife, ensuring a cohesive message across visual communication pieces.
Freelance Designer,
Habitat Studios,
Remote Spring 2024
Worked under Aidan Fawkes, Head of Creative Services at Habitat Studios Inc., to develop creative solutions for Your Dog Park, a brand dedicated to creating innovative products for dog owners.
- Designed conceptual trade show booth layouts to showcase Your Dog Park’s products and highlight the brand’s unique approach to pet care.
- Created innovative concepts for biodegradable poop bags, focusing on sustainable design and user convenience.
- Collaborated with Habitat Studios to align designs with the brand’s aesthetic and functional goals, ensuring market relevance and engagement.
Freelance Designer,
BC Bounce Basketball Association, Abbotsford , BC
Fall 2023
Generated engaging social media and promotional content for an audience of ~14k followers, driving increased visibility and community engagement for the association.
- Designed seasonal merchandise and coach training templates for the Club and Rec programs, supporting organizational goals and enhancing team cohesion.
- Collaborated across departments to create visual communication materials that reflected the brand’s identity and values.
Creative Design Internship,
Omega Nutrition, Abbotsford, BC
Summer 2023
Completed a 13-week internship with a leading manufacturer of organic nutritional culinary products distributed in ~3,500 stores.
- Pitched a cost-effective marketing strategy, including collaborating with Horizon Media to design a truck advertisement projected to reach 2.5M viewers.
- Designed promotional merchandise for employee giveaways and developed photography-based advertising campaigns to elevate brand recognition.
- Created visually engaging posters for retail outlets like Famous Foods, leveraging the newly redesigned packaging to enhance brand consistency and attract customers.
Others:
Awards
Christopher Foundation Scholarship (2025) | Queen’s University Principal’s Entry Scholarship (2022) | BC Excellence Award (2022)
Certifications
Parsons New School of Design Industry Essentials Program | Vancouver Film School Certified Digital Designer | Canadian Heritage Arts and Culture Program
Interest
Snowboarding | Hiking | Guitar | Media Production |
Photography | Media Production | Cooking | History