Alex The Actualizer

Scale Up Stream Team

Principal Design

As the lead UX/UI designer for Scale Up Stream, I had the opportunity to build a site that balances clean aesthetics with straightforward functionality. Using Figma, I took concepts from early wireframes all the way through to launch, shaping a design that works well for both users and business goals.

My process combined user research, feedback, and iteration. I focused on improving navigation, simplifying the user journey, and creating a visual experience that feels modern without being overwhelming. The goal was always to make the site feel intuitive and easy to use—no matter who was visiting.

The Big Idea

Scale Up Stream is all about connecting startups, investors, and experts in one place. The platform brings everyone together through shared tools and resources, helping each group support the others and grow faster, together.

Whether it’s finding funding, forming partnerships, or staying on top of the latest trends, the site is designed to make collaboration easier. The interface is clean and accessible, encouraging communication and making it easier to take ideas from concept to execution.

During the development of the Scale Up Stream website, my team and I placed a strong emphasis on features synthesis and hypotheses to determine which features would generate the most user engagement. To accomplish this, we utilized Figjam to create detailed whiteboards of our expectations for the Scale Up Stream web experience. This approach allowed us to identify potential issues and brainstorm solutions before diving into the development process. By using Figjam to collaborate and iterate on our design ideas, we were able to create a streamlined and user-friendly website that met the needs of subject matter experts, investors, and startups alike.

When working on the development of the Scale Up Stream website, I utilized the Figjam desktop application to help create a collaborative space for the team. In order to gain a better understanding of each team member's ideas and visions, I conducted individual interviews to interpret their "sticky notes" and direction they had imagined. This allowed me to better understand their perspectives and insights, and use this information to shape the direction of the project.

I was able to utilizing Figjam to get my team focused on solutions. High engagement features play a crucial role in the success of any digital product, especially a website. When designing the Scale up Stream website, it was important to determine which features would be most engaging for the target audience and to prioritize them accordingly. This is where digital whiteboards come into play.

Simple Wireframes

Creating simple wireframes in Figma is an essential step in the design process for any website, including Scale up Stream. These wireframes serve as a visual representation of the website's layout and functionality, allowing me to discuss and refine the user experience (UX) flow. By using Figma, I can can quickly create and iterate wireframes without investing too much time or resources.

Detailed Wireframes – Scale Up Stream 2.0

After starting with simple layout concepts, I moved into a more refined wireframing phase using Balsamiq. This stage was all about digging into the details—button placement, form fields, navigation flow—making sure each element supported a smooth and logical user journey.

The goal wasn’t just to make things look good, but to make them work well too. Every component was checked for usability, consistency, and alignment with the overall brand. These detailed wireframes became the blueprint for the final design, helping translate abstract ideas into a user interface that feels thoughtful and easy to use.

Page Components

When I started designing the page components for Scale Up Stream, I drew from the visual language already established on the homepage. Sticking with the existing color palette and layout helped keep everything feeling cohesive and on-brand. The goal was to build on what was already working refining the details without disrupting the overall aesthetic.

The Public Pages

Figma is a powerful design tool that has enabled me with website designs to create and iterate on their website's public pages. With Figma, I can easily collaborate and share the designs, making it easier to receive feedback and make necessary changes. Using Figma, I can create wireframes and mockups of the public pages, allowing them to experiment with different layouts and user interfaces. This helps to ensure that the pages are designed with the user in mind, making it easy for them to navigate and find the information they need.

Figma's prototyping capabilities have also proven useful in creating interactive prototypes of the public pages. This allows the team to test the functionality of the pages and make any necessary adjustments before they are deployed to the public.

The Logged In pages

As the UX/UI designer for Scale Up Stream, I utilized Figma to design the website's logged-in pages. Using this powerful design tool allowed me to quickly iterate on various features and designs, advancing through them more rapidly than would have been possible with traditional design methods. With Figma, I was able to easily create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that accurately depicted the various features of the website. By designing these pages in Figma, I was able to fine-tune the user experience and interface to create a seamless and intuitive experience for users of the Scale Up Stream platform.

In Summary

As the designer for the Scale Up Stream website, I utilized Figjam to create detailed whiteboards that captured our team's expectations for the user experience. I conducted interviews with each team member individually to interpret their "sticky notes" and direction for the website. Simple wire frames were then created in Figma to discuss and iterate on the user flow. This gave a block out for the detailed wireframes I created in Balsamiq. Using the colors and layouts from the original homepage, I designed page components to create a cohesive look and feel for the website. Once the wireframes and page components were finalized, I moved onto creating the public and logged-in pages through Figma to quickly advance through the website features.

And the coolest part is embedding the live design pages here, on this page. Visit Scale Up Stream.