I design clear, functional, and scalable digital products by connecting user needs, business goals, and technical realities. My work covers web applications, SaaS platforms, mobile products, dashboards, and design systems.
PRODUCT DESIGN CASE STUDIES ACROSS WEB, SAAS, MOBILE AND COMPLEX WORKFLOWS
A connected CRM product covering client management, campaigns, documents and complex operational workflows.
A complete responsive redesign that transformed a limited website into a clearer and more complete digital experience.
A mobile product connecting onboarding, workouts, meal planning, subscriptions and daily progress.
A dashboard product connecting account information, subscriptions, settings and recurring operational tasks.
A complete brand identity built from the initial concept through visual language, packaging, campaign direction and real-world applications.
SELECTED WORK SAMPLES ACROSS DESIGN CATEGORIES
CAPABILITIES FOR DIGITAL PRODUCTS, PLATFORMS & EXPERIENCES
Every engagement is scoped around the product, users, business goals, and technical requirements.
Project structure and deliverables are agreed before work begins.
PRODUCT THINKING, OWNERSHIP & STRUCTURED COLLABORATION
ENGAGEMENT OPTIONS & COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
PROJECT & COLLABORATION FAQ
Yes. I regularly work with confidential product work and can operate under an NDA. Public portfolio material is shown only where disclosure is permitted.
Timing depends on scope, complexity and the level of research or validation required. Smaller focused engagements can take a few weeks, while broader product work may run across multiple phases.
Yes. Projects can be handled remotely across different locations and time zones, including EU, UK and US collaboration, with communication and review points agreed at the start of the engagement.
We begin by clarifying the product challenge, goals, scope and available context. From there I define the appropriate design phases, deliverables and review points before detailed work begins.
Yes. Collaboration can be structured as a defined project or as ongoing design support, depending on the product, team and amount of design work required.
Pricing is agreed after the scope is clear. Depending on the engagement, work can be structured around a defined project scope, an hourly arrangement or ongoing support.
Tell me what you are building, improving, or trying to understand. I will help define the right design scope and a practical path forward.
CLICK ANY PHASE TO EXPAND — ADAPTED TO THE PRODUCT, TEAM AND SCOPE
I begin by clarifying the product challenge, business goals, user needs and technical context. The depth of research is adapted to the available evidence, project stage and scope.
Research and requirements are translated into a clear product structure. I define how information, features and user actions should connect before detailed visual design begins.
The approved structure is developed into a clear, consistent and responsive interface. Visual decisions support usability, hierarchy, brand direction and the technical requirements of the product.
Interactive prototypes make flows and behaviour easier to evaluate before development. The level of fidelity depends on what needs to be reviewed, validated or communicated.
The design is reviewed against user needs, business goals and product requirements. Validation methods are selected according to the available users, evidence, timeline and level of risk.
Approved designs are organised and documented so developers can understand the intended structure, states and behaviour. I remain available during implementation when clarification or design review is needed.
STANDARDS THAT GUIDE THE WORK
HOW THE TEAM STAYS ALIGNED
PRIMARY WORKING TOOLKIT
Every project needs a clear direction, the right level of structure and a process that fits the team. Let’s define what matters and move the product forward.
I design clear, functional and scalable digital products across web, SaaS and mobile. My work connects user needs, business goals and technical realities—from early product structure and user flows to polished interfaces, prototypes and developer handoff.
Before moving into design, I built a long career in aviation and operational planning. That background shaped how I approach complex systems: with structure, attention to detail, clear communication and respect for the people using them.
CLICK ANY ROLE TO EXPAND — SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Good product design brings clarity to complex problems. I focus on understanding what users need, what the business is trying to achieve and what the team can realistically build. The strongest solution is not always the most visually elaborate one—it is the one that works clearly and consistently.
My earlier aviation and operational planning experience strengthened my attention to systems, dependencies and communication. I apply that discipline without turning every project into a rigid process.
SELECTED AREAS ACROSS CLIENT, CONTRACT AND IN-HOUSE WORK
Share what you are building, improving or trying to understand. I can help define the right design scope and turn complexity into a clear, practical product direction.
PRODUCT DESIGN CASE STUDIES ACROSS WEB, SAAS, MOBILE AND COMPLEX WORKFLOWS
A connected CRM product covering client management, campaigns, documents and complex operational workflows.
A complete responsive redesign that transformed a limited website into a clearer and more complete digital experience.
A mobile product connecting onboarding, workouts, meal planning, subscriptions and daily progress.
A dashboard product connecting account information, subscriptions, settings and recurring operational tasks.
A complete brand identity built from the initial concept through visual language, packaging, campaign direction and real-world applications.
SELECTED IDENTITY, PRINT, ILLUSTRATION AND VISUAL COMMUNICATION WORK
Share what you are building, improving or trying to understand. I will help define the right design scope and a practical path forward.
FLEXIBLE DESIGN SUPPORT FOR DIGITAL PRODUCTS, PLATFORMS AND BRANDS
Every engagement is shaped around the product, users, business goals and
technical requirements.
Scope, deliverables and collaboration are agreed before work begins.
FLEXIBLE WAYS TO STRUCTURE THE WORK
A FLEXIBLE APPROACH ADAPTED TO THE PRODUCT, TEAM AND SCOPE
Share the product, challenge or opportunity you are working on. We can clarify the priorities, complexity and most useful way to collaborate.
The project focused on a complex enterprise CRM platform connecting client management, proposals, contracts, onboarding, campaigns, documents, reporting and internal operations within one product.
MY ROLE
I worked as the sole Product Designer within a cross-functional team that included a Project Manager, Business Analyst, Customer Success Manager, developers and QA. After receiving the initial PRD, I independently owned the UX structure, information architecture, user flows, wireframes, UI system, high-fidelity screens, prototypes, weekly client reviews and development handoff.
NDA NOTE
Client names, brand elements, internal business data, protected workflows and identifying details have been removed or anonymised.
Reviewed the initial PRD and translated business requirements into product modules, workflows and open design questions.
The CRM connected many business processes. A clear understanding of dependencies was necessary before designing individual screens.
Treat the platform as one connected system rather than a collection of isolated features.
Defined navigation, module relationships and end-to-end flows across clients, proposals, contracts, onboarding and campaigns.
Users needed to move between related records without losing context or repeatedly searching for the same information.
Use consistent overview-to-detail patterns throughout the product.
Created wireframes for dashboards, tables, record details, forms, documents and operational workflows.
Low-fidelity structure allowed complex logic to be reviewed before visual detail increased the cost of change.
Prioritise scannability and predictable actions in data-heavy views.
Designed the final interface and reusable patterns for tables, filters, statuses, forms, documents and actions.
A shared component system reduced inconsistency and supported additional modules without redesigning the product.
Create repeatable system-level patterns instead of screen-specific solutions.
Presented progress weekly, clarified requirements and incorporated approved revisions across the platform.
Regular feedback prevented late-stage surprises and kept product decisions aligned with client expectations.
Validate modules continuously rather than waiting for one final review.
Prepared approved screens, prototypes, component guidance and implementation details for the development team.
Clear handoff reduced ambiguity and helped preserve design consistency during implementation.
Document reusable behaviour and states, not only static screens.
Whether you need a Design Lead embedded in your team, a complete product redesign, or a design system built from scratch — let's talk.
DESIGN INSIGHTS / PRODUCT / SYSTEMS / AI / VISUAL CULTURE
A growing collection of notes on product design, UX systems, visual thinking, AI and the practical decisions behind digital products.
AI can generate usable design output quickly. The designer’s job is shifting toward framing the problem, checking the result and deciding what is actually safe and useful enough to ship.
AI can generate usable design output quickly. The designer’s job is shifting toward framing the problem, checking the result and deciding what is actually safe and useful enough to ship.
Search visibility is no longer only about ranking. Pages also need to make their meaning easy for AI systems to understand, extract and reuse.
WordPress is not winning because it is perfect. It keeps winning because its ecosystem, familiarity and flexibility make replacing it harder than feature comparisons suggest.
Structured learning around product thinking, UX systems and design decision-making.
PLANNEDWalkthroughs covering workflows, tools, prototyping and design-to-development handoff.
PLANNEDTemplates, frameworks and downloadable material built around real design work.
PLANNEDTELL ME ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT, TEAM OR DESIGN CHALLENGE
The structure, visual language and identity behind igorsaponja.com. Built as one connected product system with clarity, consistency and purpose.
INDEX / 000
WORK / 090
PROCESS / 180
ABOUT / 270
SITE ARCHITECTURE · DESIGN SYSTEM · BRAND MARK
The site architecture is designed around a clear evaluation path. Visitors can quickly understand the work, professional background, design process and available ways to collaborate.
Shared colour, typography, spacing and component rules keep every page connected while allowing individual projects to remain visually distinct.
Panels and sections use shared border tokens and precise alignment.
Spacing supports hierarchy without creating excessive empty areas.
Hover, active, focus and status states use clear visual feedback.
Shared cards, headers and controls reduce visual fragmentation.
The personal mark is derived from the caron above the Latin letter Å in the surname Å aponja and transformed into an independent identity symbol.
CLEAR SPACE / 1X
HORIZONTAL AXIS
MASTER GEOMETRY
The accent was isolated from the surname and refined into a compact mark. The final form is simple enough for a favicon while retaining a direct personal connection to the name.
Use the correct version based on background contrast and theme context. The icon-size previews show how the mark behaves in smaller digital sizes commonly used for favicons, app-style icons and compact UI placements.
The experience answers the visitor’s main questions in a deliberate sequence—from initial orientation and project evaluation to confidence, contact and a clear next step.
Selected projects appear early because relevant work provides the clearest evidence of capability.
Project scope is shaped around the product, team, complexity and level of design support required.
The inquiry flow collects useful project context while keeping the first contact simple and direct.
The visual direction combines technical precision with restrained editorial presentation. System elements organise the content without overpowering the work itself.
Alignment, borders and measured spacing make complex information easier to scan.
Compact references and status labels support orientation and visual rhythm.
Accent colours and interaction states direct attention toward the most important next action.
Accessibility, responsive behaviour and technical delivery are part of the product system from the beginning rather than additions made after the visual design is complete.
Every project needs a clear direction, the right level of structure and a process that fits the team. Let’s define what matters and move the product forward.
This policy explains the basic information practices associated with this portfolio website and how personal information may be handled when you choose to get in touch.
This website is the personal portfolio of Igor Saponja. The site is designed to present design work, professional information, services and written content.
This policy provides a concise overview of information that may be processed through normal website use and direct communication.
If you contact me by email or through a website enquiry, you may choose to provide information such as your name, email address, company information, project details or other information relevant to your message.
Please avoid sending sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for the purpose of your enquiry.
Basic technical information such as browser type, device information, IP address or request logs may be processed by hosting, security or infrastructure services when required to deliver and protect the website.
If additional analytics, commerce or payment services are introduced later, this policy will be updated where those services materially affect data handling.
Information may be used to respond to enquiries, discuss potential projects, operate and secure the website, maintain records related to communication, and improve the clarity or usability of the site.
Personal information is not intended to be used for unrelated purposes without an appropriate reason.
Third-party technical services may process limited information when necessary to host, deliver or secure the website. External services linked from this site operate under their own privacy practices.
Information is retained only for as long as it is reasonably useful for the relevant communication, project or operational purpose, subject to any applicable legal requirements.
Depending on where you are located, you may have rights relating to access, correction, deletion or other handling of your personal information.
For privacy questions or requests, contact hello@igorsaponja.com.
These terms describe the basic conditions for using this portfolio website, its published content and the external resources linked from it.
These terms apply to your use of this portfolio website and its public content. By using the site, you agree to use it lawfully and in a way that does not interfere with its operation or the rights of others.
Unless otherwise stated, the design presentations, written content, visual systems and original materials published on this website are presented as portfolio and professional work.
Content may not be reproduced, republished, sold or used commercially without permission from the relevant rights holder.
Case studies are intended to explain design process, decisions and outcomes. Some projects may use anonymised, adapted or limited information where client confidentiality or contractual restrictions apply.
Project information is presented for portfolio and informational purposes and may be updated as the work or documentation evolves.
The website may link to third-party websites, platforms or services. Those destinations are controlled by their respective operators and may have their own terms, policies and availability.
A link from this portfolio does not transfer responsibility for the content or operation of an external service.
Reasonable care is taken to keep the website clear and functional, but uninterrupted availability or complete absence of technical errors cannot be guaranteed.
Website content, services and these terms may be revised as the portfolio develops. The current version will be published on this page.
For questions about these terms or permission to use published material, contact hello@igorsaponja.com.
This portfolio aims to provide a clear, usable and inclusive experience across different devices, input methods and viewing conditions.
Accessibility is treated as part of the design and product quality of this website. The goal is to make core information and navigation usable by as many people as reasonably possible.
The site aims to use clear visual hierarchy, readable typography, responsive layouts, visible interactive states and keyboard-accessible controls where applicable.
Colour, spacing and interface states are designed to support readability across the light and dark themes used by the portfolio.
Pages aim to use meaningful headings, labels and interface structure so that information can be understood beyond visual styling alone.
Images and interactive elements should include useful text alternatives or accessible labels where those alternatives are relevant to the content.
The website is designed to work across current desktop, tablet and mobile browsers. Experience can vary depending on browser capabilities, assistive technology, device settings and connection conditions.
Some portfolio case studies contain complex visual presentations, interface mockups or image-led design documentation. Those areas may not yet provide a complete text equivalent for every visual detail.
Accessibility improvements will continue as the website and its content evolve.
If you encounter an accessibility barrier or need information in another practical format, contact hello@igorsaponja.com and describe the page or issue involved.
