Design studios: get cleaner approvals with a single client portal

If you run a brand or design studio, you know the drill: brief in Docs, moodboard in Pinterest, proofs in Figma/Adobe/Canva, assets in Drive/Dropbox, and approvals buried in email threads. “Is this the final logo?” “Where’s the approved packaging dieline?” Context gets scattered; timelines slip.

Clortal fixes this with one portal link per client project—deliverables, approved files, messages, a timeline/calendar, and a clear path to sign-off. Clients don’t need another login.

Why the usual mix breaks down

Email approvals vanish in long chains; “final_v7” isn’t final.
Shared folders sprawl; clients open the wrong version.
Design links (Figma/Canva/Adobe CC) multiply; it’s unclear which is the source of truth.
Chat feedback is quick, but decisions disappear in scrollback.
PM boards are for your team, not for client clarity.

Result: version confusion, repeat rounds, and slow sign-off.

What clients actually need (and will use)

A simple deliverables checklist with clear statuses.
One place to see only the approved files (logos, guidelines, mockups, exports).
Comments in context (Starter+) for specific assets or a project thread for decisions.
A timeline/calendar for milestones and handoffs.
A single secure link they can share internally.

That’s the portal.

How Clortal maps to a brand/design workflow

Deliverables & milestones

Turn scope items into deliverables: Discovery brief, Moodboard, Logo directions, Selected mark, Color/Type system, Brand guidelines, Social kit, Packaging dieline, Final asset pack. Track status; clients always know where things stand.

Approved files only

Upload PDFs/PNGs/SVGs or link Figma/Canva/Adobe. Toggle Approved to expose client-ready versions—keep WIP internal.

Messages & file comments (Starter+)

Keep feedback attached to the project or the specific asset—no more chasing threads.

Activity log & notifications (Starter+)

Automatic trail of updates. Optional email nudges for key events (“Logo direction B approved”).

Timeline/Calendar view

Show key dates (concept review, selection, guidelines handoff, launch) alongside the list.

Branding

Your studio’s logo and colors theme the portal—clients feel at home.

One shareable portal link

No accounts for clients. Revoke or expire the link anytime.

10-minute setup blueprint

Create your organization and upload your studio logo/colors (used on the portal).
Add the client (name + email).
Create the project (e.g., Brand Refresh — Sparrow & Co.).
Add deliverables with dates:
- Discovery brief (due: Oct 10)
- Moodboard (due: Oct 12)
- Logo directions A/B/C (due: Oct 16)
- Selected mark & refinements (range: Oct 18–20)
- Color & Type system (due: Oct 22)
- Brand guidelines (due: Oct 28)
- Final asset pack (due: Oct 30)
Upload/link assets: PDFs (decks/guidelines), PNG/SVG exports, Figma/Canva file links.
Approve items ready for client eyes.
Share the portal link.
Use Timeline/Calendar once dates are in.

Weekly habit: post a short “What shipped / What’s next / Client action” note in Messages so decisions are obvious.

Example template: identity project (condensed)

Discovery
- Brief — Approved
- Moodboard — Approved
Concept
- Logo directions A/B/C — In review
- Selected mark — Due Oct 20
System
- Color & Type — Draft ready
- Brand guidelines — Due Oct 28
Delivery
- Social kit — Planned
- Final asset pack (SVG/PNG/PDF) — Due Oct 30

Clients open one link and see the plan, the right files, and what you need from them.

Keep your internal tools—add a clean client layer

Internal layer (for your studio)

Use it for: tasks, design production, versioning
Typical tools: Asana/Trello/Jira, Figma/Canva/Adobe CC, Drive/Dropbox, Notion

Client-facing layer (Clortal)

Use it for: deliverables & statuses, approved assets, high-level updates, sign-off, timeline
Tool: Clortal portal (one shareable link)

You’re not replacing your design stack—you’re eliminating the chaotic client surface.

FAQs

Can clients comment or request changes?

Yes on Starter+: project messages and file-level comments keep feedback in context.

Where do large files live?

Wherever you prefer—Drive/Dropbox/Figma/Canva. Link them, and expose only Approved items in the portal.

Can we show multi-brand or sub-brands?

Yes—create separate projects per brand/sub-brand and share each portal link.

How do we handle versions?

Upload or link new versions, mark them Approved, and un-approve older ones. The portal always shows the current version.

Try it on your next client

Create the project, drop in deliverables, link your assets, and send the portal link. Expect faster approvals—and fewer “latest file?” emails.

Start free → clortal.com