Freelancing Made Easy Without Proposals
Freelancing Made Easy Without Proposals
Go Collective is a web platform that connects Nigerian creatives and tech talent with clients through smart, skill-based matching. No proposals. No cold pitching. Just vetted creatives getting matched to real projects based on their abilities, availability, and growth path.
Go Collective is a web platform that connects Nigerian creatives and tech talent with clients through smart, skill-based matching. No proposals. No cold pitching. Just vetted creatives getting matched to real projects based on their abilities, availability, and growth path.
Web Design
Web Design
Freelance Platform
Freelance Platform
Talent Matching
Talent Matching
Upskilling
Upskilling
Client
Client
Aqqute Labs Limited
Role
Role
Product Designer (UI/UX)
Tools Used
Tools Used
Figma, Miro, Google docs
Time Frame
Time Frame
4 weeks
The Challenge
The Challenge
Traditional freelancing platforms overwhelm clients with too many applications and give newer creatives little chance to stand out. Proposal systems waste time, create bias, and reward visibility over value. Junior freelancers often get stuck in a loop of rejections, while clients struggle to find good matches quickly.
Traditional freelancing platforms overwhelm clients with too many applications and give newer creatives little chance to stand out. Proposal systems waste time, create bias, and reward visibility over value. Junior freelancers often get stuck in a loop of rejections, while clients struggle to find good matches quickly.
Solution
Solution
Go Collective flips the model. It uses onboarding data, skill tests, and availability to match freelancers with projects, no proposals needed. Freelancers can apply with one click, and clients review only one match per project. A scoring system encourages growth, while badges boost visibility. Junior creatives can level up through in-platform courses, improving their score and access to better gigs.
Go Collective flips the model. It uses onboarding data, skill tests, and availability to match freelancers with projects, no proposals needed. Freelancers can apply with one click, and clients review only one match per project. A scoring system encourages growth, while badges boost visibility. Junior creatives can level up through in-platform courses, improving their score and access to better gigs.
Result
Result
Go Collective proved that matching works better than pitching during testing. Clients found the right talent faster. Freelancers, especially juniors, gained real access to jobs without sending proposals. The platform made hiring simpler, fairer, and more efficient for everyone.
Go Collective proved that matching works better than pitching during testing. Clients found the right talent faster. Freelancers, especially juniors, gained real access to jobs without sending proposals. The platform made hiring simpler, fairer, and more efficient for everyone.
62%
62%
Onboarding completion
Onboarding completion
68%
68%
Clients hired first match
Clients hired first match
3.5x
3.5x
More matches after one course
More matches after one course
My Role & Responsibilities
My Role & Responsibilities
Design & Strategy
Design & Strategy
I led product design from research to handoff, mapping user flows, building the design system, creating wireframes and prototypes, designing the UI, testing with users, and ensuring clean developer handoff.
I led product design from research to handoff, mapping user flows, building the design system, creating wireframes and prototypes, designing the UI, testing with users, and ensuring clean developer handoff.
Design Process
Design Process
Discovery and User Research
Discovery and User Research
I interviewed freelancers and clients to uncover frustrations with job access, trust, and proposal overload. Both sides wanted less noise, more accuracy, and faster results.
I interviewed freelancers and clients to uncover frustrations with job access, trust, and proposal overload. Both sides wanted less noise, more accuracy, and faster results.
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
I structured flows around minimal steps and focused actions. Client and freelancer journeys were built to avoid decision fatigue while supporting accurate matching.
I structured flows around minimal steps and focused actions. Client and freelancer journeys were built to avoid decision fatigue while supporting accurate matching.
Wireframing and Prototyping
Wireframing and Prototyping
I built and tested wireframes for the full flow, including onboarding, matching, skill tracking, and project views. The prototype captured all screen states and was used for stakeholder reviews and user testing.
I built and tested wireframes for the full flow, including onboarding, matching, skill tracking, and project views. The prototype captured all screen states and was used for stakeholder reviews and user testing.
Design System and Style Guide
Design System and Style Guide
I designed a modern, clean system using soft neutrals with bold accents for status, badges, and CTAs. Components were modular, scalable, and built to handle role-based logic.
I designed a modern, clean system using soft neutrals with bold accents for status, badges, and CTAs. Components were modular, scalable, and built to handle role-based logic.
UI Design
UI Design
The freelancer dashboard highlights match queues, badge progress, and skill scores. Clients see one focused match per project with key details. The visuals are clean and action-driven, guiding users to apply, accept, and complete tasks. Badges, scores, and learning prompts encourage progress without creating friction.
The freelancer dashboard highlights match queues, badge progress, and skill scores. Clients see one focused match per project with key details. The visuals are clean and action-driven, guiding users to apply, accept, and complete tasks. Badges, scores, and learning prompts encourage progress without creating friction.
Usability Testing & Handoff
Usability Testing & Handoff
Testing helped refine match visibility, badge clarity, and score explanations. I iterated quickly and created a Figma system with states, variants, and documentation. Devs received flows, edge cases, and notes for each screen.
Test Group: 15 participants (brands, business owners, and collectors)
Goal: Validate navigation, clarity, and task completion on GoCollective.
Testing helped refine match visibility, badge clarity, and score explanations. I iterated quickly and created a Figma system with states, variants, and documentation. Devs received flows, edge cases, and notes for each screen.
Test Group: 15 participants (brands, business owners, and collectors)
Goal: Validate navigation, clarity, and task completion on GoCollective.
“Working with Belema was seamless. The design captured exactly what we needed—clean, intuitive, and user-friendly. Our community has found it much easier to navigate, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."
“Working with Belema was seamless. The design captured exactly what we needed—clean, intuitive, and user-friendly. Our community has found it much easier to navigate, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."
Aquila Kalagbor
Aquila Kalagbor
Product Development Lead
Product Development Lead
Conclusion
Conclusion
Go Collective isn’t just another job board. It’s a smarter way for creatives to find work and grow. By replacing proposals with precision and creating space to level up, the platform opens the door to a new kind of freelancer economy that is fast, fair, and focused on real skill.
Go Collective isn’t just another job board. It’s a smarter way for creatives to find work and grow. By replacing proposals with precision and creating space to level up, the platform opens the door to a new kind of freelancer economy that is fast, fair, and focused on real skill.