Case Study — Short Let Management SaaS
Bookster
UX/UI review and redesign for a leading short let management platform — improving user flows, resolving performance issues, and simplifying complex feature navigation across website and CRM.
Role
UX/UI Consultant
Client
Bookster
Stack
Joomla · GitHub · HTML/CSS
Services
UX/UI Review · Web Dev · Graphic Design
Project Gallery
Overview
About the project
The engagement involved a comprehensive UX/UI review of Bookster’s website and CRM application, with the primary goal of improving user experience and addressing pain points identified through direct client and stakeholder collaboration. I made HTML and CSS updates via Joomla and GitHub, participated in regular strategic meetings, and created new graphics and user flows to simplify feature access.
Working closely with the CEO and Marketing lead, I reviewed and received approval on wireframe solutions before moving into development — ensuring all changes were user-validated and stakeholder-aligned before a single line of code was written.
UX/UI Review · HTML & CSS · Web Development · User Flow Optimisation · Graphic Design · Wireframing
Process
Research, design, deliver.
Phase 01
Research
Reached out to existing Bookster clients to discuss pain points and potential improvements. Documented user goals and needs to build a solid foundation for the design direction, ensuring every decision was rooted in authentic user experience data.
Phase 02
Design
Created wireframes based on research findings and presented solutions to the CEO and Marketing lead for review and approval. Designed new graphics and user flows to simplify feature access without causing drop-off during navigation between key sections of the CRM.
Phase 03
Development
HTML, CSS and JavaScript implementation via Joomla and GitHub. Changes required duplication across both platforms due to the company’s specialised in-house file structure. Image optimisation via Photoshop and CDN implementation resolved performance bottlenecks.
Key Challenges
Problems solved along the way.
Challenge 01
Technical constraints
Working with the company’s in-house CMS was challenging as they had a very specific and unique file structure incorporated into Joomla — requiring all changes to be carefully duplicated across both Joomla and GitHub to maintain consistency across environments.
Challenge 02
Site performance
Page loading speed was an issue caused by high-resolution photos and excessive plugins. Resolved through image optimisation in Photoshop, CSS and JavaScript compression, and CDN implementation to serve traffic from North America and Europe more efficiently.
Challenge 03
User navigation
Creating new graphics and user flows to simplify feature access without causing user drop-off. The new UI enabled more practical transitions between feature pages, reducing cognitive overload and making key CRM functions accessible without overwhelming new users.
Key Findings
What worked, what I’d change.
What Worked Well
“Working with a company’s specialised in-house software was challenging but the learning curve was worthwhile and I was happy with my contribution.”
Reaching out directly to existing clients for feedback provided authentic, actionable insights that shaped the wireframe direction. The collaborative review process with the CEO and Marketing lead ensured full stakeholder alignment before any code was written.
What I’d Do Differently
Earlier prototyping and interactive mock-ups through platforms like InVision would have allowed user validation before development began — reducing rework caused by feedback gathered only after implementation. Understanding the specialised CMS constraints earlier would also have streamlined the duplication workflow significantly.
Interested in working together?
Book a free discovery call or browse more of my work below.