Unifying next-generation telecom

From data- & engineering led to unified by design.

Client: Instabridge
Year: 2023-2024
Industry: Consumer

We collaborated with Instabridge to set a bold vision: To make the internet free for all. They started with a crowdsourced WiFi network that grew to millions of users. Through constant tweaking they started adding half a million users daily. Then came the hard part.

Through acquisition, they brought Instabridge and later a caller ID service into the fold, creating a profitable model to support their free internet mission. But what should have been their breakthrough moment revealed a fundamental design problem: Separate products, different experiences, no cohesive story. They risked becoming a Frankenstein of taped-together features rather than a unified next-generation telecom.

As a data-driven, engineering-first company, design had always been an afterthought. Now, rapidly approaching tens of million users, inconsistencies and ad-hoc solutions were creating frictions. They didn't need a refresh. They needed a scalable foundation that could unite disparate products under one promise and support the speed of their execution.

Build one experience from many parts.

The challenge wasn't just visual. It was strategic. How do you take a free WiFi network and a caller ID service and make them feel like parts of the same mission? We started with brand foundation work, defining what Instabridge truly stood for beyond features and technology. The vision of democratizing internet access became the organizing principle.

From there, we helped built a visual identity and design system that could flex across both products while maintaining consistency. Every UI/UX decision reinforced the core promise: Accessible, simple connectivity for everyone. We created a compelling narrative that told a unified story. Rather than selling separate tools, we positioned Instabridge as the platform making internet access a fundamental right, not a luxury.

The design system gave their engineering team the components to move fast without breaking. Brand guidelines ensured every touchpoint, from product screens to marketing materials, felt like Instabridge.

Shipping design at the speed of 6G.

Instabridge continued their aggressive growth trajectory, now with a design foundation that could scale with them. The unified brand and product experience transformed how users understood the platform. No longer two separate tools awkwardly connected, but one coherent solution serving a clear mission.

The design system empowered their lean team to ship at the speed of fast internet and consistently across both products. As they continued adding users and expanding their vision of universal internet access, they had the foundation to do it without the friction that comes from bolting pieces together. What started as a technical success story now looked like one too.