Project Idea : M.Ben

Project Idea and Summary


In 2012, I undertook freelance UI and UX design work for Mekanist.net, a startup aimed at creating a social network for listing restaurants and cafes in Turkey. Given the social nature of the platform, crafting an intuitive and seamless user experience was paramount. At the time, UX was a nascent concept in Turkey, and this project required me to adopt a UX-first approach, a methodology that was just beginning to gain traction globally.

Solution : M.Ben

Problem and Solution


Problem: The platform needed to serve diverse user needs, including profile pages, activity feeds, restaurant listings, and detailed venue pages. One of the key challenges was ensuring that these various content types were clearly differentiated while maintaining a consistent and user-friendly design.
Solution: To address this, I divided dynamic pages into two distinct sections to establish design consistency and ease of use. For instance: On venue detail pages, the left section displayed ratings and a brief description with distinct icons and colour tones, followed by photos and map information.
The right section was dedicated to user reviews and social interactions, which were central to the platform’s purpose.
This consistent layout was mirrored across user profile and other key pages, helping users quickly learn and navigate the interface. By structuring content this way, I ensured that users could focus on the most relevant information without feeling overwhelmed..

Application: M.Ben

Execution and Technology


In line with the emerging UX practices of the time, I created wireframes using Moqups.com, a tool that had just started gaining popularity. For the UI design, Photoshop was employed. Collaborating with USERSPOTS, one of Turkey’s first UX-focused companies, we conducted user testing and iterated on wireframes to refine the design before moving to the visual interface.

Results


Delivering this project in 2012, at a time when UX was still largely unheard of in Turkey, was a significant milestone. It marked the beginning of my journey into UX/UI design and set the foundation for my future projects. On the client side, the UX-first approach allowed us to identify problems early and streamline the UI development process, leading to a more efficient and impactful delivery.
Reflections
Looking back, I take pride in being an early adopter of UX design in Turkey. This project not only helped shape my approach to design but also demonstrated the tangible value of prioritising user experience, a concept that continues to guide my work today.