Streamlining digital engagement for a future-focused interior design firm
Client
The Stylesmiths
Timeframe
February 2017 - August 2017
Role
Lead Researcher, Developer
Engagement
All of leadership and design teams
“The new portal has streamlined my workflow. What used to take an hour of back-and-forth now takes 10 minutes, so more time to deliver creative work.”
— Interior designer
Objective
To support business growth by tailoring project management and CRM systems that automate repetitive tasks, and match designers to client briefs.
Methodology
I designed, developed, and maintained a dynamic customer and project portal that achieved these objectives through:
Client project capture: Incoming briefs were captured and organised within the portal, allowing clients and management to track incoming project values and real-time progress.
AI-driven designer selection: I created multilayered logic that analysed project briefs alongside criteria such as designer seniority, proximity to the client, and past project experience to automate the assignment of the most suitable designer for each job. With flexible degrees of human oversight, this largely AI-driven process reduced the time and effort required for manual allocation while ensuring optimal matches.
Brief authoring tool: The portal contains tools and templates to help designers create return briefs for each stage of the design process. This ensured high-quality briefs were delivered where designers did not overlook important details and where they scoped each project appropriately for time, complexity, and deliverables
Outcome
The portal dramatically reduced the manual workload for The Stylesmiths’ management team, enabling them to focus more on strategic growth and client relationships. Thanks to the authoring tool and streamlined project allocations, designers also reported more efficient and unambiguous ways of working.
The AI-informed matching process significantly improved project outcomes by ensuring the right designer was assigned to every brief. This enhanced client satisfaction and fostered stronger relationships between clients and their assigned designers.
Through my digital strategy, The Stylesmiths are now better positioned to scale their operations while maintaining high service and creativity.
