Design Systems + Developer Tools

First, I defined the purpose and objectives of the design system by consulting with key stakeholders, including designers, developers, and product managers. This helped us align on the need to improve brand consistency, accelerate development workflows, and enhance user experience across all touchpoints.

Next, the team conducted a thorough design audit of existing creative assets, gathering insights into what was working well and where inconsistencies existed. This included reviewing UI components, typography, color schemes, and iconography across our products. I also solicited feedback from team members to identify opportunities for improvement.

With a clearer understanding of our existing assets, I worked with the team to establish a set of core design principles. These principles focused on accessibility, scalability, and brand alignment. We defined our brand standards for color, typography, iconography, and usage guidelines to ensure consistency across components.

We developed our component library in Axure, where we housed reusable UI elements such as buttons, forms, and cards. Each component was documented with detailed specifications on its purpose, interaction states, accessibility requirements, and usage guidelines. Axure allowed us to create interactive prototypes, which helped in testing and validating components before implementation.

To house all documentation, I set up a Confluence page within the Atlassian Tool Suite. This centralized platform was crucial for providing easy access to our design system guidelines, component specifications, and best practices. We also linked this Confluence page to our CSX Showcase website, making it readily accessible for anyone in the organization to reference.

Collaboration was key to our success. engagement occurred with the designers, developers, and product managers early and often. We tested components in real scenarios and iterated based on feedback, ensuring that each element met the needs of various stakeholders. Regular check-ins allowed us to address any challenges quickly and refine components based on user and team feedback.

We implemented a governance model to maintain the design system and manage updates. I worked with the UI Architect to set up a contribution process to allow team members to propose new components or modifications. This included a review and approval workflow to ensure that all updates aligned with our design principles and standards. Regular reviews and updates were also scheduled to keep the system up-to-date with evolving needs.

Finally, to encourage adoption, I organized training sessions and workshops called UX University to help team members understand the design system and integrate it into their workflows. We also provided ongoing support through a dedicated Confluence page and communication channels, allowing the team to ask questions and share feedback. This helped create a culture of continuous improvement and ensured the design system was effectively utilized throughout the organization.