PearIt: Building a Scalable Digital Platform for Industry Professionals

How a research-driven brand, service and UX design approach transformed PearIt from an early-stage concept into a scalable, investor-ready digital platform.

Project Overview

PearIt is an online platform designed to connect industry professionals with short-term opportunities across various sectors, including IT, marketing, finance, legal, and health. As a start-up, PearIt required refinement of its service offering and the development of a prototype for its product and marketing websites to secure further investment and funding.

I worked closely with PearIt’s founders to:


• Refine their service model based on user needs.

• Develop a seamless digital experience for users and businesses.


• Create a brand and design system to ensure long-term scalability.

SITUATION

Setting the Stage

Context & Business Goal

PearIt aimed to bridge the gap between businesses and skilled professionals by offering on-demand, short-term project opportunities. However, as an early-stage start-up, they faced challenges in:

• Defining a clear value proposition for both businesses and professionals.

• Designing a platform that users could trust and navigate intuitively.

• Building a scalable brand identity that aligned with their vision.

Problem Statement

PearIt’s initial service model lacked clarity, making it difficult for potential investors and early adopters to understand its value. Additionally, the absence of a structured digital experience limited their ability to attract early users and test their business model effectively.

Target Users

• Industry Professionals looking for flexible, short-term work.

• Businesses & Start-ups in need of expertise on demand without long-term commitments.

• Investors & Early Adopters evaluating the platform’s scalability and viability.

User Needs:

• Clarity on how PearIt works and its benefits.

• Seamless user experience to browse and apply for projects.

• Trust & credibility through strong branding and service design.

TASK

My Responsibilities & Objectives

Role & Objectives

As Lead Brand, Service & UX/UI Designer, I was responsible for:

• Defining PearIt’s service model through user research and workshops.

• Developing the Information Architecture (IA) for both the product and marketing website.

• Creating wireframes & high-fidelity prototypes for testing and validation.

• Building a brand identity that aligned with the company’s vision.

• Establishing a scalable design system to ensure consistency.

Constraints & Challenges

• Time-Sensitive Deliverables – The project needed to be completed quickly to support PearIt’s investment pitch.

• Limited Market Data – As an early-stage start-up, user research was limited, requiring assumptions to be validated through prototypes.

• Ensuring Scalability – The platform’s design system needed to support future growth as new features were introduced.

ACTION

The UX/UI and Branding Process

Research & Discovery

Method: Moderated task based sessions with 6 participants

Key User Research Insights:

• Professionals wanted clear expectations of job scope and payment structure.

• Businesses needed assurance of skill verification and platform credibility.

• Trust & transparency were critical for adoption.

Workshops & Stakeholder Interviews:

• Mapped business needs and user journeys to refine the service offering.

• Identified pain points in competitor platforms to differentiate PearIt.

• Defined key user workflows for applying, hiring, and managing projects.

Ideation & Design

Website & Platform Prototyping:

• Developed low & high-fidelity wireframes for usability testing.

• Validated IA through tree testing to ensure seamless navigation.

• Refined branding with a design system for consistent UI components.

Design Testing & Iteration

Key Adjustments Based on User Feedback:

• Homepage Messaging Simplified – Users needed a clearer explanation of PearIt’s value.

• Project Listings Improved – Added filters and categories for easy discovery.

• Navigation Streamlined – Refined onboarding steps for faster account setup.

RESULT 

Measuring the Impact

Impact

• User-centred approach refined the service model for stronger investor positioning.

• Iterative testing improved user experience before full-scale development.

• Design system ensured brand consistency, making future expansion easier.

Success metrics:

• Improved user engagement with a 30% reduction in task completion time.

• Increased investor interest, leading to additional funding opportunities.

• Brand consistency established, ensuring scalability as the platform grew.