Project Overview

Client: The Casa Labs Startup
Industry: Custom printing
Timeline: 5 weeks (2025)
My Role: product designer / art director
Tools & technology used: Recraft.ai, Shopify and Adobe Suite.

Problem statement

In Colombia, the print and packaging landscape is fragmented, offline, and inconsistent. With suppliers scattered across multiple channels, no centralized catalog, and widely varying production standards, businesses lose valuable time coordinating vendors, comparing prices, and managing quality. They waste time and money managing production instead of focusing on growth.

There is no streamlined, reliable platform that consolidates print products and merch in one place, creating a clear need for a unified, digital solution that simplifies the entire process.

Project constraints

• Very short development timeline:
  The MVP had to be designed, built, and populated quickly, requiring sharp prioritization and fast iteration across UX, UI, and production.
  
  

• No checkout system:
  Purchases couldn’t be completed online. We designed a WhatsApp-based quote flow that feels seamless, credible, and conversion-friendly.
  
  

• Complex product catalog:
  We implemented comprehensive variants and structured values. All products required original mockups built from scratch, demanding high visual consistency and extended production time.
  
  

Design Process

We approached the creation of The Casa Labs using an agile methodology, allowing us to iterate fast, stay aligned, and deliver a complex MVP under a tight timeline. Our process unfolded in four key stages:

1. Comprehensive Architecture: we organized 300+ products into clear categories to define scope and create intuitive navigation.

2. Shopify CSV Setup: we prepared a full CSV with all products and variants, enabling a fast, bulk upload and clean structure.

3. Parallel Work: Implementation + Mockups. With two people, we divided tasks between site setup and mockup creation, then worked together on mockups once the build was stable.

4. Agile Check-Ins: we held two weekly meetings to track progress, identify blockers, and stay aligned within the tight timeline.

Most of the mockups were generated with AI.

Final Insights & Impact

The Casa Labs MVP proved that a fragmented industry can be simplified through clear structure, thoughtful UX, and agile execution. By centralizing hundreds of products into one intuitive platform, we created a foundation that helps Colombian small/medium businesses access print and packaging solutions faster and with more confidence. The project set the stage for future automation, smoother purchasing flows, and a scalable ecosystem that can continue growing as new products and categories are added.

See website here: www.thecasalabs.com