Design Systems That Scale
Nobody requested it. Everyone adopted it. I built a design system from scratch that reduced developer time by 20% and brought consistency across multiple B2B products.
Timeline | 3 months
Role | Lead Product Designer
Impact | 20% reduction in dev time
Adoption | 2+ products
The Design System Did Not Exist
It all started with a tight deadline: deliver a 16-page fully prototyped dashboard application in 3 months with an entirely new look.
Short turnaround, no problem, but my process starts with organization. As I designed, I saw the opportunity: build once, use everywhere. Every button, input field, and pattern I created could become reusable building blocks.
Three months later, stakeholders got their ready-to-ship dashboard—and the entire team gained a comprehensive design system that would accelerate every future project. Nobody asked for it, but everyone needed it.
Starting from Scratch
Challenges:
Zero UI patterns or components existed, starting from a blank canvas
Limited brand guidance: a small color pallet, no logo files, no visual language defined
3-month deadline to design and prototype a complex 16-page dashboard
Development team with no prior experience working within a design system
Built To Scale
I created a comprehensive design system alongside the dashboard, transforming a single project into lasting infrastructure that spurred new products and UI/UX refresh across existing legacy products.
The System Included:
50+ reusable components with comprehensive variants and states
Design tokens: semantic colors, typography scale, 8pt spacing system
Developer- enabled dev readiness status
WCAG accessibility standards built into every component
The Impact:
✓ 20% reduction in developer time
✓ Consistent experience across 2+ products
✓ 90% stakeholder approval on designs
✓ 100% accessibility compliance
✓ Faster team onboarding
✓ Prompted cross-business enthusiasm
The Bottom Line
What began as a tight deadline became an opportunity to build design infrastructure that continues to accelerate product development. The system is actively used today, evolving with new product development.
Thanks for reading!
If you’re looking for a designer who can turn complex challenges into simple, high-performing experiences, I’d love to connect. Let’s talk about how I can help your team reach its goals.