The Design Showcase is a web application that the Design team developed end-to-end at Chainlink Labs, where designers could put their work on display for all to see. The goal was not only to recognize their talent and accomplishments, but also nurture a collaborative, feedback-driven ecosystem. Additionally, the tool served as a handy resource for internal communications purposes, like inspiring newsletters or building an accessible design archive for the organization.

Taking inspiration from design display applications like Dribbble, we crafted a straightforward flow. Users needed a company email to access the site, and only designers were granted access to the mystical upload button. Once logged in, users were greeted by the sortable grid on the homepage, with the freshest projects on display.

To upload new projects, designers filled out a simple form, which was connected to Airtable and then to Webflow through Zapier. Within moments of submission, the project materialized in the Showcase.

Inside the app, users could easily explore the latest uploaded work and access individual project pages. They could delve deeper into each project, uncovering details like project brief, date, status, additional images, and associated resources. A kudos section allowed for appreciation of internal and external colleagues' work, and a similar project section at the bottom made site navigation a breeze.

Additionally, each designer had a personal project page, revealing not only their work but also charming and fun personal details like interests, and hobbies. The goal of this page was to help humanize the creative forces behind the brand in a rapidly growing company.

To make the app run as smoothly as a well-oiled design machine, we meticulously crafted a set of automations. First of all, we created all the collections within Webflow, using a diverse range of fields to ensure optimal functionality.

Airtable served as the primary database for the entirety of the page's content, housing three essential data sets: projects, designers (or authors), and tags. By utilizing Airtable for our backend system, we not only achieved seamless functionality but also simplified administration and maintenance tasks.

The Design Showcase helped to increase visibility, foster collaboration, and celebrate the incredible work of our talented designers at Chainlink Labs. By leveraging the power of no-code tools like Webflow, Airtable, Jetboost, and Memberstack, we were able to create a dynamic and engaging platform without taxing our engineering resources.

The intuitive design and user-friendly interface made it easy for our designers to share their work and receive valuable feedback, while also allowing other team members to stay updated on ongoing projects. The showcase brought our design community closer together and played a crucial role in promoting our creative minds' accomplishments within the organization, as well as nurturing a thriving design ecosystem.