Overview

A design system is a set of standards to manage design at scale by reducing redundancy while creating a shared library and visual consistency across different pages and platforms. I worked with a federal agency  to create a consistent design system by working closely with a design lead, other designers, and developers to turn designs into reusable products using Adobe XD as the primary design tool.

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Challenge

We needed to create a consistent look to utilize in all new designs across the federal agency. The current applications were outdated and not user friendly. We adapted USWDS design system’s components alongside creating our own custom components. We created an internal website with all documentation of use cases and component code for every designer and developer to reference. 

• Conflicting guidelines and direction.
• Duplication of common components.
• Inconsistencies across market websites and microsites.
• Pressure for agile solutions without discovery and research.
• Siloed teams working with disjointed communication.

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Solution

To solve these challenges, we developed a comprehensive design system that ensured uniformity across all digital assets. This system streamlined workflows, minimized redundancy, and fostered collaboration among designers and developers.

We built the foundation of the design system by defining:

• Brand Identity: Created a unified color palette, typography, and spacing guidelines.
• Icon Library: Developed a standardized set of icons for accessibility and consistency.
• Reusable Components: Built UI elements such as buttons, forms, modals, and navigation components using USWDS components as a base, along with custom elements for agency-specific needs.
• Style Guide: Guidelines for typography, colors, and spacing.
• Pattern Library: Standardized UI elements for designers and developers.
• Component Code & Use Cases: Ready-to-use component code snippets for faster implementation.

With a single source of truth, the design system enabled teams to scale new designs efficiently using pre-built components, reducing time spent on visual tweaks and allowing designers to focus on solving complex UX challenges. It ensured consistency across market websites and microsites, eliminating fragmentation and duplication. Additionally, the system provided the flexibility to quickly adapt to new project requirements while maintaining a cohesive visual and functional experience across all platforms.