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Sabilist
Sabilist
Sabilist
Project Overview
Status - in Development
01. Project Overview
Sabilist is a digital platform designed to help people in Nigeria easily discover trusted artisans while enabling artisans to showcase their skills through a professional online portfolio and virtual showroom. The platform centralises service search, vetting, communication, and booking in a clean, intuitive environment.
I led the end-to-end product design, from research and UX strategy to UI, interaction patterns, accessibility decisions, and design-development handoff. This case study reflects the current product direction as the platform prepares for public launch.
Timeline: 2024–2025
My Role: Product Designer (UX, UI, Design System, Prototyping)
Project Status: In development (frontend integration in progress)
Project Overview
Status - in Development
01. Project Overview
Sabilist is a digital platform designed to help people in Nigeria easily discover trusted artisans while enabling artisans to showcase their skills through a professional online portfolio and virtual showroom. The platform centralises service search, vetting, communication, and booking in a clean, intuitive environment.
I led the end-to-end product design, from research and UX strategy to UI, interaction patterns, accessibility decisions, and design-development handoff. This case study reflects the current product direction as the platform prepares for public launch.
Timeline: 2024–2025
My Role: Product Designer (UX, UI, Design System, Prototyping)
Project Status: In development (frontend integration in progress)
Project Overview
Status - in Development
01. Project Overview
Sabilist is a digital platform designed to help people in Nigeria easily discover trusted artisans while enabling artisans to showcase their skills through a professional online portfolio and virtual showroom. The platform centralises service search, vetting, communication, and booking in a clean, intuitive environment.
I led the end-to-end product design, from research and UX strategy to UI, interaction patterns, accessibility decisions, and design-development handoff. This case study reflects the current product direction as the platform prepares for public launch.
Timeline: 2024–2025
My Role: Product Designer (UX, UI, Design System, Prototyping)
Project Status: In development (frontend integration in progress)
STATUS
🚧 Note: Sabilist is currently in active development. The backend and APIs are ready, and frontend integration and testing are ongoing. Launch is projected post-beta testing. Timeline: 2023 – Present Role: Lead Product Designer Team: UI/UX Designer, Backend Developer, Product Manager Tools Used: Figma, Illustrator, Canva, FigJam, Notion, Zeplin Status: In Development
Client
Date
Sep 1, 2024
The Challenge
The Challenge
The Challenge
02. The Challenge
Finding reliable artisans in Nigeria often feels like searching through fog: uncertain quality, inconsistent communication, no transparency about skills, and no structured portfolio system. On the other side, artisans struggle to present their work professionally and reach customers outside word-of-mouth circles.
The challenge was to design a platform that increases trust, reduces friction, and gives artisans a digital presence strong enough to drive opportunity.
Problems Identified:
Customers cannot verify artisans before hiring.
Artisans lack a digital identity or portfolio.
No central marketplace for discovery and booking.
Poor trust and transparency within the informal artisan economy.
04. User Research
To understand needs on both sides of the marketplace, I conducted lean interviews and desk research across Lagos, Ogun, and online artisan communities.
Key Research Insights
Customers choose artisans primarily based on trust and visible proof of past work.
Artisans struggle with visibility and depend heavily on referrals.
Both groups want simple onboarding and straightforward communication.
Many users operate on low-budget devices; the design must be lightweight and responsive.
Personas Created
The Homeowner: Needs reliability, verified work, and easy booking.
The Artisan: Needs visibility, professional presentation, and consistent job flow.
Visuals to Insert:
Two persona cards (short, clean).
A lightweight empathy map or insights board screenshot from FigJam.
05. Information Architecture
The experience had to feel effortless for both artisans and customers. I created focused, simple flows that reduce cognitive load and shorten the path to action.
Key Flows
Artisan Profile Creation
Customer Search and Filtering
Portfolio/Showroom Viewing
Booking and Communication
Visuals to Insert:
User-flow diagram (use simple nodes).
Site map: Home → Categories → Artisan Profile → Showroom → Booking.
02. The Challenge
Finding reliable artisans in Nigeria often feels like searching through fog: uncertain quality, inconsistent communication, no transparency about skills, and no structured portfolio system. On the other side, artisans struggle to present their work professionally and reach customers outside word-of-mouth circles.
The challenge was to design a platform that increases trust, reduces friction, and gives artisans a digital presence strong enough to drive opportunity.
Problems Identified:
Customers cannot verify artisans before hiring.
Artisans lack a digital identity or portfolio.
No central marketplace for discovery and booking.
Poor trust and transparency within the informal artisan economy.
04. User Research
To understand needs on both sides of the marketplace, I conducted lean interviews and desk research across Lagos, Ogun, and online artisan communities.
Key Research Insights
Customers choose artisans primarily based on trust and visible proof of past work.
Artisans struggle with visibility and depend heavily on referrals.
Both groups want simple onboarding and straightforward communication.
Many users operate on low-budget devices; the design must be lightweight and responsive.
Personas Created
The Homeowner: Needs reliability, verified work, and easy booking.
The Artisan: Needs visibility, professional presentation, and consistent job flow.
Visuals to Insert:
Two persona cards (short, clean).
A lightweight empathy map or insights board screenshot from FigJam.
05. Information Architecture
The experience had to feel effortless for both artisans and customers. I created focused, simple flows that reduce cognitive load and shorten the path to action.
Key Flows
Artisan Profile Creation
Customer Search and Filtering
Portfolio/Showroom Viewing
Booking and Communication
Visuals to Insert:
User-flow diagram (use simple nodes).
Site map: Home → Categories → Artisan Profile → Showroom → Booking.
02. The Challenge
Finding reliable artisans in Nigeria often feels like searching through fog: uncertain quality, inconsistent communication, no transparency about skills, and no structured portfolio system. On the other side, artisans struggle to present their work professionally and reach customers outside word-of-mouth circles.
The challenge was to design a platform that increases trust, reduces friction, and gives artisans a digital presence strong enough to drive opportunity.
Problems Identified:
Customers cannot verify artisans before hiring.
Artisans lack a digital identity or portfolio.
No central marketplace for discovery and booking.
Poor trust and transparency within the informal artisan economy.
04. User Research
To understand needs on both sides of the marketplace, I conducted lean interviews and desk research across Lagos, Ogun, and online artisan communities.
Key Research Insights
Customers choose artisans primarily based on trust and visible proof of past work.
Artisans struggle with visibility and depend heavily on referrals.
Both groups want simple onboarding and straightforward communication.
Many users operate on low-budget devices; the design must be lightweight and responsive.
Personas Created
The Homeowner: Needs reliability, verified work, and easy booking.
The Artisan: Needs visibility, professional presentation, and consistent job flow.
Visuals to Insert:
Two persona cards (short, clean).
A lightweight empathy map or insights board screenshot from FigJam.
05. Information Architecture
The experience had to feel effortless for both artisans and customers. I created focused, simple flows that reduce cognitive load and shorten the path to action.
Key Flows
Artisan Profile Creation
Customer Search and Filtering
Portfolio/Showroom Viewing
Booking and Communication
Visuals to Insert:
User-flow diagram (use simple nodes).
Site map: Home → Categories → Artisan Profile → Showroom → Booking.
Solution
Solution
Solution
06. Wireframes & Early Concepts
I explored multiple layout directions before refining the final structure. The early wireframes helped resolve questions around navigation, content hierarchy, and artisan presentation.
Wireframe Priorities
Clean search experience
Card-based listings
Strong visual hierarchy
Easy-to-scan artisan details
Visuals to Insert:
Low-fidelity greyscale wireframes of:
Homepage
Artisan profile
Virtual showroom
Booking flow
Include quick notes under each wireframe.
07. Final UI Designs (Retro Future Palette)
The final interface blends simplicity with a confident visual identity. The Retro Future palette introduces subtle energy without overwhelming utility: crisp typography, soft shadows, and balanced contrast.
UI Highlights
Clean card system for artisans
Strong typography to enhance readability
Accessibility-focused color choices
Lightweight layout optimised for low-memory devices
Smooth micro-interactions
Visuals to Insert:
High-fidelity screens (4 to 10):
Artisan listings
Profile
Portfolio
Showroom
Booking
Onboarding
Include a small UI Kit section (colors, typography, components).
08. The Virtual Showroom Feature
The virtual showroom is Sabilist’s signature feature. Artisans can display completed projects in a visually rich gallery that helps customers evaluate quality instantly.
Why It Matters
Trust is built visually, not verbally.
Customers assess capability better when they see work samples.
Showroom supports multiple media formats.
UX Considerations
Fast image loading even on low bandwidth
Swipe-friendly navigation
Full-screen preview
Responsive grid
Visuals to Insert:
A gallery mockup (mobile + desktop).
A before/after comparison (artisans’ traditional WhatsApp-only presentation vs showroom).
09. Design System & Handoff
I built a modular design system that covers:
Colors, typography, and spacing
Iconography
Button and card components
Form and onboarding components
Interaction states
This system made collaboration with backend and frontend teams smoother and ensured consistency during development.
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Notion, Zeplin (if used), Slack
Visuals to Insert:
Component library snapshot
Spacing/grid system overview
Buttons and form elements
10. Current Status
The backend, authentication system, and APIs have been completed. The frontend implementation is now in progress. The project is in its private build phase with launch planned after final QA testing.
A waitlist will be released closer to launch.
Visual to Insert:
A clean badge: “In Development” or “Private Beta”.
11. Expected Impact
Once launched, Sabilist aims to:
Empower artisans with consistent job opportunities
Reduce fraud and poor-quality service
Build a verified, transparent marketplace
Become a trusted digital infrastructure for artisan services across Nigeria
12. Lessons Learned
Designing for the Nigerian artisan market revealed important lessons:
Simple, uncluttered UX wins.
Visual proof outweighs text explanations.
Designing for low-connectivity environments is non-negotiable.
Accessibility strengthens clarity for all users, not just a niche group.
13. Conclusion
Sabilist is designed to reshape how people find and hire artisans by giving both sides clarity, trust, and opportunity. As we move toward launch, the focus is on refining performance, enhancing accessibility, and preparing the platform for a nationwide rollout.
06. Wireframes & Early Concepts
I explored multiple layout directions before refining the final structure. The early wireframes helped resolve questions around navigation, content hierarchy, and artisan presentation.
Wireframe Priorities
Clean search experience
Card-based listings
Strong visual hierarchy
Easy-to-scan artisan details
Visuals to Insert:
Low-fidelity greyscale wireframes of:
Homepage
Artisan profile
Virtual showroom
Booking flow
Include quick notes under each wireframe.
07. Final UI Designs (Retro Future Palette)
The final interface blends simplicity with a confident visual identity. The Retro Future palette introduces subtle energy without overwhelming utility: crisp typography, soft shadows, and balanced contrast.
UI Highlights
Clean card system for artisans
Strong typography to enhance readability
Accessibility-focused color choices
Lightweight layout optimised for low-memory devices
Smooth micro-interactions
Visuals to Insert:
High-fidelity screens (4 to 10):
Artisan listings
Profile
Portfolio
Showroom
Booking
Onboarding
Include a small UI Kit section (colors, typography, components).
08. The Virtual Showroom Feature
The virtual showroom is Sabilist’s signature feature. Artisans can display completed projects in a visually rich gallery that helps customers evaluate quality instantly.
Why It Matters
Trust is built visually, not verbally.
Customers assess capability better when they see work samples.
Showroom supports multiple media formats.
UX Considerations
Fast image loading even on low bandwidth
Swipe-friendly navigation
Full-screen preview
Responsive grid
Visuals to Insert:
A gallery mockup (mobile + desktop).
A before/after comparison (artisans’ traditional WhatsApp-only presentation vs showroom).
09. Design System & Handoff
I built a modular design system that covers:
Colors, typography, and spacing
Iconography
Button and card components
Form and onboarding components
Interaction states
This system made collaboration with backend and frontend teams smoother and ensured consistency during development.
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Notion, Zeplin (if used), Slack
Visuals to Insert:
Component library snapshot
Spacing/grid system overview
Buttons and form elements
10. Current Status
The backend, authentication system, and APIs have been completed. The frontend implementation is now in progress. The project is in its private build phase with launch planned after final QA testing.
A waitlist will be released closer to launch.
Visual to Insert:
A clean badge: “In Development” or “Private Beta”.
11. Expected Impact
Once launched, Sabilist aims to:
Empower artisans with consistent job opportunities
Reduce fraud and poor-quality service
Build a verified, transparent marketplace
Become a trusted digital infrastructure for artisan services across Nigeria
12. Lessons Learned
Designing for the Nigerian artisan market revealed important lessons:
Simple, uncluttered UX wins.
Visual proof outweighs text explanations.
Designing for low-connectivity environments is non-negotiable.
Accessibility strengthens clarity for all users, not just a niche group.
13. Conclusion
Sabilist is designed to reshape how people find and hire artisans by giving both sides clarity, trust, and opportunity. As we move toward launch, the focus is on refining performance, enhancing accessibility, and preparing the platform for a nationwide rollout.
06. Wireframes & Early Concepts
I explored multiple layout directions before refining the final structure. The early wireframes helped resolve questions around navigation, content hierarchy, and artisan presentation.
Wireframe Priorities
Clean search experience
Card-based listings
Strong visual hierarchy
Easy-to-scan artisan details
Visuals to Insert:
Low-fidelity greyscale wireframes of:
Homepage
Artisan profile
Virtual showroom
Booking flow
Include quick notes under each wireframe.
07. Final UI Designs (Retro Future Palette)
The final interface blends simplicity with a confident visual identity. The Retro Future palette introduces subtle energy without overwhelming utility: crisp typography, soft shadows, and balanced contrast.
UI Highlights
Clean card system for artisans
Strong typography to enhance readability
Accessibility-focused color choices
Lightweight layout optimised for low-memory devices
Smooth micro-interactions
Visuals to Insert:
High-fidelity screens (4 to 10):
Artisan listings
Profile
Portfolio
Showroom
Booking
Onboarding
Include a small UI Kit section (colors, typography, components).
08. The Virtual Showroom Feature
The virtual showroom is Sabilist’s signature feature. Artisans can display completed projects in a visually rich gallery that helps customers evaluate quality instantly.
Why It Matters
Trust is built visually, not verbally.
Customers assess capability better when they see work samples.
Showroom supports multiple media formats.
UX Considerations
Fast image loading even on low bandwidth
Swipe-friendly navigation
Full-screen preview
Responsive grid
Visuals to Insert:
A gallery mockup (mobile + desktop).
A before/after comparison (artisans’ traditional WhatsApp-only presentation vs showroom).
09. Design System & Handoff
I built a modular design system that covers:
Colors, typography, and spacing
Iconography
Button and card components
Form and onboarding components
Interaction states
This system made collaboration with backend and frontend teams smoother and ensured consistency during development.
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Notion, Zeplin (if used), Slack
Visuals to Insert:
Component library snapshot
Spacing/grid system overview
Buttons and form elements
10. Current Status
The backend, authentication system, and APIs have been completed. The frontend implementation is now in progress. The project is in its private build phase with launch planned after final QA testing.
A waitlist will be released closer to launch.
Visual to Insert:
A clean badge: “In Development” or “Private Beta”.
11. Expected Impact
Once launched, Sabilist aims to:
Empower artisans with consistent job opportunities
Reduce fraud and poor-quality service
Build a verified, transparent marketplace
Become a trusted digital infrastructure for artisan services across Nigeria
12. Lessons Learned
Designing for the Nigerian artisan market revealed important lessons:
Simple, uncluttered UX wins.
Visual proof outweighs text explanations.
Designing for low-connectivity environments is non-negotiable.
Accessibility strengthens clarity for all users, not just a niche group.
13. Conclusion
Sabilist is designed to reshape how people find and hire artisans by giving both sides clarity, trust, and opportunity. As we move toward launch, the focus is on refining performance, enhancing accessibility, and preparing the platform for a nationwide rollout.
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