Helping TV & Film Creators Pitch Projects More Effectively
My SMASH Media is a SaaS platform that helps TV and film creators build professional project pitches while enabling producers and commissioners to discover, evaluate and connect with new talent.
As the lead Product Designer, I worked from discovery through MVP and ongoing product evolution, collaborating closely with founders and engineers to shape the platform experience.
Overview
Following the MVP launch, the platform evolved with new features, including expanded templates, goal selection, collaboration tools, project discovery and sharing, and a dedicated experience for decision-makers. The UI was also refreshed to align with SMASH’s updated brand identity in partnership with an external branding agency, creating a cohesive and polished user experience.
I began by researching the target audience to understand their needs, pain points, and industry expectations. Early insights from SMASH partners helped identify the key information producers need when pitching film and TV projects. These findings informed the creation of an initial user journey, which guided the development of the experience and its evolution into high-fidelity, brand-aligned designs.
Process
After some workshopping, I translated my findings into sketches. From there, I developed the strongest ideas into wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes.
With new user feedback in hand, we arrived at a high-fidelity MVP prototype, which allowed me to work with the development team to deliver a polished, functional final product that met the client’s goals.
The project also involved creating a design system for our team. The goal was to provide a consistent set of design guidelines, patterns, and components. By establishing this system, we streamlined workflows, reduced duplicated effort, and accelerated the delivery of high-quality designs. It also improved collaboration and communication among designers, developers, and stakeholders.