References
Nick’s references come from current and former managers, colleagues, and cross-functional partners. You may view the full collection of references on his LinkedIn profile.
Dominic Flask managed Nick directly at Coinbase
“Nick is a systems-first design thinker who has strengths in operations, process and execution. He works collaboratively across teams and orgs to drive consistency and quality at the component and systems level, leveraging his industry expertise and knowledge to output high quality, scalable solutions to real world problems. He's also a very clear communicator and not afraid to tackle new challenges. A true systems designer through and through.”
Andy Montgomery worked with Nick as the VP of Design at Coinbase
”I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Nick Saele on Coinbase’s design systems, and he’s been a force multiplier for our product teams. Nick has a rare mix of systems thinking and pragmatism: he can architect a scalable, well-governed design system, then roll up his sleeves to ship high-quality components, documentation, and tooling that designers and engineers actually want to use. His work has materially improved consistency, velocity, and quality across surfaces, and he’s a trusted partner to both Design and Engineering. I strongly recommend Nick for any role where a robust, well-adopted design system is critical to the business.”
Juliann Wheeler managed Nick directly at Gusto
“I had the pleasure of working closely with Nick as one of my direct reports on the Design Systems team at Gusto. During that time, we were rapidly evolving and expanding the system to support increased scope and scale across new product areas.
Nick played an important role in helping us design and build some of our most complex components, and consistently stood out for his attention to detail, strong visual design skills, and quality of craft in his design work.
Nick was especially skilled at balancing consistency with speed, ensuring components and patterns met immediate product needs while supporting long-term system health. Beyond their craft skills, Nick is someone I could trust to take ownership and follow through.
I highly recommend Nick to any team looking for a thoughtful, systems-minded designer with a strong sense of craft.”
Jorge Gordon managed Nick directly at MasterClass
“I had the opportunity to work with Nick as his manager while developing the design foundation for MasterClass.
Nick has a strong ability to build well-structured foundational work with exceptional attention to detail and a holistic approach. During his time at MasterClass, he introduced thoughtfully designed improvements across the system, creating comprehensive solutions spanning typography, iconography, and core components such as buttons and cards.
He consistently demonstrated both strategic thinking and high-level craft.
Having worked in design systems for over a decade, it’s rare to come across someone who combines a strong work ethic with the ability to deliver highly polished, cohesive solutions, supported by thorough and well-organized documentation.
Nick approaches every design challenge with a positive attitude and a drive to go beyond expectations. He consistently delivers solutions that not only solve immediate problems but also strengthen the overall coherence and usability of the system.
Ann Tao Managed Nick directly at GoodRx
“Nick is an enthusiastic and reliable team member who is always eager to learn and grow. Nick has excelled in the design system field, displaying exceptional dedication and passion for his work. Nick consistently delivers quality work within tight deadlines and fosters a collaborative work environment. He is enjoyable to work with and brings a positive attitude to every project. Undoubtedly, he will continue to excel in his career and be a valuable asset to any team.”
Nicole Belcher worked with Nick on the same team at Coinbase as a Staff Product Designer
”Nick and I worked together on the centralized design system team at Coinbase for two years. Nick is great at working through layers of ambiguity, thrash and fast paced timelines. His contributions to various products across Coinbase were extensive and showed his capabilities in efficient execution and deep systems thinking. He has gone deep on technical documentation, created contribution models and found opportunities for system improvement. A solid, experienced, hard-working systems designer that any team would be grateful to have. Work with Nick!”
Melanie Oei worked with Nick on the same team at Gusto as a Product Manager
”Nick is a strong systems thinker who brings clarity and structure to complex design problems. He’s thoughtful in his approach and grounded in principles.
He balances big-picture thinking with attention to detail, which is critical in design systems work. He consistently centers the user in decision-making. In cross-functional discussions, he pushes for solutions that are not only scalable, but intuitive and cohesive across the product experience.
Nick is strategic, collaborative, and focused on raising the quality bar. He is an asset to any team he works on!!”