Joey Nicklas is a serial creative/tech entrepreneur. With multiple ventures under his belt, Nicklas has applied creative leadership across industries and disciplines. One of his ventures, Scroll Network, grew to become a multi-million dollar company in a short period of time, classic silicon valley start up story launching out of his dorm room during his sophomore year of college. While his classmates were worrying about tests, he was instead transforming the tech industry. Developing software to innovate file transfer, he dialed in on an opportunity to address the fears and risks of storing files in the cloud and the privacy concerns which were steadily increasing across the world. The idea grew to much support, attracting funding and a fanbase. 

By the time he graduated from college, Nicklas was the Chief Creative Officer of the tech company, managing the creative department and serving on the board of directors, from dorm room development to full office functioning. Leading the company with a creative eye, his influence on brand and UX focused thinking not only shaped the face of the company, but the technology itself. Creating a balance between creative, marketing, operations, sales, and tech launched the company towards success. 

With his business seeing countless accomplishments in the corporate realm, Nicklas faced a difficult decision, whether he should stay in school or drop out. Nicklas chose instead to balance his schoolwork with business, graduating Magna Cum Laude, by working full time during the day and attending university full time by night. He saw the value in education and said, “I can not say what I will learn if I stay, but I have learned nothing if I turn from the opportunity.” A statement he stands by, echoing his motto to always be open to opportunity and to reject your own fallacy of ignorance.

Invigorated by the power of visual communication, Nicklas garners a reputation for his ability across design disciplines. With a knack for technology, his work and understanding has produced strong relationships across the creative/technical divide. Taking a keen eye to the operational efficiency within creative and technical pursuits, his business experience lends a hand to increasing productivity through proper project management and organizational enhancements.

He is always working on a few  freelance projects on the side to expand his repertoire. With every project, Nicklas prides himself on his ability to identify patterns within industries, understanding subtle style evolutions and quiet shifts towards the aesthetics of the future. From research to action, he makes work that seemingly predicts and effects what styles will do well, acting as a trend setter and developer. Pushing and expanding the limits of a brand means the willingness to take calculated risks.

Embracing feedback is the reason Nicklas has been able to develop his skills so rapidly. He believes firmly in the concept of critique, hearing from and trusting the advice of professionals at his side. Constructive criticism is not meant to hurt or harm, but rather it is there to help you see when you cannot. Oftentimes we creatives get too close to a project, it is important to hear out others because when we design, we are designing for the public, not for ourselves. He feels there is nothing better than finding somewhere to improve yourself or your work, it’s an opportunity to meet the new you.

With a passion for helping communities, his extra time is devoted to giving back. Embarking on 5 different trips to locations as near as Washington D.C. and as far as Cuba, he puts time toward helping those in need. Utilizing his creative talents, he helped start a charity on Long Island, called Open Door Exchange. Creating the logo for the company and a brand to unite the community, his efforts formulated into a charity that has grown to help over 1,000 families in need. Since moving to Connecticut, his outreach has shifted towards his new found community of New Haven. Teaming up with The New Haven Adult and Continuing Education Center, whose mission is to get adults to return to school. Creating a series of 5 billboards and other promotional materials, he got the attention of the very communities he was looking to help. The campaign ended in a march, bringing over 1,000 people to the New Haven green to raise awareness and encourage the community. Most recently, Joey has put his creative talents towards various projects to support communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.