Design and Development of Proposal Forge Platform

Client: Confidential

Role: Lead Product Designer

Scope: Full-Stack Design · AI Strategy · Design Systems

Tools: Figma, React, TypeScript, OpenAI API, Node.js, Express, PostgreSQL, Sequelize, JWT, Stripe, Tailwind CSS, Vite, Zustand, React Router, Shadcn UI Project Link: https://portfolio.inafana.com/project/10

Proposal Forge is an AI-driven B2B platform that transforms the tedious process of manual bidding into a streamlined, high-conversion workflow. By combining a rich-text editor with OpenAI-powered content generation, the platform allows freelancers and agencies to craft branded, professional proposals in minutes rather than hours, complete with real-time engagement tracking.

The client identified that businesses were losing deals not due to poor service, but due to slow response times and inconsistent branding. The design challenge was to:

Humanize AI: Integrate OpenAI features so they feel like a "writing partner" rather than a cold automation tool.

Master the Workflow: Bridge the gap between a complex document editor and a simple, intuitive user flow.

Solve the "Ghosting" Problem: Provide visual data on client engagement to help users know exactly when to follow up.

Build for Scalability: Create a multi-tenant workspace that allows teams to collaborate without compromising brand consistency.

As the design lead, I directed the product from initial wireframes to a fully functional full-stack environment:

The "Smart Editor" Experience: Designed a modular rich-text editor that supports drag-and-drop sections, automated pricing tables, and media integration, ensuring proposals look premium across all devices.

AI-Assisted Crafting: Developed a seamless UX for AI prompts, allowing users to "enhance," "shorten," or "generate" sections of their proposal based on specific project goals.

The Analytics Dashboard: Created a high-visibility tracking system that uses unique secure tokens to notify users the moment a client opens a proposal, including "time-spent" metrics per section.

Monetization UX: Designed a credit-based subscription model and Stripe integration that feels transparent, rewarding high-volume users while keeping the entry point accessible for freelancers.

Branding Engine: Built a template system where users can set global themes,colors, typography, and logos, ensuring every outgoing document adheres to the organization's visual identity.

Successfully launched a comprehensive, mobile-responsive proposal ecosystem that solves the most common pain points in the sales lifecycle. The final product empowers users to act on data-driven insights rather than guesswork, positioning Proposal Forge as a premier tool for modern agencies looking to scale their client acquisition through technology and empathy.