DesignAbout
Construction Project Management Platform
Overview
This internal platform was designed for a medium-scale real estate development company to improve oversight and coordination across construction projects. What began as a request to better manage cost itemization evolved—through close observation and research—into a robust, all-in-one project management tool.Previously, the company relied heavily on paper documents and locally stored files. After studying the team’s workflows and identifying key friction points, I proposed expanding the scope to build a fully integrated system to handle scheduling, cost tracking, checklists, and contacts—all under one roof.
Role & Scope
Brought on as an independent product designer, I provided a fresh, external perspective on the company’s challenges. I worked closely with project managers and internal IT throughout the engagement.
• Conducting user research
• Defining core features
• Designing a complete set of mockups for the platform
• Delivering designs to a third-party development firm for implementation
User Research
Because the platform was being developed in-house, I had direct access to its future users—project managers, accountants, and executives. I conducted in-depth interviews to uncover pain points and key opportunities.
One major insight: users were repurposing the cost itemization tool as a checklist, leading to workflow confusion. I addressed this by introducing a dedicated Checklist tab, which was then integrated into the main overview page. This adjustment created clarity and improved usability across multiple roles.
Common User Flow: Ordering and Tracking Materials
One of the most common workflows for project managers was ensuring materials were ordered on time and aligned with scheduled site activities like inspections.
This flow walks through how a manager uses the platform to:
• Review open tasks via the Checklist tab
• Update quantities and upload files in the Itemization tab
• Adjust timelines and notify the team based on delivery dates
The result: materials are confirmed, the schedule is aligned, and stakeholders are up to date—all within one streamlined interface.
Designed to reduce friction, prevent delays, and support real-world coordination needs in construction project management.
Design Ideation
I started with a tabbed layout to organize key functionalities—cost management, scheduling, checklists, and reminders—into accessible modules for each project.
As the number of projects grew, the navigation needed to scale. I introduced a persistent navigation bar to provide fast access to all projects and views. From there, I created low-fidelity mockups to visualize the structure and refine flows.
Where possible, I built on familiar interaction models—drawing from file systems, spreadsheets, and calendar apps—to reduce friction and promote intuitive use. This also made it easier to integrate with existing tools like Google Workspace.
Final Design
Given the information-dense nature of the platform, I used icon-based navigation in the top and sidebars, allowing the content to remain the visual focus.
The multi-column layout used in the overview was extended to the dashboard and calendar views, reinforcing consistency and helping users quickly scan and compare information. After two rounds of iterative feedback, I finalized a cohesive design system and applied it across all UI views.
Reflection
This was one of the most comprehensive and technically detailed UI/UX projects I’ve led. It required diving deep into industry-specific workflows and designing for clarity, scale, and precision.
The success of the platform came from putting users first—spending the time up front to understand their needs meant faster iterations and less friction throughout the project. Ultimately, this human-centered approach led to a tool that’s both practical and elegant.