Creator central
Creator central
The creator economy is booming, but many creators struggle to monetize beyond brand deals, and brands find it hard to connect with authentic influencers. Creator Central bridges this gap by offering a platform that enables creators to earn through affiliate marketing with brands they genuinely support. By fostering real partnerships, Creator Central aims to transform how creators monetize and how brands engage audiences.
The creator economy is booming, but many creators struggle to monetize beyond brand deals, and brands find it hard to connect with authentic influencers. Creator Central bridges this gap by offering a platform that enables creators to earn through affiliate marketing with brands they genuinely support. By fostering real partnerships, Creator Central aims to transform how creators monetize and how brands engage audiences.
Client
freelance
Timeline
winter 2024
Tools
Figma & Relume
Figma, Relume
Role
UX Strategy & Interface Design
UX/UI Design
The Challenge
The Challenge
Despite the explosive growth of content creation, creators often rely on unstable brand deals, while brands struggle to find influencers who truly align with their values. Both sides need a solution that supports authentic, sustainable partnerships and more reliable revenue streams.
Despite the explosive growth of content creation, creators often rely on unstable brand deals, while brands struggle to find influencers who truly align with their values. Both sides need a solution that supports authentic, sustainable partnerships and more reliable revenue streams.
The Challenge
Despite the explosive growth of content creation, creators often rely on unstable brand deals, while brands struggle to find influencers who truly align with their values. Both sides need a solution that supports authentic, sustainable partnerships and more reliable revenue streams.
Research
Research
To uncover the needs of both creators and brands, I conducted:
In-depth interviews with emerging and established creators to understand their monetization challenges and partnership preferences.
Surveys of brand managers to identify pain points in influencer discovery and campaign management.
Competitive analysis to benchmark leading platforms and uncover opportunities for differentiation.
To uncover the needs of both creators and brands, I conducted:
In-depth interviews with emerging and established creators to understand their monetization challenges and partnership preferences.
Surveys of brand managers to identify pain points in influencer discovery and campaign management.
Competitive analysis to benchmark leading platforms and uncover opportunities for differentiation.
Research
To uncover the needs of both creators and brands, I conducted:
In-depth interviews with emerging and established creators to understand their monetization challenges and partnership preferences.
Surveys of brand managers to identify pain points in influencer discovery and campaign management.
Competitive analysis to benchmark leading platforms and uncover opportunities for differentiation.
Insights
Creators want more control and transparency over their income and partnerships.
There is a growing interest in selling digital products, but not all creators see this as an urgent need.
Brands value authentic, long-term influencer relationships and transparent campaign performance.
insights
Creators want more control and transparency over their income and partnerships.
There is a growing interest in selling digital products, but not all creators see this as an urgent need.
Brands value authentic, long-term influencer relationships and transparent campaign performance.
insights
Creators want more control and transparency over their income and partnerships.
There is a growing interest in selling digital products, but not all creators see this as an urgent need.
Brands value authentic, long-term influencer relationships and transparent campaign performance.
Personas
Solution
Based on my research, I developed two primary personas:
Toby: Building a personal brand on Twitter to attract leads for his ghostwriting agency. Not interested in brand deals, but quick to validate and launch digital products like guides, memberships, and templates.
Creator Central was designed to:
Connect creators and brands through an affiliate-based system for authentic endorsements.
Enable creators to sell digital products directly to their audience, providing additional income streams.
Offer brands access to a curated pool of influencers, advanced search tools, and campaign analytics.
Personas
Based on my research, I developed two primary personas:
Toby: Building a personal brand on Twitter to attract leads for his ghostwriting agency. Not interested in brand deals, but quick to validate and launch digital products like guides, memberships, and templates.
Personas
Based on my research, I developed two primary personas:
Toby: Building a personal brand on Twitter to attract leads for his ghostwriting agency. Not interested in brand deals, but quick to validate and launch digital products like guides, memberships, and templates.
Dean : Digital nomad running a travel and lifestyle brand. Works with multiple brands and is open to digital product sales, but struggles to track all revenue streams in one place.
Dean : Digital nomad running a travel and lifestyle brand. Works with multiple brands and is open to digital product sales, but struggles to track all revenue streams in one place.
Dean : Digital nomad running a travel and lifestyle brand. Works with multiple brands and is open to digital product sales, but struggles to track all revenue streams in one place.
Solution
Creator Central was designed to:
Connect creators and brands through an affiliate-based system for authentic endorsements.
Enable creators to sell digital products directly to their audience, providing additional income streams.
Offer brands access to a curated pool of influencers, advanced search tools, and campaign analytics.
Solution
Creator Central was designed to:
Connect creators and brands through an affiliate-based system for authentic endorsements.
Enable creators to sell digital products directly to their audience, providing additional income streams.
Offer brands access to a curated pool of influencers, advanced search tools, and campaign analytics.
Site Map & Architecture
Site Map & Architecture
I prioritized the homepage, payouts, and brand discovery in the site architecture to ensure users could easily access essential features. The homepage serves as a central hub, payouts provide creators with transparent earnings tracking, and brand discovery enables both creators and brands to connect efficiently. This focus supports the platform’s core value propositions and streamlines the user experience.
I prioritized the homepage, payouts, and brand discovery in the site architecture to ensure users could easily access essential features. The homepage serves as a central hub, payouts provide creators with transparent earnings tracking, and brand discovery enables both creators and brands to connect efficiently. This focus supports the platform’s core value propositions and streamlines the user experience.
Site Map & Architecture
I prioritized the homepage, payouts, and brand discovery in the site architecture to ensure users could easily access essential features. The homepage serves as a central hub, payouts provide creators with transparent earnings tracking, and brand discovery enables both creators and brands to connect efficiently. This focus supports the platform’s core value propositions and streamlines the user experience.
Wireframes & Prototypes
Wireframes & Prototypes
Developed low- and high-fidelity prototypes focusing on:
Home Page
The homepage acts as the platform’s landing page, introducing Creator Central’s value and guiding users to sign up or explore key features like payouts and brand discovery.
Developed low- and high-fidelity prototypes focusing on:
Home Page
The homepage acts as the platform’s landing page, introducing Creator Central’s value and guiding users to sign up or explore key features like payouts and brand discovery.
Wireframes & Prototypes
Developed low- and high-fidelity prototypes focusing on:
Home Page
The homepage acts as the platform’s landing page, introducing Creator Central’s value and guiding users to sign up or explore key features like payouts and brand discovery.
A creator dashboard
For tracking affiliate earnings, digital product sales, and campaign performance.
A creator dashboard
For tracking affiliate earnings, digital product sales, and campaign performance.
A creator dashboard
For tracking affiliate earnings, digital product sales, and campaign performance.
A digital marketplace
For creators to upload and manage digital products.
A digital marketplace
For creators to upload and manage digital products.
A digital marketplace
For creators to upload and manage digital products.
A brand portal
Influencer discovery, onboarding, and campaign analytics.
A brand portal
Influencer discovery, onboarding, and campaign analytics.
A brand portal
Influencer discovery, onboarding, and campaign analytics.
Usability Testing & Iteration
Tested prototypes with both creators and brands:
Creators appreciated the affiliate dashboard and the option to sell digital products, but many indicated that digital product sales were not an immediate priority.
Brands valued the streamlined influencer discovery and campaign management tools.
Feedback suggested simplifying the platform by focusing on the most urgent creator needs.
Usability Testing & Iteration
Tested prototypes with both creators and brands:
Creators appreciated the affiliate dashboard and the option to sell digital products, but many indicated that digital product sales were not an immediate priority.
Brands valued the streamlined influencer discovery and campaign management tools.
Feedback suggested simplifying the platform by focusing on the most urgent creator needs.
Usability Testing & Iteration
Usability Testing & Iteration
Tested prototypes with both creators and brands:
Creators appreciated the affiliate dashboard and the option to sell digital products, but many indicated that digital product sales were not an immediate priority.
Brands valued the streamlined influencer discovery and campaign management tools.
Feedback suggested simplifying the platform by focusing on the most urgent creator needs.
I tested the prototypes with users. They liked the homepage video and recipe ideas. Some wanted more ilters on the recipe page and an easier store locator.
I didn’t have time to make these changes, but I know iteration is important. Next, I’d refine these features and test again to improve the experience.
Tested prototypes with both creators and brands:
Creators appreciated the affiliate dashboard and the option to sell digital products, but many indicated that digital product sales were not an immediate priority.
Brands valued the streamlined influencer discovery and campaign management tools.
Feedback suggested simplifying the platform by focusing on the most urgent creator needs.
Iteration
Iteration
Based on testing, we decided to deprioritize the digital product sales feature for the initial launch, as most creators were more interested in affiliate partnerships and brand collaborations. This allowed us to streamline the user experience and focus on features with the highest immediate impact.
I tested the prototypes with users. They liked the homepage video and recipe ideas. Some wanted more ilters on the recipe page and an easier store locator.
I didn’t have time to make these changes, but I know iteration is important. Next, I’d refine these features and test again to improve the experience.
Based on testing, we decided to deprioritize the digital product sales feature for the initial launch, as most creators were more interested in affiliate partnerships and brand collaborations. This allowed us to streamline the user experience and focus on features with the highest immediate impact.
Iteration
Based on testing, we decided to deprioritize the digital product sales feature for the initial launch, as most creators were more interested in affiliate partnerships and brand collaborations. This allowed us to streamline the user experience and focus on features with the highest immediate impact.
Reflection
This project strengthened my skills in user research, platform strategy, and interface design. By listening to real user needs and iterating based on feedback, I delivered a solution that supports sustainable growth for both creators and brands. The decision to focus on affiliate partnerships for the MVP demonstrates the value of prioritizing user needs and business goals in product development.
Next Steps
Continue refining onboarding and educational resources.
Expand usability testing to a broader segment.
Revisit digital product sales as a future enhancement based on evolving creator needs.
Reflection & Impact
Reflection & Impact
This project strengthened my skills in user research, platform strategy, and interface design. By listening to real user needs and iterating based on feedback, I delivered a solution that supports sustainable growth for both creators and brands. The decision to focus on affiliate partnerships for the MVP demonstrates the value of prioritizing user needs and business goals in product development.
I tested the prototypes with users. They liked the homepage video and recipe ideas. Some wanted more ilters on the recipe page and an easier store locator.
I didn’t have time to make these changes, but I know iteration is important. Next, I’d refine these features and test again to improve the experience.
This project strengthened my skills in user research, platform strategy, and interface design. By listening to real user needs and iterating based on feedback, I delivered a solution that supports sustainable growth for both creators and brands. The decision to focus on affiliate partnerships for the MVP demonstrates the value of prioritizing user needs and business goals in product development.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Continue refining onboarding and educational resources.
Expand usability testing to a broader segment.
Revisit digital product sales as a future enhancement based on evolving creator needs.
I tested the prototypes with users. They liked the homepage video and recipe ideas. Some wanted more ilters on the recipe page and an easier store locator.
I didn’t have time to make these changes, but I know iteration is important. Next, I’d refine these features and test again to improve the experience.
Continue refining onboarding and educational resources.
Expand usability testing to a broader segment.
Revisit digital product sales as a future enhancement based on evolving creator needs.
More Works More Works
More Works More Works
©2025 Shakilo
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©2025 Shakilo
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