New team members’ learning curve and poor cross-team communication between Design and Tech caused an increase percent project delay. To improve efficiency and consistency, I proposed implementing a design system to provide a shared language.
Sometimes, designers used to create or change components unnecessarily, creating new versions of them. In other hand, the lack of communication between developers caused the rebuild of existing components.
As It was an initiative project, I dedicated time between projects and, couple of hours after work to organize my research and ideas. I aimed to convince the CEO letting me dedicated hours weekly for the project.
Since the CEO was unfamiliar with the project, I prepared a document explaining its purpose and highlighting its positive effects on the platform and the Design and Tech team’s performance.
I began by researching how to approach a Design System project, considering the company’s size and needs. Next, I created a document outlining the definition, process, objectives, and scope of the system, supported by an inventory to prioritize elements. Finally, I presented the documentation and existing library to the CEO, highlighting past efficiencies and future potential.
Reduce design and development time within 3 months of implementation.
Reduce design inconsistencies across the platform within 6 months.
Positive adoption of the Design System across all teams within 6 months.
I defined the design process to fit the team’s capacity, allowing us to invest time effectively without affecting daily tasks. It involved task like component research, documentation, and team reviews to deliver a scalable project.
We consider elements such as typography, colors, icons, effects, and shadows as “Foundations” These essential elements will be used in future components to ensure consistency and efficiency throughout the design system.
We started with components like text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and switches, as they were the most widely used elements in the platform’s features. We designed them to be flexible, making them easy to adapt and integrate.
This component was designed with three levels in mind, considering its use on both the website and the platform. I prioritized versatility, including support for icons and a dedicated ‘Danger’ state for delete actions.
A product manager to help push the project forward within the Tech team. While I had the Tech lead’s approval and developer enthusiasm, the project stalled without dedicated support.
The chance to hire a consultant or freelancer to guide us in building the project with deeper expertise.
Design initiatives require detailed planning, including data like cost and ROI analysis, to ensure buy-in and understanding.
In a small startup, context and scope are key. While a design library is beneficial, its cost and maintenance must be carefully evaluated to align with business needs.
I want to continue exploring this area, not just to build such projects but to expand my knowledge and strategic understanding of their complexities.
