Managing a design system foundations
I Built and scaled a design system adopted by 100% of the team.
Duration
4 Months
2023
Managing a design system foundations
I Built and scaled a design system adopted by 100% of the team.
Duration
4 Months
2023
Managing a design system foundations
I Built and scaled a design system adopted by 100% of the team.
Duration
4 Months
2023
Context
In 2022, the product team had to deliver three platforms in under a year without a design system. I took the lead in creating the company’s first design system, building the component library from scratch and guiding the team to adopt and scale it.
Context
In 2022, the product team had to deliver three platforms in under a year without a design system. I took the lead in creating the company’s first design system, building the component library from scratch and guiding the team to adopt and scale it.
Context
In 2022, the product team had to deliver three platforms in under a year without a design system. I took the lead in creating the company’s first design system, building the component library from scratch and guiding the team to adopt and scale it.
My process
Audit: Reviewed existing components and patterns across products.
Define: Established principles for consistency, accessibility, and scalability.
Build: Created a Figma library with standardized, responsive components.
Document: Delivered clear usage guidelines for both designers and developers.
Rollout: Coordinated with developers and QA for a gradual migration and adoption.
My process
Audit: Reviewed existing components and patterns across products.
Define: Established principles for consistency, accessibility, and scalability.
Build: Created a Figma library with standardized, responsive components.
Document: Delivered clear usage guidelines for both designers and developers.
Rollout: Coordinated with developers and QA for a gradual migration and adoption.
My process
Audit: Reviewed existing components and patterns across products.
Define: Established principles for consistency, accessibility, and scalability.
Build: Created a Figma library with standardized, responsive components.
Document: Delivered clear usage guidelines for both designers and developers.
Rollout: Coordinated with developers and QA for a gradual migration and adoption.
My Role & Leadership
Applied Agile methodology to organize sprints, set checkpoints, and ensure progressive delivery to developers.
Mentored junior designers by running workshops, peer reviews, and providing guidance on UI libraries.
Bridged communication with Product Owners by translating abstract design concepts into clear business value.
Evangelized the design system across design, product, and tech teams to drive alignment and adoption.
I defined key design system principles. This was to ensure its sustainable maintenance within the product team.
Team collaboration
Atomic Design
Reuse
Accessible by default
Keep it simple
Consistency
Team collaboration
Atomic Design
Reuse
Accessible by default
Keep it simple
Consistency
Team collaboration
Atomic Design
Reuse
Accessible by default
Keep it simple
Consistency
Metrics and Results
100% design team adoption and 80% front-end adoption within 6 months.
Reduced wireframing time by 40%, allowing more focus on prototypes and user research.
Successfully launched a new product module fully built with the design system, later showcased at the company’s All Hands.
Metrics and Results
100% design team adoption and 80% front-end adoption within 6 months.
Reduced wireframing time by 40%, allowing more focus on prototypes and user research.
Successfully launched a new product module fully built with the design system, later showcased at the company’s All Hands.
Metrics and Results
100% design team adoption and 80% front-end adoption within 6 months.
Reduced wireframing time by 40%, allowing more focus on prototypes and user research.
Successfully launched a new product module fully built with the design system, later showcased at the company’s All Hands.
My learnings
I learned that building a design system is as much about people as it is about components. Collaboration across teams was the key to driving adoption.
I discovered that clear communication, simple documentation, and hands-on workshops are powerful tools to align design, product, and tech teams.
This project taught me to recognize my own strengths and gave me the confidence to bring leadership and responsibility into every project I take on.
My learnings
I learned that building a design system is as much about people as it is about components. Collaboration across teams was the key to driving adoption.
I discovered that clear communication, simple documentation, and hands-on workshops are powerful tools to align design, product, and tech teams.
This project taught me to recognize my own strengths and gave me the confidence to bring leadership and responsibility into every project I take on.
My learnings
I learned that building a design system is as much about people as it is about components. Collaboration across teams was the key to driving adoption.
I discovered that clear communication, simple documentation, and hands-on workshops are powerful tools to align design, product, and tech teams.
This project taught me to recognize my own strengths and gave me the confidence to bring leadership and responsibility into every project I take on.