Design that works
in the real world
Brand identity.
Print and publication.
WordPress and digital.
Clear thinking, careful craft, and digital work built to last.
I’m Nicole Desjardins. I build identities, publications, and WordPress experiences for organizations that need their ideas to be understood—not merely noticed.
SELECTED CASE STUDY
A brand system with Amy’s point of view
Amy Keach needed an identity that could hold authority, wit, and a little edge without drifting into corporate shorthand. The result is a flexible system that feels recognizably hers, from the smallest mark to the full website.
A storybook world that still feels easy to use
The Fairy Slippers site carries the books’ illustrations and sense of discovery into the browser. Clear navigation gives the artwork room to be expressive while helping families find previews, activities, and the story behind the series.
AI TRAINING & EVALUATION
Good AI still needs good judgment.
I review AI-generated text and images for accuracy, instruction-following, consistency, and visual quality—then explain which response is stronger and why.
Response quality & preference ranking
Compare responses against instructions and review criteria, identify meaningful errors, and document why one response is stronger.
Visual & creative evaluation
Review text-and-image responses for composition, typography, brand fidelity, artifacts, realism, and whether they follow the prompt.
Consistency, edge cases & failure modes
Clarify edge cases, document recurring failure modes, and help reviewers apply the same standards consistently.
Which response actually follows the prompt?
A simple example of the kind of judgment AI evaluation requires.
Create a homepage hero for a premium architecture studio. Keep the supplied neutral identity, use an editorial tone, avoid unsupported claims, and include one clear call to action.
Adds an unrequested blue gradient, generic imagery, two calls to action, and a sustainability claim that was never provided.
Keeps the neutral identity, establishes one clear hierarchy, and uses a single call to action. One contrast issue still needs correction.
B follows the visual and content constraints. A introduces claims and a direction that were never requested. B is not flawless, but it is the stronger and more useful starting point.
ABOUT THE PRACTICE
Design experience shaped by technology
I’m Nicole Desjardins, a designer who works across brand identity, publication, WordPress, and AI evaluation. The formats have changed considerably over the years; the fundamentals have not. I still care about typography, hierarchy, clarity, consistency, and whether the finished work actually solves the problem it was meant to solve.
Selected brands and identities
