Case study
Cacao CreativeDesign Subscription Platform
~65% reduction in admin time for studio operations
Custom MERN platform powering Cacao Creative’s subscription design service — client briefs, credit tracking, agent workflows, and real-time usage visibility at scale.
Next.js · React · Node.js · MongoDB · +2
- Client
- Cacao Creative
- Year
- 2024
- Category
- SaaS Platform
- Stack
- 6 technologies
Section
About the client
Cacao Creative is a UK-based design outsourcing studio offering unlimited creative requests on a flexible subscription. As the client base grew, email threads and spreadsheets could not scale — they needed Limitless, a digital product that matches the efficiency of their service.
Section
The challenge
- Disjointed briefing via email caused delays and scope confusion
- No client visibility into credits, active requests, or delivery stages
- Admin overload chasing information and tracking usage manually
- Inconsistent workflows per client made quality hard to scale
- No cohesive product experience to anchor the Limitless subscription brand
Section
Our approach
- Embedded process mapping with studio ops and account teams
- Figma prototypes for client portal and agent (designer) workspaces
- Phased build: briefs → dashboards → notifications → billing integration
- Modular MERN architecture for future reporting and marketplace modules
Section
The solution
Limitless is a bespoke subscription platform where clients raise structured briefs, track progress (scoped → in design → complete), monitor credit usage, and collaborate without email chaos. Designers get a central queue with assignments, due dates, and feedback loops. Support notifications and sidebar status keep everyone aligned.
Section
Outcomes
- ~65% reduction in admin time (internal ops benchmark)
- ~26% increase in gross margin through workflow efficiency
- Self-service briefs with clearer scope upfront
- Stronger client retention via transparency and faster turnaround
- Foundation for client reporting, auto-scoping, and creator marketplace phases
Section
Stack
Next.js · React · Node.js · MongoDB · Stripe