Bahnoperator

Bahnoperator, a logistics company specializing in rail transport, needed a modern rebrand and website to reflect their expanding services and commitment to innovation. I was responsible for translating the new branding into a fully responsive and trustworthy web experience — designing and developing the entire site.

Completion

2024

Role

Creative Web Developer (UI/UX Design + Development)

Company

PIXIT Design

Tools

Figma, Webflow, Mapbox, Google map API, Airtable

Website

https://www.bahnoperator.com

Overview

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Bahnoperator is a European rail logistics company that needed a complete website redesign. I took on the role of web designer and developer, translating their new branding into a modern, structured, and responsive website. One of the core features was an interactive route planning tool, built with JavaScript, Mapbox, and Airtable — allowing users to explore rail shipping routes across continents. The result is a trustworthy digital experience that mirrors the scale and complexity of Bahnoperator’s operations.

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My Role
General Structure
General Structure

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As the web designer and developer, I was responsible for transforming the new branding into a functional, modern website. After the graphic designer defined the core branding elements, I designed and developed the website to align with the company’s tone and structure.

This included:

  • Structuring and designing all key pages

  • Developing the frontend using Webflow

  • Building an interactive route planner with Mapbox, Airtable, and JavaScript

  • Ensuring responsiveness, accessibility, and smooth performance

One of the biggest challenges was translating the company's complex logistics model into a clear, interactive user experience.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

Key Features & Challenges

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Understanding the Brand & Structure

Bahnoperator offers multi-regional rail logistics services with several departments. To structure the content and pages correctly, I studied the company’s internal case study to understand their core philosophy and service logic. This allowed me to create a clear and intuitive information hierarchy for users.

Design Language & UX Direction

The website needed to feel structured, serious, and professional — not playful or overly techy. I followed the new branding and applied a squared-off design system with sharp edges, a restrained color palette, and a layout that communicates reliability and scale.

Interactive Map Tool

A standout feature was the creation of a custom map-based route planner, which allows users to:

  • Select a start and destination point

  • View the available midpoints along their selected route

  • Plan complex logistics paths (e.g., shipping from Europe to China)

To power this, I built:

  • A front-end interface with Mapbox and JavaScript

  • A structured back-end using Airtable, with 3 relational tables for:

    • Start Points

    • End Points

    • Midpoints

    • All linked through foreign key relationships to dynamically map valid routes

This setup keeps the system flexible and scalable, and it allows future integrations like calculating distances with Google Maps API or optimizing for CO₂ emissions.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

Outcome & Impact

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The result is a modern, responsive website that successfully repositions Bahnoperator as a forward-thinking leader in rail logistics.

Key outcomes include:

  • Clean, structured UX that mirrors their internal processes

  • Trustworthy, professional visual tone

  • Custom-built logistics planning tool that adds real functional value

  • Scalable tech stack using Airtable as a lightweight backend for dynamic data

While the platform is still growing, especially around route calculation and emissions data, the foundation has been laid for a user-centered, technically sound, and future-ready website.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

What I Learned

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This project deepened my understanding of how to bring structure and clarity to complex services through design. I also refined my technical workflow by integrating a low-code database (Airtable) with a custom frontend map UI, managing dynamic data in a scalable and maintainable way. It showed me the importance of blending functional UX with modular development — especially in industries where trust and clarity are essential.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

After exploring tons of productivity concepts like PARA from Marie Poulin and Tiago Forte, and reviewing creative workflows from Ali Abdaal, Keep Productive and Thomas Frank, the starting point for me was to flesh out a system of thinking for Notion that connects from the big to the small.

Mockups

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© 2023

Ali Aliakbar

© 2023

Ali Aliakbar