Sonja Nikiforova
Rotterdam,Netherlands
Summary
Multidisciplinary Product Designer and Manager with experience in game development, 3D art, and UX/UI design. Skilled in leading product lifecycles, collaborating with international teams, and delivering engaging digital experiences. Highly motivated, goal-oriented, and adaptable, with a strong focus on results, creativity, and innovative solutions. Open to relocation and new challenges in creative and strategic roles.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Product Owner / Digital Product Manager
ofi
Remote
06.2025 - 12.2025
- Optimized and managed global B2B digital portal, streamlining commercial operations and improving customer experience.
- Defined and prioritized product backlog and roadmap in alignment with business goals, user insights, and stakeholder needs.
- Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams (design, engineering, business) to improve UX, feature adoption, and platform usability.
- Applied data-driven decisions through analytics and user feedback, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, engagement, and online performance.
- Demonstrated strong product ownership and initiative, ensuring alignment between business strategy and user needs.
Game Designer / UX UI & Product Specialist
ZorgGo
Groningen, Netherlands
02.2025 - 07.2025
- Designed and developed a mobile serious game for mental health education, integrating evidence-based frameworks (EASE by UNICEF & WHO) into engaging gameplay.
- Led iterative testing and user research to refine usability, accessibility, and engagement for Ukrainian-speaking users.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams from concept to release, ensuring smooth integration of game into the training program.
- Delivered culturally adapted, safe, and user-centered digital solutions, supporting educators and participants in achieving measurable learning outcomes.
- Strengthened product management skills through active participation in design sprints, backlog refinement, and project coordination.
Game Designer / UX & Visual Designer
East-West Seed
Remote
09.2024 - 02.2025
- Designed and developed an educational mobile game for young Tanzanian farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture and farm management practices.
- Applied gamification and research-driven visual design to maximize engagement and user satisfaction.
- Created culturally adapted prototypes aligned with local technical constraints, iteratively tested for future development.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to translate training materials into accessible, interactive experiences.
- Enhanced skills in user-centered design, prototyping, and cross-cultural adaptation for educational technology.
3D Artist
Monobanda
Utrecht, Netherlands
02.2024 - 07.2024
- Developed 3D environments, animations, and VFX for interactive games, XR experiences, and installations.
- Worked closely with researchers, scientists, and subject-matter experts to create psychologically driven, immersive experiences.
- Contributed to rapid prototyping, iterative design, and successfully released award-nominated projects with credited work.
- Integrated art and technology effectively, combining creativity with technical precision.
- Demonstrated adaptability, attention to detail, and collaborative problem-solving in multidisciplinary teams.
Production Manager
Cosmax
Seoul, South Korea
09.2023 - 01.2024
- Conducted global market research and trend analysis, providing actionable insights to inform product strategy and innovation.
- Supported product formulation testing, documentation, and design briefs, ensuring alignment with market and consumer needs.
- Collaborated with international teams across R&D, marketing, and packaging to optimize products and processes.
- Delivered insights that influenced marketing initiatives and product development decisions.
- Strengthened skills in cross-functional collaboration, strategic thinking, and global business operations.
Education
Bachelor of Creative Media - Game Technologies
Hanze University of Applied Sciences
Gronigen, Netherlands 09/2021 - 07/2025
Master in International Business - Strategy and Innovation
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Remote 09/2025 -
Skills
Technical & Design Skills: Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, ZBrush, ProCreate, Substance Painter, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere; 3D Modeling, Sculpting, Animation, Rigging, UV & Texturing, Level & Concept Design, UX/UI Design, Gamification
Product & Soft Skills: Product Ownership, Roadmap & Backlog Management, Team Leadership, Project Coordination, Strategic Planning, Problem Solving, Process Improvement, Collaboration, Adaptability, Creativity, Strong Work Ethic
Certification
- UX & UI - Google courses
- 3D modeling/ Social media Management - Tallinn University
- Adobe Photoshop/ Adobe Illustrator - Estonia Art Academy
Languages
English: C1
Fluent
Estonian: C1
Fluent
Russian: C2
Native
Korean: A2
Intermediate
Hobbies
Streaming, video creation & editing, studying sociology, and sports activities, yoga, podcasts
Timeline
Product Owner / Digital Product Manager
ofi
06.2025 - 12.2025
Game Designer / UX UI & Product Specialist
ZorgGo
02.2025 - 07.2025
Game Designer / UX & Visual Designer
East-West Seed
09.2024 - 02.2025
3D Artist
Monobanda
02.2024 - 07.2024
Production Manager
Cosmax
09.2023 - 01.2024
Bachelor of Creative Media - Game Technologies
Hanze University of Applied Sciences
09/2021 - 07/2025
Master in International Business - Strategy and Innovation
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
09/2025 -