Heycollab

SaaS Project Management

Research, UX, UI Design System, Style Guide

HeyCollab is a productivity and collaboration platform built to streamline project management, communication, and file sharing for distributed teams.    The redesign focused on transforming a feature-heavy, cluttered workspace into a clear, intuitive interface that helps teams stay organized, communicate efficiently, and work with  greater focus.

key
responsibilities

UI/UX design, design systems in Figma, Marketing Content, Quality Assurance, Tech Conferences

Project Overview

Before the redesign, HeyCollab struggled with overlapping features, unclear hierarchy, and an interface that felt overwhelming instead of helpful.

The goal was to simplify the experience around clarity and flow, while introducing a unified design system that could scale as the platform grew. The main goals were to simplify navigation, improve real-time collaboration and visual clarity, introduce a consistent design system across devices, and make onboarding easier for new users.

My design philosophy is to build experiences that feel natural, are easy to access, and rooted in empathy.

Process

My process blends research, design craft, and close collaboration to deliver strong, high-quality outcomes.

Setting the scene with the production team

I began by reviewing user feedback and behavior to understand where engagement dropped. From there, I focused on using visual tone, hierarchy, and small interactions to create a calmer, clearer experience. Workshops with product stakeholders helped align the visual direction with the brand while keeping usability front and center.

USER FLOWS

Because HeyCollab brings messaging, tasks, files, and projects into one place, getting the structure right was critical. We organized the platform around three simple areas, projects, people, and conversations—so teams could quickly understand where things lived and get started without friction. Once that foundation was set, we mapped out key user journeys to see how teams move through their day, helping us smooth out workflows and make collaboration feel more natural and effortless.

USER FLOWS

Final Design

Streamlined Collaboration Unified Navigation System Accessible, Modular UI Improved Team Productivity

The final Heycollab experience embodies simplicity and focus. Task management, messaging, and file sharing now coexist within a clean, unified interface — reducing friction and enhancing transparency across teams.  By integrating real-time feedback and contextual organization, the platform supports the fast-paced, distributed workflows of modern teams while maintaining a sense of clarity and calm.

Achievements

“Julieta brought structure and empathy to a complex collaboration ecosystem. Her ability to simplify and humanize productivity tools helped HeyCollab evolve into a platform that teams genuinely  enjoy using.”

— Product Director, Heycollab

The redesign not only enhanced the product’s usability but also strengthened its competitive positioning in the collaboration software space. • +30% increase in productivity metrics • +42% onboarding completion improvement • Significant drop in user confusion and support tickets • Faster iteration cycles through reusable components and scalable design assets • Higher retention among small-to-mid teams adopting HeyCollab for daily operations

Audience engagement

12.5