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Nick Tillem

Build Better Learning. Build Better Products.

I design learning experiences that improve performance and build practical tools and products people actually use.

Book Me

High-energy speaking your team will actually enjoy and actually use.

Book Nick for sessions on communication, empathy, team connection, accessibility, and energizing your people without wasting their time. Attendees leave with clear goals, useful tools, and momentum that keeps going long after the session ends.

Why these sessions land

This isn't your father's training. When you learn from a learning professional, you get an experience built to stick.

People have fun. People walk away with tools. Teams leave with a clear next step, not a stack of notes that disappears by Monday.

Every session is built around clear goals people can walk away with and use.
It is fun, engaging, and designed for lasting impact after the event.
This is learning that sticks because it is built by a learning professional.

Communication That Clicks

Fast, practical communication sessions that help people be clear, confident, and easy to work with.

Walk away with

  • Shared language for stronger conversations
  • Tools to reduce confusion and friction
  • A clear goal each attendee can apply immediately

Empathy in Action

Turn empathy into a real workplace skill so people listen better, respond better, and collaborate like humans.

Walk away with

  • Ways to understand people before reacting
  • Frameworks for more productive feedback and conflict
  • Behaviors that make trust visible after the session

Team Chemistry That Lasts

Not generic team building. This is about stronger connection, accountability, and momentum that still show up weeks later.

Walk away with

  • A stronger sense of how the team works together
  • Goals that support real follow-through
  • Simple rituals that keep the energy alive afterward

Energizing Sessions That Spark Action

High-energy, interactive sessions that are genuinely fun and packed with tools people can use right away.

Walk away with

  • A room that feels alive and involved
  • Tools people can use the next day
  • Takeaways designed for lasting impact, not a short-lived boost

Accessibility by Design

Make accessibility practical, approachable, and built into how your team communicates, designs, and delivers work.

Walk away with

  • A clearer understanding of what accessible work looks like in practice
  • Simple ways to design and communicate more inclusively
  • Action steps teams can apply immediately across real projects

If you want a keynote, workshop, or team session that feels alive in the room and still matters after it ends, this is the work. The goal is not a one-hour hype moment. The goal is to help people leave better equipped than they arrived.

Work & Experience

Building things that matter.

I design and research digital solutions that connect learning, product thinking, and real-world performance.

Certificate Course Creator

Module Owner β€” AI for Work and Life Certificate Course

2024 – Present
  • Owned and developed a core module within an AI-focused certificate course for workplace and life applications.
  • Designed hands-on learning activities using practical projects, prompting strategies, and responsible AI use.
  • Created module content and learning materials that enabled learners to apply generative AI in real-world scenarios.
  • Collaborated with the broader course team to align module outcomes with overall certificate goals.
  • Built module-level assessments focused on application, confidence, and immediate on-the-job utility.
Procter & Gamble

Product Researcher β€” Digital Learning & Solutions

Nov 2025 – Present
  • Lead product research at the intersection of learning, digital tools, and user experience β€” bridging L&D strategy with scalable digital solutions.
  • Identify unmet user needs across global teams and translate them into actionable product insights, prototypes, and implementation strategies.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams spanning learning, IT, data, and business leadership to design solutions that drive adoption and measurable performance improvement.
  • Design and test user-centered approaches that move beyond traditional training, focusing on workflow integration and real-world application.
  • Influence product direction by connecting learner behavior, tool usage, and business outcomes.
Procter & Gamble

Curriculum Designer β€” Digital Upskilling & Learning Experience

May 2024 – Nov 2025
  • Designed and delivered scalable digital upskilling programs focused on accelerating real-world application of emerging tools and technologies.
  • Built structured learning experiences centered on hands-on projects, experimentation, and solving real business problems.
  • Translated complex digital capabilities into accessible, actionable learning that drove adoption across global teams.
  • Partnered with cross-functional stakeholders and SMEs to ensure relevance, alignment, and measurable impact.
  • Contributed to a shift toward a more agile, digital-first learning strategy across the organization.
Procter & Gamble

Learning Technologies Manager β€” Product Supply

May 2021 – Apr 2024
  • Led global learning technology initiatives impacting 5,000+ employees, increasing efficiency and digital capability across the organization.
  • Designed and launched a flagship digital upskilling program focused on real-world application, AI tools, and business-driven projects.
  • Built a Power BI-driven measurement system to track adoption, engagement, and learning impact across initiatives.
  • Collaborated with 25+ SMEs to design and deliver high-impact learning aligned to strategic business priorities.
  • Piloted and scaled emerging technologies β€” including learning experience platforms and AI-enabled solutions β€” to modernize the learning ecosystem.
  • Shifted learning delivery from static training to application-based experiences that improved performance and tool adoption.
University of North Florida

Adjunct Professor β€” Learning Design & Educational Technology

Aug 2024 – Present
  • Teach graduate and undergraduate students in learning design, educational technology, and training needs assessment.
  • Design and deliver courses focused on real-world instructional design practice, including needs analysis and performance gap identification.
  • Incorporate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to create inclusive, accessible learning experiences.
  • Mentor students transitioning into instructional design and learning technology careers.
  • Align coursework with current industry practices to ensure career readiness and real-world relevance.

How I Work

The same process, in every medium.

Whether I’m designing a digital learning program, researching a product problem, or building something in the workshop β€” the thinking behind it follows the same five-step approach.

01

Identify the Real Problem

Before designing anything, I dig into what's actually broken β€” whether that's a workflow gap, a learning barrier, or a physical need that hasn't been solved well yet.

02

Design a Practical Solution

I sketch the simplest solution that solves the real problem β€” not over-engineered, not under-thought. Whether it's a curriculum framework, a digital workflow, or a 3D model, clarity comes first.

03

Prototype Quickly

Speed matters early. I get something tangible into the world fast β€” a draft module, a printed part, a working demo β€” so I can learn from something real instead of spending weeks on assumptions.

04

Build and Test

I build with the end user in mind β€” whether that's a learner, a team, or a person holding a printed object. Testing is built into the process, not tacked on at the end.

05

Refine Based on Results

The first version is rarely the final version. I measure what's working, listen to feedback, and iterate β€” whether that's a reprint, a revised module, or a redesigned system.

Articles

Writing on learning, digital solutions, and personal projects.

This is where the Nick side of the brand publishes ideas, reflections, and useful experiments across learning and development, digital problem-solving, and creative side projects. Read more on Medium β†’

Learning & CognitionFeatured

Focus in the Fingertips: How Small Movements Unlock Big Thinking

Research in psychology and neuroscience shows that tactile engagement β€” like manipulating a fidget cube β€” meaningfully improves attention, retention, and creative thinking in adults. Written from the perspective of an L&D practitioner who 3D-prints fidget cubes and hands them out during long meetings.

Nov 21, 2025Β·3 min readΒ·Read on Medium β†’
I Vibe Coded My Website for $10 and You Can Too
Digital Solutions

I Vibe Coded My Website for $10 and You Can Too

A practical breakdown of how I used ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Next.js, VS Code, GitHub, Vercel, and a custom domain to build and launch my own website without starting from scratch.

Apr 28, 2026Β·3 min read
Read more β†’

Learning & Development

Better learning starts with better questions

Whether you need to assess learning impact, diagnose barriers to transfer, or build a culture of continuous improvement, I design frameworks based on Thalheimer's research that go beyond satisfaction surveys to uncover what actually matters.

πŸ“Š

Impact Assessment

Measure learning outcomes, on-the-job transfer, and ROI with Thalheimer-backed frameworks proven to predict performance.

πŸ”

Barrier Analysis

Uncover what's actually blocking learning transfer, from motivation to environment to skill.

πŸ› οΈ

Custom Solutions

From survey design to frameworks to integration with your existing tools and platforms.

Contact

Let's build something
together.

Open to collaborations, commissions, and interesting conversations. Whether you want a custom 3D printed product, a Pi-based solution, or just to chat about the work β€” reach out.

Typically responds within 24 hours.

nicktillem@gmail.com
Nick Tillem

Nick Tillem

Creator, writer, speaker, and builder behind MakerHouse.

20+

Projects

150+

Prints

✍️

Writer

Work & Experience

Building things that matter.

I design and research digital solutions that connect learning, product thinking, and real-world performance.

Certificate Course Creator

Module Owner β€” AI for Work and Life Certificate Course

2024 – Present
  • Owned and developed a core module within an AI-focused certificate course for workplace and life applications.
  • Designed hands-on learning activities using practical projects, prompting strategies, and responsible AI use.
  • Created module content and learning materials that enabled learners to apply generative AI in real-world scenarios.
  • Collaborated with the broader course team to align module outcomes with overall certificate goals.
  • Built module-level assessments focused on application, confidence, and immediate on-the-job utility.
Procter & Gamble

Product Researcher β€” Digital Learning & Solutions

Nov 2025 – Present
  • Lead product research at the intersection of learning, digital tools, and user experience β€” bridging L&D strategy with scalable digital solutions.
  • Identify unmet user needs across global teams and translate them into actionable product insights, prototypes, and implementation strategies.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams spanning learning, IT, data, and business leadership to design solutions that drive adoption and measurable performance improvement.
  • Design and test user-centered approaches that move beyond traditional training, focusing on workflow integration and real-world application.
  • Influence product direction by connecting learner behavior, tool usage, and business outcomes.
Procter & Gamble

Curriculum Designer β€” Digital Upskilling & Learning Experience

May 2024 – Nov 2025
  • Designed and delivered scalable digital upskilling programs focused on accelerating real-world application of emerging tools and technologies.
  • Built structured learning experiences centered on hands-on projects, experimentation, and solving real business problems.
  • Translated complex digital capabilities into accessible, actionable learning that drove adoption across global teams.
  • Partnered with cross-functional stakeholders and SMEs to ensure relevance, alignment, and measurable impact.
  • Contributed to a shift toward a more agile, digital-first learning strategy across the organization.
Procter & Gamble

Learning Technologies Manager β€” Product Supply

May 2021 – Apr 2024
  • Led global learning technology initiatives impacting 5,000+ employees, increasing efficiency and digital capability across the organization.
  • Designed and launched a flagship digital upskilling program focused on real-world application, AI tools, and business-driven projects.
  • Built a Power BI-driven measurement system to track adoption, engagement, and learning impact across initiatives.
  • Collaborated with 25+ SMEs to design and deliver high-impact learning aligned to strategic business priorities.
  • Piloted and scaled emerging technologies β€” including learning experience platforms and AI-enabled solutions β€” to modernize the learning ecosystem.
  • Shifted learning delivery from static training to application-based experiences that improved performance and tool adoption.
University of North Florida

Adjunct Professor β€” Learning Design & Educational Technology

Aug 2024 – Present
  • Teach graduate and undergraduate students in learning design, educational technology, and training needs assessment.
  • Design and deliver courses focused on real-world instructional design practice, including needs analysis and performance gap identification.
  • Incorporate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to create inclusive, accessible learning experiences.
  • Mentor students transitioning into instructional design and learning technology careers.
  • Align coursework with current industry practices to ensure career readiness and real-world relevance.

MakerHouse Projects

Business-ready and personalized prints with a polished maker feel.

These featured pieces are examples of what is possible, not fixed products to copy. I can adapt the same process to your brand and logo to create something original for your business, event, or personal project.

Branded and Personalized Keychains

Branded and Personalized Keychains

Keychains designed for gifts, events, teams, and brand moments with a polished finish and room for names, marks, and personal details.

Personalized NamesCompany LogoSmall Batch
Request Something Similar
Custom Anniversary Gift

Custom Anniversary Gift

One-of-a-kind commemorative designs made to celebrate milestones with sculptural form and meaningful personalization.

MilestonesKeepsakePremium Gift
View Project
Custom Cake Topper Designs

Custom Cake Topper Designs

Modern topper concepts for birthdays, weddings, and celebrations with personalized lettering and playful visual depth.

CelebrationsDecorPersonalized Text
Request Something Similar
Branded Plaques and Holders

Branded Plaques and Holders

A plaque with your logo and a customized holder, refined and adjusted into a branded display piece tailored to your business.

Branded DisplayLogo PlaqueCustom Holder
Request Something Similar
All the Devils

Custom Branded Coasters

All the Devils and Superior Hydroponics coaster sets are sample brand builds β€” your order can be shaped around your own logo, name, and style.

Any BrandLogo-ReadyUnique Sets
Request Something Similar
Pick a Color

Infinity Fidget Cube

A smooth, hand-folding infinity cube built for focus, stress relief, and desktop fidgeting. Orange, red, and teal are shown here, and many more colors are available on request β€” 1 for $5, 2 for $9, or 3 for $12.

Store ItemMany ColorsFrom $5
Request by Email

How I Work

The same process, in every medium.

Whether I’m designing a digital learning program, researching a product problem, or building something in the workshop β€” the thinking behind it follows the same five-step approach.

01

Identify the Real Problem

Before designing anything, I dig into what's actually broken β€” whether that's a workflow gap, a learning barrier, or a physical need that hasn't been solved well yet.

02

Design a Practical Solution

I sketch the simplest solution that solves the real problem β€” not over-engineered, not under-thought. Whether it's a curriculum framework, a digital workflow, or a 3D model, clarity comes first.

03

Prototype Quickly

Speed matters early. I get something tangible into the world fast β€” a draft module, a printed part, a working demo β€” so I can learn from something real instead of spending weeks on assumptions.

04

Build and Test

I build with the end user in mind β€” whether that's a learner, a team, or a person holding a printed object. Testing is built into the process, not tacked on at the end.

05

Refine Based on Results

The first version is rarely the final version. I measure what's working, listen to feedback, and iterate β€” whether that's a reprint, a revised module, or a redesigned system.

πŸ–¨οΈ

500+

3D Prints Crafted

πŸ› οΈ

150+

Custom Projects

⏱️

2000+

Hours Creating

πŸ§ͺ

15+

Materials Mastered

Business + Personal

Request a Business or Personal Build

Share your brand product need, team order, gift, or personal print idea and email MakerHouse directly with the details.

Prefer to start fresh? Email nick@makerhouse.dev directly.