Nexflo
2025
Nexflo — product design internship
Designing a rapid and intuitive ERP system for small and medium wholesale enterprises
Designing a rapid and intuitive ERP system for small and medium wholesale enterprises
Type
Internship
Role
Product designer
Tools
Figma
Team
Product designer, marketing team, project manager, developers & COO
Type
Internship
Role
Product designer
Tools
Figma
Team
Product designer, marketing team, project manager, developers & COO
Overview & Problem
What is Nexflo and why was it created?
Nexflo is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system designed for small to medium-sized wholesale distributors. During my 4-month internship as a product design intern, I collaborated closely with the COO, developers, and marketing coordinator and owned the development of various deliverables such as Nexflo's user interface mockups, marketing website and promotional demo videos.
The main challenge was designing an ERP system that felt powerful but approachable. Many existing ERPs in this space are cluttered and visually outdated, which makes them difficult for smaller teams to use effectively. Our goal was to create an interface that felt modern and approachable while still handling complex operations and workflows in the background.
Nexflo is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system designed for small to medium-sized wholesale distributors. During my 4-month internship as a product design intern, I collaborated closely with the COO, developers, and marketing coordinator and owned the development of various deliverables such as Nexflo's user interface mockups, marketing website and promotional demo videos.
The main challenge was designing an ERP system that felt powerful but approachable. Many existing ERPs in this space are cluttered and visually outdated, which makes them difficult for smaller teams to use effectively. Our goal was to create an interface that felt modern and approachable while still handling complex operations and workflows in the background.
Internship summary
My role at Nexflo
Conducted competitor analysis of leading ERP systems and presented insights on the features, common UI patterns and user reviews.
Researched and presented best UX/UI practises and recommendations from leading ERP systems that should be implemented in our ERP system to executives and developers.
Designed ERP mockups for the MVP before branding was finalized, due to time constraints.
Iterated on various UI elements (navigation bars, toolbars and button styles) with the PM, executives and developers, ensuring alignment with business goals and technical requirements.
Refined UI once branding was finalized by the marketing coordinator.
Began to explore a tablet breakpoint of the dashboard to extend usability.
Delivered mockups for developer handoff, with some elements later adapted during implementation.
Continued to extend Nexflo’s branding to design Nexflo’s marketing website and promotional videos working closely within the marketing team.
Conducted competitor analysis of leading ERP systems and presented insights on the features, common UI patterns and user reviews.
Researched and presented best UX/UI practises and recommendations from leading ERP systems that should be implemented in our ERP system to executives and developers.
Designed ERP mockups for the MVP before branding was finalized, due to time constraints.
Iterated on various UI elements (navigation bars, toolbars and button styles) with the PM, executives and developers, ensuring alignment with business goals and technical requirements.
Refined UI once branding was finalized by the marketing coordinator.
Began to explore a tablet breakpoint of the dashboard to extend usability.
Delivered mockups for developer handoff, with some elements later adapted during implementation.
Continued to extend Nexflo’s branding to design Nexflo’s marketing website and promotional videos working closely within the marketing team.
Design process
The design process, working under time constraints
Competitor analysis
Researching what leading ERP systems do well and where they fall short
Strengths
Scalability
Real-time data visibility
Comprehensive suites
Customization and integrations
Weaknesses
Steep learning curves
Timely implementations
High costs
Outdated interfaces
Strengths
Scalability
Real-time data visibility
Comprehensive suites
Customization and integrations
Weaknesses
Steep learning curves
Timely implementations
High costs
Outdated interfaces
Strengths
Scalability
Real-time data visibility
Comprehensive suites
Customization and integrations
Weaknesses
Steep learning curves
Timely implementations
High costs
Outdated interfaces
User research
Learning what users value
To discover what users appreciate most in ERP systems, I analyzed reviews across multiple software review platforms. This secondary research method allowed me to gather feedback from real users without conducting formal interviews.
Ease of use
Customers appreciate ERP systems that are easy to navigate and comfortable for people at any skill level, which makes the software much more satisfying to use on a daily basis.
Efficiency
Customers look for ERP systems that use automation, along with tools that make managing daily workloads easier.
Customization
Customers value ERP systems that let them easily tailor workflows to their specific needs and adjust configurable views to display information exactly how they want to see it.
To discover what users appreciate most in ERP systems, I analyzed reviews across multiple software review platforms. This secondary research method allowed me to gather feedback from real users without conducting formal interviews.
Ease of use
Customers appreciate ERP systems that are easy to navigate and comfortable for people at any skill level, which makes the software much more satisfying to use on a daily basis.
Efficiency
Customers look for ERP systems that use automation, along with tools that make managing daily workloads easier.
Customization
Customers value ERP systems that let them easily tailor workflows to their specific needs and adjust configurable views to display information exactly how they want to see it.
Early concept hi-fi mockups
Laying the groundwork for an ERP dashboard design
After learning what users value, I identified common UI patterns within the system users liked. Because the brand guidelines for Nexflo were still being developed due to the business being in its early stages, I focused on creating the MVP dashboard layout and iterating on UI elements using filler branding, prioritizing visual clarity and customization utilizing a bento grid system.
We explored potential company names and colour palettes, one of the early concepts being Hivantage, paired with a yellow primary palette. However, the executives felt the name didn’t fully reflect the ERP’s vision and target audience. One issue brought up was that yellow on a white background presented readability issues if it was not utilized properly.
After learning what users value, I identified common UI patterns within the system users liked. Because the brand guidelines for Nexflo were still being developed due to the business being in its early stages, I focused on creating the MVP dashboard layout and iterating on UI elements using filler branding, prioritizing visual clarity and customization utilizing a bento grid system.
We explored potential company names and colour palettes, one of the early concepts being Hivantage, paired with a yellow primary palette. However, the executives felt the name didn’t fully reflect the ERP’s vision and target audience. One issue brought up was that yellow on a white background presented readability issues if it was not utilized properly.
Iteration & feedback
Exploring the most efficient way to navigate
With efficiency and ease of use in mind, we continued to iterate. With the amount of modules and subpages we had, I explored both hover-based and dropdown navigation modules to determine which best supported efficiency and clarity.
With efficiency and ease of use in mind, we continued to iterate. With the amount of modules and subpages we had, I explored both hover-based and dropdown navigation modules to determine which best supported efficiency and clarity.
Frustrating to navigate using hover
Not tablet friendly
Can’t see subpage location after clicking
Frustrating to navigate using hover
Not tablet friendly
Can’t see subpage location after clicking
More control, less frustrating
Tablet friendly
Visible subpage location after clicking
More control, less frustrating
Tablet friendly
Visible subpage location after clicking
Brand integration
Adding Nexflo's final branding
After finalizing the dashboard design and navigation, our marketing coordinator created Nexflo's branding.
After finalizing the dashboard design and navigation, our marketing coordinator created Nexflo's branding.
Final designs
Final dashboard design on desktop and tablet :)
Takeaways
What this internship has taught me
Working as the sole product designer at Nexflo, I learnt the importance of voicing your opinion with confidence while collaborating cross functionally. This internship not only helped me grow as a designer but also as a collaborator who advocates of the value of user experiences within a real business under real technical and time constraints.
