About This Project
About This Project
About This Project
ClientBase is a streamlined client portal designed for freelancers who want to work smarter and present more professionally. This all-in-one platform simplifies project tracking, client communication, file sharing, and invoicing, wrapped in a branded, intuitive experience that puts freelancers in control. This case study highlights the core features, design decisions, and UX thinking behind the product.
ClientBase is a streamlined client portal designed for freelancers who want to work smarter and present more professionally. This all-in-one platform simplifies project tracking, client communication, file sharing, and invoicing, wrapped in a branded, intuitive experience that puts freelancers in control. This case study highlights the core features, design decisions, and UX thinking behind the product.
ClientBase is a streamlined client portal designed for freelancers who want to work smarter and present more professionally. This all-in-one platform simplifies project tracking, client communication, file sharing, and invoicing, wrapped in a branded, intuitive experience that puts freelancers in control. This case study highlights the core features, design decisions, and UX thinking behind the product.
The Why
The Why
The Why
The Problem
The Problem
Freelancers often juggle clients using a patchwork of tools, like email, Google Drive, invoicing apps, spreadsheets, and time trackers.
This creates disorganization for the freelancer and a fragmented, unprofessional experience for the client.
Existing tools are either too complex or not designed for freelancers in mind.
Freelancers often juggle clients using a patchwork of tools, like email, Google Drive, invoicing apps, spreadsheets, and time trackers.
This creates disorganization for the freelancer and a fragmented, unprofessional experience for the client.
Existing tools are either too complex or not designed for freelancers in mind.
The User
The User
Independent professionals, like freelance designers, developers, marketers, and consultants, who want to streamline their client experience.
They value simplicity, professionalism, and the ability to run their business from a centralized, branded environment.
Independent professionals, like freelance designers, developers, marketers, and consultants, who want to streamline their client experience.
They value simplicity, professionalism, and the ability to run their business from a centralized, branded environment.
UX Goals
UX Goals
• Centralize project tracking, tasks, files, and messaging.
• Deliver a polished, branded experience for client-facing interactions.
• Keep the interface focused, intuitive, and responsive.
• Minimize complexity and surface high-value actions.
• Make switching between clients and views feel effortless.
• Centralize project tracking, tasks, files, and messaging.
• Deliver a polished, branded experience for client-facing interactions.
• Keep the interface focused, intuitive, and responsive.
• Minimize complexity and surface high-value actions.
• Make switching between clients and views feel effortless.
The Problem
The Problem
• I mapped the full client journey to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
• I designed real-world flows first (dashboard, client pages, project tracking), then build supporting components around those needs.
• Instead of designing every page, I focused on the most critical screens, prioritizing UX patterns that reduce friction and support real daily workflows.
• I mapped the full client journey to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
• I designed real-world flows first (dashboard, client pages, project tracking), then build supporting components around those needs.
• Instead of designing every page, I focused on the most critical screens, prioritizing UX patterns that reduce friction and support real daily workflows.
The Project
The Project
The Project
Simple, Fast Onboarding
Simple, Fast Onboarding
I designed a four-step onboarding flow that feels quick and easy. From email sign-up to selecting a user type, each screen is focused and minimal. The final step personalizes the experience for freelancers or teams right from the start.
I designed a four-step onboarding flow that feels quick and easy. From email sign-up to selecting a user type, each screen is focused and minimal. The final step personalizes the experience for freelancers or teams right from the start.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
All-In-One Dashboard
All-In-One Dashboard
The dashboard was designed to give freelancers a clear, fast snapshot of their business. From task tracking and client management to invoice summaries and financial insights, everything is accessible at a glance. Quick actions at the top streamline daily tasks like sending invoices or scheduling meetings, while colorful status tags and charts keep things organized and easy to digest.
The dashboard was designed to give freelancers a clear, fast snapshot of their business. From task tracking and client management to invoice summaries and financial insights, everything is accessible at a glance. Quick actions at the top streamline daily tasks like sending invoices or scheduling meetings, while colorful status tags and charts keep things organized and easy to digest.
With Built-In Gmail Integragtion
With Built-In Gmail Integragtion
To help freelancers manage communication without switching tabs, I added a built-in Gmail feature accessible from any page. Users can compose, send, and manage emails directly within the platform. Keeping client communication seamless and centralized.
To help freelancers manage communication without switching tabs, I added a built-in Gmail feature accessible from any page. Users can compose, send, and manage emails directly within the platform. Keeping client communication seamless and centralized.
Streamlined Client Management
Streamlined Client Management
Managing client relationships is central to a freelancer’s workflow, so I designed a robust yet flexible client management system. From customizable tags and fields to a branded client portal, freelancers can stay organized and give clients real-time access to project updates without relying on endless emails. The experience is built to scale and keeps everything neatly accessible in one place.
Managing client relationships is central to a freelancer’s workflow, so I designed a robust yet flexible client management system. From customizable tags and fields to a branded client portal, freelancers can stay organized and give clients real-time access to project updates without relying on endless emails. The experience is built to scale and keeps everything neatly accessible in one place.
Simple, Smart Project Management
Simple, Smart Project Management
The Projects pages gives freelancers a clean, high-level view of all active work. Each project card displays key financials like budget, payments, and profit at a glance, helping users quickly assess project health. From here, they can jump into a detailed profile view where time tracking, task progress, and documents are all neatly organized. The goal was to reduce friction and make project management feel less like admin work, and more like forward momentum.
The Projects pages gives freelancers a clean, high-level view of all active work. Each project card displays key financials like budget, payments, and profit at a glance, helping users quickly assess project health. From here, they can jump into a detailed profile view where time tracking, task progress, and documents are all neatly organized. The goal was to reduce friction and make project management feel less like admin work, and more like forward momentum.
Own Your Tasks
Own Your Tasks
To streamline task management within projects, I designed a dual-view system. A calendar and list to accommodate different work styles. The list view emphasizes clarity and actionability, displaying tasks alongside client info, status, and due dates, while the calendar view provides a time-based overview for scheduling and visual planning. Color-coded statuses help users quickly prioritize work. This structure keeps freelancers aligned and proactive, even across multiple clients.
To streamline task management within projects, I designed a dual-view system. A calendar and list to accommodate different work styles. The list view emphasizes clarity and actionability, displaying tasks alongside client info, status, and due dates, while the calendar view provides a time-based overview for scheduling and visual planning. Color-coded statuses help users quickly prioritize work. This structure keeps freelancers aligned and proactive, even across multiple clients.
The ClientBase UI Kit
The ClientBase UI Kit
I built a unified design system that served as the foundation for the entire product. It included all key components, from buttons and inputs to cards and drop downs, along with a full color palette and typographic scale. The system brought visual consistency, will save time during design and dev handoff, and kept the experience feeling cohesive throughout.
I built a unified design system that served as the foundation for the entire product. It included all key components, from buttons and inputs to cards and drop downs, along with a full color palette and typographic scale. The system brought visual consistency, will save time during design and dev handoff, and kept the experience feeling cohesive throughout.
Logo and Branding
Logo and Branding
The visual identity was built to align with the platform’s purpose of keeping freelance work organized, streamlined, and personal. The logo and supporting branding elements help reinforce this clarity across all platforms.
The visual identity was built to align with the platform’s purpose of keeping freelance work organized, streamlined, and personal. The logo and supporting branding elements help reinforce this clarity across all platforms.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
ClientBase was designed to simplify and elevate the freelance experience. From a unified dashboard and smart task tracking to integrated Gmail access and customizable client portals, every feature was built to help freelancers stay organized, look professional, and focus on what matters most, their work. This project allowed me to bring together clean UI, thoughtful UX, and real-world functionality into one cohesive platform. It reflects my commitment to creating tools that are not just usable, but truly useful.
ClientBase was designed to simplify and elevate the freelance experience. From a unified dashboard and smart task tracking to integrated Gmail access and customizable client portals, every feature was built to help freelancers stay organized, look professional, and focus on what matters most, their work. This project allowed me to bring together clean UI, thoughtful UX, and real-world functionality into one cohesive platform. It reflects my commitment to creating tools that are not just usable, but truly useful.
ClientBase was designed to simplify and elevate the freelance experience. From a unified dashboard and smart task tracking to integrated Gmail access and customizable client portals, every feature was built to help freelancers stay organized, look professional, and focus on what matters most, their work. This project allowed me to bring together clean UI, thoughtful UX, and real-world functionality into one cohesive platform. It reflects my commitment to creating tools that are not just usable, but truly useful.
All Rights Reserved William Wheeler Designs
All Rights Reserved William Wheeler Designs
All Rights Reserved William Wheeler Designs