Plantir SmartPot
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WEBSITE & BRANDING
The Plantir SmartPot is an in-development high tech plant pot designed to make it easier for botanical enthusiasts to manage their more delicate specimens.
3D model and website designed and executed by me.
18x24
Blessed with a friend that would model for me.
Created while I was working on Sanford’s album art remix; inspired by colour palette and peaceful essence. Purple is huge for me this season.
Work-in-progress.
Collaborative project with photographer Liam Blackwell focusing around poetic notions of decomposition and decay.
APP
A while ago, I took a very expensive UX Design course. One of the early assignments was to find an unexploited and profitable niche to kind of streamline some element of the human experience.
As a person with a normal life, I had to think pretty hard to come up with something that really could be easier.
I went outside and looked up at the sky, an inscrutible puzzle. I always struggled to make sense of the clouds. And then it hit me. I had my idea.
In the age of artificial intelligence, it is rather an incredible waste to spend one’s time squinting at the clouds, trying to coalesce the faraway fluffy mass into some form the mind can recognize. It is difficult, and even bad for our sensitive eyes to look up at the bright sky in such pursuit.
Inspired by the app designed to help us identify every song ever, therefore freeing us from the burden of unknowing, I created Strazam.
Strazam is an innovation in cloud-gazing, accessing a complex neural network to analyze and match stratospheric fluff to objects comprehensible to our earthly minds. Like a miracle, your cloud will be identified instantaneously, allowing you more time for other important pursuits.
I unfortunately cannot boast a warm reception from my UX Design instructors, however, I stand by my innovation.
2025
2025
2025
PIG
Oil Paint on Paper
2025
Click to Download
2024
2023
sadienielsen94@gmail.com
(778) 325-3276
linkedin.com/in/sadienielsen
@sadie.corp.industries.ltd
I’m Sadie Nielsen, a multidisciplinary designer, illustrator, and artist based in Tiohtià:ke, otherwise known as Montréal, which is situated on the unceded Indigenous lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka/Mohawk Nation.
With a background in Visual Arts and Instructional Design, I have developed a diverse skill set geared toward accessible and polished design.
EDUCATION
Concordia University
MA in Educational Technology
Expected completion Spring 2028
Emily Carr University
UX Design Diploma
April-December 2021
University of Victoria
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts
2019
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Freelance
Graphic, Instructional Designer & Illustrator
November 2024-present
- Freelance multidisciplinary designer with a focus on graphic design, illustration, and instructional design.
- Experienced in creating brand identities, digital graphics, instructional resources, and multimedia content for diverse audiences.
- Skilled in translating complex ideas into clear, accessible, and user-centered visual materials informed by UX and learning design principles
Hot Neon Productions, Ltd
Learning Experience Designer
October 2022 - November 2024
- Designed and developed e-learning modules and interactive digital tools to support diverse learner needs, with a focus on clarity, accessibility (WCAG), and user testing feedback.
- Collaborated with clients in the education and public health sectors to align instructional content with learning objectives and UX best practices.
- Supported LMS course builds using platforms such as Brightspace and Thinkific.
- Produced digital illustrations and diagrams to visually reinforce learning materials; ensured all assets met accessibility guidelines.
- Developed training resources, evaluation tools, and onboarding guides for both internal team members and external clients.
- Led iterative development cycles using client and learner feedback to improve functionality, clarity, and impact.
Paper Education
Humanities Tutor
January 2021 - October 2022
- Tutored a high volume of students across humanities subjects, providing personalized guidance that improved clarity, confidence, and academic performance.
- Coached learners through the full writing process—from brainstorming to final revision—ensuring clear, well-supported arguments.
- Applied evidence-based instructional strategies to create accessible, student-centered learning experiences.
- Recognized for exceptional clarity, patience, and ability to quickly assess and address student needs.
VOLUNTEER
Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal
After school program tutor
October 2025-current, ongoing
SELECTED PROJECTS
2026
DOMAINE DES LIGNES
Resident Artist
Began production of upcoming graphic novel project
2026
BC FERRIES
Illustrator
Worked within a set of specific constraints to design a suite of rigged characters to be used for animated scenarios.
2026 - ongoing
NOISE MACHINE STUDIOS
Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager
Redesiging album cover for artist Sanford and creating and overseeing social media campaign to generate interest in both the upcoming album and the studio.
2025
RIVOLI THEATRE BUILDING
Sym-Tech Beton Prefabrique
Sculpture Restoration Artist
Worked with a small team to restore eroded concrete bas relief sculptures by building up original pieces with polyer clay and recasting. Used Sketchup to model missing blocks using old photos as reference. I feel lucky to have made such a permanent mark on Montreal.
2025
IN PUTRO
Graphic Designer & Writer
Large format zine project on the topic of decomposition with photographer Liam Blackwell
2025
Plantir SmartPot
Designer and Product Owner
Multimedia suite of print, web, and prototype artifacts depicting a satirical tech startup. Television
appearance pending.
2025 - ongoing
Trans Care BC: Kindling our Curiosity
Illustrator
Illustrator for a series of zines commissioned by BC Health Services focusing on sexual wellness
for gender diverse people
2025
Men&: Interactive Workbook UX Designer
Working alongside game designers in developing comprehensive “choose your own adventure”
tool for navigating conflict for learners engaged in anger management development. Created UX to
mimic conventional video game experiences.
2024
Fear Is Not Love: Safety Planning Toolkit
Learning Experience Designer, Illustrator, Developer
Created an interactive solution to a comprehensive quide in managing personal safety in domestic
violence situations. Created interactive video and customizable downloadable PDF resources
housed within a custom built interface with a focus on accessibility.
2024
Trans Care BC: Infant Feeding Resources
Learning Experience Designer, Graphic Designer, Technical Illustrator
Worked with team of Nurses and Subject Matter Experts to design a series of print resources to guide
gender diverse parents through various methods of infant feeding, especially for people who may have
had chest surgery or who may be undergoing HRT.
2024
Trans Care BC: Pelvic Floor Recovery Workbook Technical illustrator
Developed anatomical illustrations and stretch diagrams to guide learners through exercises to ease
recovery from pelvic surgery
2023
Dreaming of Other Lives
Illustrated Poetry Zine
2023 Trans Care BC: Gender Affirming Relational Practice
Learning Experience Designer
Designed and assembled e-learning course for healthcare practitioners
2023
What Lab Resident Artist, July Project
2022
“I Still Have This” Exhibition curator
2020
Ministry of Casual Living Resident Artist
2019
Popps Packing Resident Artist
Learning Design Tools
CMS
UX
Other
Photoshop
InDesign
Acrobat
Premiere
Express
XD
Articulate Rise
Articulate Storyline
D2L
Moodle
Cargo
Wordpress
Squarespace
Figma
Framer
ProCreate
Sketchup
Blender (learning)
Last Updated 24.10.31
Trans Care BC
Sexual health zine illustrations - reimagining of previous illustrative project for the purpose of black-and-white at-home printing. Using the same initial concepts of moving water as employed in the first edition, I implemented a high-contrast, comic-book style in this reimagination.
Louis CZA
ALBUM ARTWORK
Lovelet
ALBUM ARTWORK AND PRINT MATERIALS
Hand painted :-)
Noise Machine Studios
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: ALBUM RELEASE AND STUDIO PROMOTION
Noise Machine Studios asked me to run their social media campaign for the month leading up to the release of their new album VIOLET GAVE WILLINGLY: REMIX VOLUME I with the stated goal of building their audience and enticing up-and-coming musicians and artists to partake in future projects and to apply for their residency program.
I developed a content schedule and produced graphics and videos to introduce participating artists and garner excitement in the weeks leading up to the release, as well as Spotify Canvas short videos to accompany each single.. I also managed an ad budget and worked to optimize reach. The client received an influx of applications from prospective residents and enjoyed a successful release.
Check them out on Instagram
SANFORD: VIOLET GAVE WILLINGLY
REMIX ALBUM ARTWORK
Reimagined original album artwork for ambient artist Sanford. Since the remixed album is more electronic, I proposed a pixel art style reimagining of the watercolour grid painting that served as the original artwork. Preserving the colour scheme and structure, I created a grid overlay of a lichen drawing, inspired by the west coast environment the artist lives and works in, creating an abstracted and dimensional reimagining of the artwork. I provided both dark and light versions that may be appropriate for different purposes.
Lawyer Website
Promotional videos for international tour of Canadian country band. Made using provided Super 8 footage.
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Created illustrations to accompany sexual health resources with the metaphor of flowing water as a representation of sexual fluidity.
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Created illustrations to accompany sexual health resources with the metaphor of hiking in nature to represent self discovery.
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I helped create a public facing interactive learning tool for inclusion in the campaign. This is a simple, short, and visually thoughtful microlearning designed to reach a broad audience.
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I created a visual template and identity for program overviews as provided by a management consulting agency.
Brand identity and accompanying illustrations for a cooking blog
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Created a web portal to download and stream a musician’s new single.