Web App vs Product Design
Whether you call it Web App Design or Product Design – Blumin designs and develops bespoke browser-based software — from SaaS platforms and CRMs to client portals and internal business systems. Learn more at blumin.co.uk/software.
After 30 Years, I’m Finally Qualified in the Thing I Was Never Qualified In
Thirty years ago, I graduated with an HND in Product Design — back when “product” meant something you could hold, drop, or accidentally glue your fingers to.
My first job was as a junior graphic designer, and for a while I wondered if I’d completely missed the mark. But somewhere along the way, “product design” quietly evolved — from sketching physical objects to designing browser-based software and digital experiences.
Fast-forward to today: I help run Blumin with my co-founder, Andy. We design and build digital products — web apps, SaaS platforms, management dashboards, client portals — the kind of “products” that exist entirely in the cloud. Which means, after three decades, I’m finally qualified in the thing I was never qualified in.
From Physical Products to Digital Transformation
At Blumin, we don’t just design software — we reimagine how businesses work. Our digital transformation projects help companies streamline workflows, automate manual processes, and unlock entirely new ways to deliver value.
Whether you’re managing orders, clients, data, or entire teams, our software helps you spend less time wrestling with tools and more time growing your business.
The CoreConfig™ Platform
At the heart of what we do is our own software framework: CoreConfig™.
It’s the foundation for everything from custom CRMs and client portals to quoting engines and data dashboards.
CoreConfig™ gives you the reliability of proven architecture and the flexibility of a bespoke build – meaning you don’t start from scratch, but you still get something that fits exactly how you work.
What We Build
Over the years, our projects have spanned just about every digital challenge imaginable:
- Bespoke CRMs – systems that actually match your sales process, not force you into someone else’s.
- Client Portals – secure, branded access to data, projects, and communications.
- Management Dashboards – live metrics, reporting tools, and visibility across teams.
- API Development & Integrations – connecting your tools and automating your workflows.
- Order & Logistics Systems – bespoke tools for manufacturing, scheduling, and delivery.
- CPQ – Product Configurators & Quoting Tools – turning complex pricing into a smooth customer experience.
- SaaS Platforms – scalable web apps built on our own platform, ready for growth.
In other words: we design products again – just with code instead of clay.
A Full Circle Moment
When I left college, “product design” meant something entirely different. Now, thirty years later, it means exactly what I do every day.
It’s a reminder that technology changes, design evolves, and sometimes, life loops back in the most satisfying way.
After 30 years, I can finally say it, I’m officially qualified in the thing I was never qualified in.
Blumin designs and develops bespoke browser-based software — from SaaS platforms and CRMs to client portals and internal business systems. Learn more at blumin.co.uk/software.
