From an idea to a launched creative platform
From an idea to a launched creative platform
From an idea to a launched creative platform
I led Artingle’s product design from 0 to 1, bringing portfolios, jobs, community, and collaboration into one platform for creatives—with opportunities to work together even without a budget. When our developers left the project, my CEO and I took on implementation using Claude Code, reviewed each screen, and met our original launch date.
I led Artingle’s product design from 0 to 1, bringing portfolios, jobs, community, and collaboration into one platform for creatives—with opportunities to work together even without a budget. When our developers left the project, my CEO and I took on implementation using Claude Code, reviewed each screen, and met our original launch date.
I led Artingle’s product design from 0 to 1, bringing portfolios, jobs, community, and collaboration into one platform for creatives—with opportunities to work together even without a budget. When our developers left the project, my CEO and I took on implementation using Claude Code, reviewed each screen, and met our original launch date.
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
Cofounder &
Chief Design Officer
Cofounder &
Chief Design Officer
Cofounder &
Chief Design Officer
TOOLS
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
Figjam
Miro
Figma
Figjam
Miro
Figma
Figjam
Miro
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
Aug 2025 - current
Aug 2025 - current
Aug 2025 - current
TEAM
TEAM
TEAM
Founder/CEO
2 Engineers
4 Design interns (led by me)
1 Founder/CEO
2 Engineers
4 Design interns (led by me)
Founder/CEO
2 Engineers
4 Design interns (led by me)
THE WHOLE PRODUCT
THE WHOLE PRODUCT
THE WHOLE PRODUCT
Four creative needs. One connected experience
Four creative needs. One connected experience
My cofounder, a cellist, needed a designer, a photographer, and a venue to release an album. His contact list could only take him so far.
My cofounder, a cellist, needed a designer, a photographer, and a venue to release an album. His contact list could only take him so far.
My cofounder, a cellist, needed a designer, a photographer, and a venue to release an album. His contact list could only take him so far.
That became the starting point for Artingle. Through 50+ interviews across five creative segments, I heard recurring needs around finding people, showing work, and getting projects started. I translated that broad idea into five clear places to go.
That became the starting point for Artingle. Through 50+ interviews across five creative segments, I heard recurring needs around finding people, showing work, and getting projects started. I translated that broad idea into five clear places to go.
That became the starting point for Artingle. Through 50+ interviews across five creative segments, I heard recurring needs around finding people, showing work, and getting projects started. I translated that broad idea into five clear places to go.
The portfolio sits inside My Account, along with background and collaboration offers
The portfolio sits inside My Account, along with background and collaboration offers
The portfolio sits inside My Account, along with background and collaboration offers
DECISION 1 / PRODUCT STRUCTURE
DECISION 1 / PRODUCT STRUCTURE
Connect the person, the work, and the opportunity
Someone considering a collaborator needs more than a job title. They need to see the work and understand what that person can contribute.
Someone considering a collaborator needs more than a job title. They need to see the work and understand what that person can contribute.
Put the work in context
Put the work in context
I grouped About, Portfolio, and Collaborate within the same profile so visitors could explore background, work, and available offers together.
I grouped About, Portfolio, and Collaborate within the same profile so visitors could explore background, work, and available offers together.
Make contributions visible
Make contributions visible
Portfolio entries include team credit. This helps explain who was involved, rather than presenting the project as one person’s work.
Portfolio entries include team credit. This helps explain who was involved, rather than presenting the project as one person’s work.
DECISION 2 / PARTICIPATION
DECISION 2 / PARTICIPATION
Make room for creatives without a budget
Our first collaboration model assumed people could pay. That left out some of the creative students we wanted to reach.
Our first collaboration model assumed people could pay. That left out some of the creative students we wanted to reach.
I proposed Creative Exchange alongside Paid projects. The design needed to explain what each person would contribute before they committed.
I proposed Creative Exchange alongside Paid projects. The design needed to explain what each person would contribute before they committed.
THE TRADE-OFF
Exchange generates no direct transaction fee but still needs support. We chose to explore whether it could help people build experience and credibility for paid work later.
DECISION 3 / INTERACTION
DECISION 3 / INTERACTION
Make the brief understandable outside design
Finding the next step wasn’t enough. People needed help defining the work.
Finding the next step wasn’t enough. People needed help defining the work.
In moderated testing with eight creatives across four disciplines, including two chefs, I found that project terms were getting lost in chat. The chefs struggled to formalise the agreement.
In moderated testing with eight creatives across four disciplines, including two chefs, I found that project terms were getting lost in chat. The chefs struggled to formalise the agreement.
WHAT CHANGED
WHAT CHANGED
I introduced a structured brief and field guidance. In the second round, the chefs found and completed it. That supported keeping the structure and continuing to test the language across disciplines.
I introduced a structured brief and field guidance. In the second round, the chefs found and completed it. That supported keeping the structure and continuing to test the language across disciplines.
DESIGN TO LAUNCH
DESIGN TO LAUNCH
DESIGN TO LAUNCH
When our developers left, we took on the build
When our developers left, we took on the build
My role expanded from designing the experience to helping implement it.
My role expanded from designing the experience to helping implement it.
My role expanded from designing the experience to helping implement it.
01
01
01
Two weeks spent searching
Two weeks spent searching
Two weeks spent searching
We started with two developers. After they left the project, my CEO and I spent two weeks looking for replacements
We started with two developers. After they left the project, my CEO and I spent two weeks looking for replacements
We started with two developers. After they left the project, my CEO and I spent two weeks looking for replacements
02
02
02
A decision to try building
A decision to try building
A decision to try building
Claude Code made it accessible enough for us to attempt implementation ourselves. We took on the remaining development together using AI-assisted coding
Claude Code made it accessible enough for us to attempt implementation ourselves. We took on the remaining development together using AI-assisted coding
Claude Code made it accessible enough for us to attempt implementation ourselves. We took on the remaining development together using AI-assisted coding
03
03
03
Reviewing every screen
Reviewing every screen
Reviewing every screen
We audited the screens one by one as we worked through the build. I was now involved in both the design and its implementation
We audited the screens one by one as we worked through the build. I was now involved in both the design and its implementation
We audited the screens one by one as we worked through the build. I was now involved in both the design and its implementation
THE RESULT
THE RESULT
THE RESULT
We met the original launch date without developers on the team. Taking on implementation helped us keep the launch on schedule after the two-week search.
We met the original launch date without developers on the team. Taking on implementation helped us keep the launch on schedule after the two-week search.
We met the original launch date without developers on the team. Taking on implementation helped us keep the launch on schedule after the two-week search.
LAUNCH & LEARNING
LAUNCH & LEARNING
LAUNCH & LEARNING
A launched product. The start of learning
A launched product. The start of learning
SHIPPED
SHIPPED
SHIPPED
Mobile & web
Mobile & web
Mobile & web
Launched on the original schedule
Launched on the original schedule
Launched on the original schedule
EARLY ADOPTATION
EARLY ADOPTATION
EARLY ADOPTATION
90+ creatives
90+ creatives
90+ creatives
Joined in a month, without paid acquisition
Joined in a month, without paid acquisition
Joined in a month, without paid acquisition
Those sign-ups are an early signal. The next question is whether people return, find useful opportunities, and complete projects.
Those sign-ups are an early signal. The next question is whether people return, find useful opportunities, and complete projects.
Those sign-ups are an early signal. The next question is whether people return, find useful opportunities, and complete projects.
I want to measure portfolio publishing, community participation, job-application clicks, and completed collaborations—and understand how people move between those activities.
I want to measure portfolio publishing, community participation, job-application clicks, and completed collaborations—and understand how people move between those activities.
I want to measure portfolio publishing, community participation, job-application clicks, and completed collaborations—and understand how people move between those activities.
DECISION 1 / PRODUCT STRUCTURE
Connect the person, the work, and the opportunity
Someone considering a collaborator needs more than a job title. They need to see the work and understand what that person can contribute.
Put the work in context
I grouped About, Portfolio, and Collaborate within the same profile so visitors could explore background, work, and available offers together.
Make contributions visible
Portfolio entries include team credit. This helps explain who was involved, rather than presenting the project as one person’s work.
DECISION 2 / PARTICIPATION
Make room for creatives without a budget
Our first collaboration model assumed people could pay. That left out some of the creative students we wanted to reach.
I proposed Creative Exchange alongside Paid projects. The design needed to explain what each person would contribute before they committed.
THE TRADE-OFF
Exchange generates no direct transaction fee but still needs support. We chose to explore whether it could help people build experience and credibility for paid work later.
DECISION 3 / INTERACTION
Make the brief understandable outside design
Finding the next step wasn’t enough. People needed help defining the work.
In moderated testing with eight creatives across four disciplines, including two chefs, I found that project terms were getting lost in chat. The chefs struggled to formalise the agreement.
WHAT CHANGED
I introduced a structured brief and field guidance. In the second round, the chefs found and completed it. That supported keeping the structure and continuing to test the language across disciplines.
Artingle took me from shaping the product to helping build it—and staying responsible for the experience through launch.
Artingle took me from shaping the product to helping build it—and staying responsible for the experience through launch.
More Projects
More Projects
