Workana is a freelance marketplace that connects professionals with clients across different industries, enabling users to post jobs, apply for projects, and manage their freelance activity end-to-end.

At the time of the project (2018), the product was in a rapid growth phase. The interface had a solid starting point, but it needed to evolve as new business requirements emerged and the platform scaled in complexity.

I worked within a cross-functional product team, collaborating closely with developers and stakeholders in a highly iterative environment.

Problem

The main challenge was not only visual consistency, but the underlying structure of the product.

As the platform grew, information became harder to navigate and the experience started to feel fragmented across different areas. Users needed a clearer way to understand where to find opportunities, how to move through the platform, and how to complete key actions without friction.

At the same time, continuous business-driven requirements were shaping the product, requiring constant adjustments that impacted both structure and interface.

Role

I worked on UX and UI across the web platform, focusing on information architecture, interface structure, and visual consistency. I also contributed to the Android app, refining key user flows to improve usability and overall experience.

Approach

The work was driven by a design thinking mindset, focused on understanding how users interacted with a growing and increasingly complex system.

The first step was to rethink the information architecture, defining clearer structures for navigation and content discovery. This helped establish a more logical foundation for how users moved through the platform.

In parallel, we began laying the groundwork for a design system that did not exist at the time. The goal was to introduce consistency across components and interactions, allowing the product to scale without losing coherence as new features were added.

Alongside this structural work, I also focused on improving the look and feel of the platform, evolving the visual language to feel more cohesive, modern, and aligned with the expectations of a digital marketplace.

Solution

The outcome was a more structured and coherent experience across web and mobile.

The improved information architecture made it easier for users to navigate the platform and understand where to find key actions. The early design system foundations introduced more consistency across the interface, helping reduce fragmentation as the product evolved.

At the same time, the updated look and feel improved visual clarity and brought a more unified experience to the platform.

Reflection

This project reinforced the importance of structure over surface, especially in fast-growing products.

Working in an environment where business needs, technical constraints, and user experience evolved simultaneously highlighted the value of strong information architecture and early system thinking as a foundation for scalability.