How We Started
“Why don't we just build a platform for that?”
The story started with a conversation between two new grad designers during having rice noodles.
We were complaining about the lack of ways to get feedback on improving our work after graduation without all those built-in connections with professors and peers. We were frustrated that the existing platforms are only for showcasing polished work and getting likes, while our in-progress projects had nowhere to grow through feedback. Instead, we had to DM other designers again and again, asking for coffee chats and portfolio reviews.
Our Insight
Through our research and conversations with design students and early-career designers, we realized that existing portfolio platforms focus on showing work rather than growing as designers. Designers wanted actionable critique, peer recognition, and a sense of community — not just likes or views.
Our key insight into what designers really need:
"Designers don’t just want to show their work — they want feedback that helps them improve, and a network that supports their growth."
Existing Products
Takeaway Insight
Existing platforms prioritize showcasing and exposure. But before their work becomes polished, designers need constructive feedback and a supportive network for growth, which none of the existing platforms provide.
Our Solution
Why Existing Methods Fail
The problem isn’t the lack of features — existing platforms already have comment sections.
The problem is the method: commenting requires time, effort, and careful wording. Most users aren’t willing to spend that energy, so feedback becomes a burden instead of a motivation, and genuine creative exchange fails to sustain.
In order to address the lack of feedback, we needed to make users more willing to contribute by lowering both the effort required and the barrier to giving feedback.
How we solve it
We designed a tagging system that lowers the friction of giving feedback. With one click, users can provide structured responses, making it easier and faster to react. At the same time, tags replace traditional likes, so creators not only gain recognition but also understand the reasons behind it (strengths and weaknesses).
My Role
Co-Founder
Initiated the project with my partner, defined the vision and direction, and shaped the product to address designers’ real pain points
UX/UI Design
Take full responsibility of product strategy and UX design, leading user flows, interactions, and visual system
Development
Built the MVP , taking the product from 0–1
Design Highlight / Feedback System
Simple Feature, Deeper Engagement
The tagging system was designed as a simple feature, but one that fundamentally changes how designers interact with each other. By lowering the barrier to giving feedback and turning quick reactions into structured critique, it transforms engagement from passive likes into active participation.
Its impact can be seen from three perspectives: the viewer, the creator, and the community.
(1) The viewer's perspective
One-click tagging & layered feedback system
Writing detailed comments takes effort, which is why most users only leave short notes like “cool work.” The one-click tagging system lowers this barrier by making feedback quick and effortless. With just a tap, users can give structured responses that go beyond likes, turning feedback from a burden into an easy, engaging action.
To make feedback even clearer, the tagging system uses colors: Highlight Tags show what stands out, while Constructive Tags point to areas for improvement.
Click to interact
And if you don’t agree with the popular tags on a project, you can always add your own perspective. This opens space for diverse viewpoints — others may resonate with your input, giving the creator fresh perspectives to consider for improvement.
All
Highlight
Constructive
Search or create a tag
Popular
Elegant Proportions
Modern Aesthetic
Strong Storytelling
Hard to follow
Playful tone
Overcomplicated
Cohensive branding
Color palette feels off
Clean layout
Clean layout
Well-Executed Concept
Thoughtful Details
Brand-Aligned
Material Concerns
Weak visual hierachy
Unclear onboarding
Crowded layout
Accessbility issue
Confusing navigation
Cancel
Submit
Click to interact
Click to interact
After tagging, the next step is the comment section — a space where feedback can move from quick impressions to deeper discussions. While tags make it effortless to highlight strengths and point out areas for improvement, the comment section allows users to expand on their thoughts, share reasoning, and provide more context. Together, tags and comments create a layered feedback system that balances speed with depth, encouraging both engagement and meaningful critique.
(2) The creator's perspective
Recognition & actionable critique for growth
In existing platforms, creators may collect likes — but they don’t know why people liked their work, nor why others didn’t engage at all. This leaves them guessing about what resonated and what missed the mark.
With tagging, creators finally get clarity: Highlight Tags explain what stood out, while Constructive Tags reveal areas that need improvement. Instead of vague signals, creators gain concrete insights into both their strengths and weaknesses.
As a result, each project becomes more than a showcase — it becomes a feedback loop that helps creators understand, improve, and grow.
(3) The community's perspective
From showcasing to growing together
Most portfolio platforms are about inspiration, likes, or job-seeking showcases, with little real communication between designers. Our tagging system lowers the effort of giving feedback and creates a shared language of critique, making participation easier and more meaningful. Over time, this turns feedback from a burden into a norm.
To reinforce this, we added a community activity stream on the landing page, making the collective engagement visible and highlighting the platform’s community nature.
Design Execution
Bringing ideas to life through end-to-end design
Try the interactive Figma demo to explore the core user flows. The following screens highlight key interfaces and visual details, offering a closer look at how the design comes together.
In-progress Live Website
Current working prototype built on Bubble.io
The live website is being developed by me on Bubble.io, with about 50% of the planned features already implemented. The core structure and feedback system are in place, making the product tangible and showing how the design is actively turning into a working community platform.
