Nikita Rus🇷🇴

About Nikita Rus

Senior Product Designer at Stoked

Hi, I'm Nikita 👋 a low-ego, self-taught senior UX designer with a background in psychology and graphic design. I moved into UX in 2019 chasing a more strategic, research-driven way of working, and I've spent the years since taking products from 0 to 1 across messy, complex B2B SaaS and enterprise projects.

I've worked with dynamic tech companies, Romania's largest bank, and co-founded a startup along the way, across industries like Fintech, Hospitality, AI, Energy, Aerospace, Law, and HRIS. Right now I'm deep in EU packaging waste compliance, turning regulatory chaos into something people can actually use.

I've been mentoring locally for a while now, and finally decided to take it digital — so here I am 👋

How I can help:

• Untangling messy 0-to-1 problems with strategy and research • Navigating complex, enterprise, or B2B SaaS projects and their stakeholders • Making the leap into UX without a "traditional" path (I didn't have one either) • Portfolio and career feedback, no fluff • Establishing UX processes in places with low UX maturity, and tackling UX pushback • Navigating new ways of working with AI, or using AI in your UX process • Design system advice • Dealing with burnout and work-life balance

Expertise

Sessions with Nikita Rus

• General Mentorship Session (30 min)
• Untangle Your 0-to-1 Problem (45 min): In this session, we'll dig into whatever messy 0-to-1 problem you're facing and figure out where to start. Through strategy and research-based thinking, we'll break down the problem, question your assumptions, and map out a clearer path forward. You'll walk away with a sharper sense of direction and practical next steps to move your project forward with more confidence.
• Breaking Into UX Without a Traditional Path (45 min): Didn't study design? Coming from a different background? Same here. In this session, we'll talk through your path into UX — how to position your unique experience as a strength, what to focus on early, and how to build confidence without a "traditional" resume. No gatekeeping, just honest advice from someone who figured it out the same way.
• Using AI in Your UX Process (45 min): AI is changing how a lot of us work, and it can be hard to know what's actually useful versus hype. In this session, we'll talk through practical ways to bring AI into your UX process from research and workflows to daily tasks and how to adapt without losing the craft that makes good design good.
• Portfolio Review, No Fluff (45 min): Bring your portfolio and let's go through it together — honestly. We'll look at how well it tells your story, whether your case studies actually show your thinking, and what might be holding it back from landing interviews or clients. Expect direct, practical feedback you can act on right away, not just generic praise.
• Burnout & Work-Life Balance in Design (45 min): Design work can be draining, especially in high-pressure or fast-moving environments. In this session, we'll talk openly about burnout, boundaries, and finding a sustainable pace — no judgment, just an honest conversation about what's been hard and what might help you get some balance back.