How a Designer Took Project Oktan to the Next Level

Over the years, I’ve learned that working with skilled professionals always brings additional value to a project—sometimes in ways you wouldn’t expect. While we, as developers, focus on building functional and efficient solutions, professionals in other domains can refine and elevate our work beyond what we initially envisioned.

One such experience was when I was creating a website for my project, Oktan, a desktop application for tracking car expenses, fuel consumption, and service maintenance logs. I wanted the website to have a strong visual appeal, so I hired a designer to create an illustration for the hero section.

The Initial Idea #

After a brief discussion about the job, my instructions were simple: create an illustration featuring a car and three people—one changing a tire, one working under the hood, and one taking notes. This scene was meant to convey the core functionality of Oktan: tracking and maintaining car-related expenses in a structured manner.

When the designer sent me the initial sketch, I was already satisfied. In fact, I was ready to approve it as the final version. However, he insisted on continuing to refine it. At first, I didn’t see the necessity, but I trusted his expertise and let him proceed.

The Unexpected Improvement #

What followed was a transformation I hadn’t anticipated. The designer added finer details, such as the workers’ hair, toolbox items, headlights shade, the car’s interior, bringing the illustration to life. The final illustration was far beyond what I had imagined—it was polished, professional, and had a level of depth that I wouldn’t have achieved on my own.

This experience reinforced an important lesson: quality professionals bring more than just technical execution; they bring vision, experience, and a commitment to excellence. Sometimes, they see opportunities for improvement that we, as project owners, might overlook simply because we’re too close to our own ideas.

Why This Matters #

In software development, it’s tempting to do everything ourselves. But knowing when to bring in experts—whether they’re designers, copywriters, UX specialists, or other professionals—can make a significant difference in the final product. Here’s why:

1. They Elevate the Project – Skilled professionals don’t just do the job; they refine and enhance it beyond the initial requirements.

2. They Save Time and Effort – Instead of struggling to achieve a decent result on our own, we can rely on experts to get things done right, faster.

3. They Bring a Fresh Perspective – An outside perspective can highlight improvements we wouldn’t have considered.

4. They Ensure Quality – Professionals care about the details, which leads to a more polished and engaging final product.

Final Thoughts #

If you’re working on a project—whether it’s an app, a website, or any other venture—consider bringing in specialists when needed. The investment often pays off in ways you didn’t expect. My experience with the Oktan website illustration is just one example, but it serves as a reminder that working with the right people can take your work from “good enough” to something truly outstanding.

I’m sharing the illustrations in this post, so you can see the difference for yourself.