Hi Team Cheeky!
My name is Nick Lacke. I am a brand designer, illustrator, and nerd who develops strong brands through authenticity and craft.

A photo of Nick Lacke illustrating at his work desk.

I’m in the process of reorganizing my website portfolio, so please accept this downloadable portfolio in the meantime. Thank you!

Why me?

  • I’m at the perfect intersection of gamer/nerd and designer/illustrator. This role requires an intersection of some specific interests and skills and I check all the boxes.

  • I am passionate about your mission. I can’t stand all of the hyper-masculine health and wellness products I see on the market and how they try to fit every guy in this small box of bold fonts, dark colors, and military references

  • . I always put my best foot forward and strive to do good work. I also believe in a culture of feedback. I believe that being able to give and receive feedback is a valuable gift, as it ultimately strengthens the work.

  • I work hard, but I am easy to work with. I think in this fraught economy and job market, that often gets tossed aside. This cooperative and collaborative attitude is central to my personality—I don’t know, maybe it’s a midwestern thing?

What I believe in

I care deeply about design, both in the craft itself and the care that goes into doing it well. I am always learning and trying new things, but illustration and brand design have always felt like home to me. At the heart of my work is the customer—understanding who they are, what they need, and how to get them from Point A to Point B as smoothly as possible.

There are a lot of talented designers out there, but something I hear often—and really value—is that I’m “a delight to work with.” I think soft skills and emotional intelligence are just as important as design chops, especially when it comes to building strong, lasting teams.

I love collaborating with people from different backgrounds and disciplines. I’ve seen firsthand how a healthy team culture and a shared sense of purpose can lead to better, more thoughtful work. I always try to lead with empathy, keep the customer in focus, and use both research and experience to design things that truly work.