Behind the scenes: building our client dashboard template
Why we chose a timeline view over a kanban board, and how we made onboarding feel like a warm hug.
When we set out to create the client dashboard, we knew we wanted something that felt less like a spreadsheet and more like a conversation. We tested three layouts before landing on a timeline view that shows project phases at a glance.
The biggest challenge was making it simple enough for someone who's never used Notion, but powerful enough for a busy freelancer. We added a 'next action' field that auto-populates, so you never wonder what to do next.
The result? Beta testers reported saving an average of 3 hours per week on client management. For us, that's the best feedback.