L’Oréal PPD Internal Sales App

Overview

Client: L’Oréal Professional Products Division (PPD)
Agency: Fusion Media
Role: Lead Designer & Developer
Timeline: November 2022 – December 2023
Tools: Figma, Tiled, Photoshop, Illustrator, PDF/JPG optimization tools

L’Oréal’s PPD team needed a better way to access and present brand materials in the field. Their existing internal system was cluttered, costly, and difficult to navigate—especially during real-time salon visits. I led the design and development of a new internal app that made these materials easier to find, use, and share.

The Challenge

Sales reps regularly met with salon owners to pitch L’Oréal’s professional brands—Redken, Matrix, Pulp Riot, and more. But the tool they used to find promotional assets was slow, disorganized, and often incomplete. It wasn’t built with real-world sales needs in mind, and it cost significantly more than it delivered.

They needed something faster, easier to use, brand-consistent, and designed around how reps actually worked.

My Role

I owned the full design and development of the app—from research and wireframing to interface design, asset optimization, and final build. I worked solo on the product, supported by a project manager and agency lead for client communication and direction. I also joined client meetings directly to present design updates and gather feedback.

Process

🔍 Research

I interviewed several PPD sales reps to understand their day-to-day. They told me what was missing, what was frustrating, and what would actually help them during salon visits.

🧪 Design

I created wireframes and UI mockups, focusing on clear brand organization, intuitive filtering, and fast asset previews. Each sub-brand had its own visual identity reflected in the app, and key materials were placed up front for quick access.

⚙️ Development

I used Tiled to build the full interactive experience. I compressed and cleaned visual assets using Photoshop and Illustrator to keep load times low, and structured each screen to work on tablets or laptops (with early mobile versions in progress by the time I wrapped up).

🔄 Feedback

Monthly check-ins with client leads helped guide the app’s evolution. Reps tested each version and shared what was working and what wasn’t. I refined structure, repositioned key assets, and improved the presentation flow based on their feedback.

The Final Product

A branded internal app built specifically for L’Oréal PPD reps. It allowed fast browsing by brand, simple filtering, and clean exporting of marketing materials—whether they were in a salon or prepping beforehand. The interface was lightweight, offline-capable, and scalable as new assets were added.

Outcome

  • Replaced a bloated, outdated internal system with a tool built for real-world use

  • Reduced costs significantly (~$1M → ~$200K annually)

  • Improved confidence, speed, and delivery for reps meeting directly with salon partners

  • Recognized internally at L’Oréal’s corporate summit as a standout success for the PPD division

Reflection

If I could rebuild this now, I’d develop it natively and move beyond third-party platforms. Still, this was my first time leading a full design and build for a major global brand. I learned how to listen, adapt, and deliver something functional, visual, and genuinely helpful for a team doing real work.