Builder Portal

Zillow · B2B

A customer portal for homebuilders to add and manage construction inventory — faster, clearer, and consistent at scale.

Role
Sole UX Designer
Focus
Web · B2B · 0→1
Live demo
Builder Portal homepage search

The problem

Builders still used their own systems to enter construction data — about 90% of them outdated and slow. Processes were inconsistent, error-prone, and expensive in time.

Research &
user needs

We interviewed one of the largest U.S. homebuilders to map real tasks, decision points, and friction across their inventory hierarchy — from corporation down to lot and plan.

Builder Portal information architecture

The challenges

Common tasks span a deep hierarchy. Editing a subdivision or adding a plan often means drilling through corporation → builder → community before work can start — slowing every update.

Task flow map showing multi-level drill-down

Design solutions

A search-first portal with task-matched destinations, contextual interactions, and a tiered form system — so builders reach the right place fast and complete work with less friction.

Wayfinding
Simplified flow, faster completion
A search-led homepage and task-matched destinations cut navigation depth — so users land where work happens instead of drilling the hierarchy.
Optimised task flow
Homepage search wayfinder

Interaction
Context that guides action
Inline cues and progressive disclosure keep users oriented — so they always know where they are and what to do next.
Left rail contextual navigation

Flexible layout
Grid and table, one switch
Users toggle between grid and table views to match the task — scan visually or compare details — without leaving the page.
Grid and table view switch

Form system
Right edit pattern for the job
A tiered form system covers the range of add/edit needs — quick edit, lightweight edit, and multi-step creation — matched to entity complexity.
Quick edit form
Quick edit form variant
Lightweight edit form
Multi-step creation form

Automation
Templates for one-click starts
Reusable templates collapse multi-step creation into a guided starting point — fewer blank fields, fewer repeated decisions.
One-click template automation

The outcomes

~63%
Improved efficiency
~72%
Customer adoption

More work

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