WeUp CMS

The Problem

At WeUp, people don't just set goals; they dare themselves to achieve them. The platform is rooted in social good, parody, and gamified accountability—helping individuals and organizations transform personal and ESG goals into real-world impact.

While the player-facing platform was vibrant and engaging, the internal staff lacked a streamlined, user-friendly system to manage growing operations and content. The challenge: design a Content Management System (CMS) that is both intuitive for first-time users and powerful enough to support multiple departments. And critically, it couldn't be just another admin dashboard—it needed to carry WeUp's bold, playful energy while remaining practical and secure.

Research & Insights

I led the synthesis of survey and interview findings, organizing responses into an affinity map to identify patterns across departments.

• Collaboration was paramount: Teams emphasized seamless communication across departments. They wanted a CMS that didn't just store content but fostered cross-functional alignment.
• Cybersecurity concerns were universal: Beyond the cybersecurity team, all departments prioritized platform security, especially around content permissions and user roles.
• Simplicity was crucial: Employees wanted intuitive, minimal-training platforms. Many noted that current internal systems felt outdated or overly complex.
• Personality matters: In true WeUp fashion, employees expressed excitement about gamified and fun design elements. They wanted a tool reflecting the company's playful, purpose-driven energy.

Design Solution

Grounded in employee workflows and research insights, I led the design of a custom internal CMS that transformed fragmented processes into a cohesive tool. Key features included:

• Secure login experience aligned with cybersecurity best practices
• Streamlined payment history interface for viewing transactions and downloading records
• Cross-team visibility tools strengthening departmental communication
• Playful, gamified design elements reflecting WeUp's brand identity
• Role-based access control maintaining security protocols

Before & After

Key Learnings

• Feedback Shapes Better Outcomes: Early and frequent feedback from stakeholders built trust and shaped solutions that actually worked for users.
• Deadline Pressure Teaches Prioritization: Under tight deadlines, I learned to stay composed, ruthlessly prioritize, and focus on progress over perfection.
• Real-World Design is Flexible: The design process rarely follows an idealized path. Being open to iteration and willing to pivot was key to moving projects forward successfully.