Creating a design system and optimizing the workflow

How I brought structure to a chaotic design environment
and built a scalable design system for a growing team

Design System
Team Scaling
Figma Organization
UI components and typography tokens from a design system preview

My role

I acted as the executor of the project, taking full ownership of rebuilding the design system. I independently audited and restructured components, defined style connections, and ensured adaptability. I also developed and implemented a new file organization system in Figma. The initiative was based on my own idea and fully approved by my design lead, who supported the direction and gave me full autonomy for execution.

Unstructured Figma files and UI inconsistencies before design system implementation

Before the changes

The design files lacked structure and consistency. There was no clear distinction between drafts and developer-ready layouts. Components were difficult to reuse, and responsiveness wasn’t properly handled. Developers often struggled to locate the correct screens. There was no documentation or system in place to support team scaling or streamline the design workflow

The challenge

Main Objectives
  • Systematize workflows and design assets
  • Build a reusable, scalable design system
  • Improve collaboration with developers
  • Simplify onboarding for new designers

The solution

A comprehensive approach was taken to enhance both the design components in Figma and the overall workflow, ensuring consistency, improving team collaboration, and supporting scalable growth.

Workflow Improvements

Restructured the Figma workspace by splitting files into Development and Ready for Dev, and implemented a task-based page structure for easier navigation and handoff. Documented internal design rules and naming conventions to ensure consistency and align the team on shared guidelines.

Comparison of old and improved design workflows in Figma
Preview of a design system in Figma showing component structure, button styles, and icon set

Design System Rebuild

  • Rebuilt the entire design system from the ground up.
  • Built fully responsive components  with multiple interaction states
  • Created global text styles and color variables

Web Blocks Library

  • Created a centralized repository for approved website blocks along with their previous versions.
  • Implemented component navigation for fast access and reuse.
  • Simplified onboarding for new designers by providing a clear and ready-to-use reference.
Web blocks library in Figma showing categorized sections and visual variants of website components

Results

Improved team efficiency

Designers spent less time searching files and aligning components

Accelerated developer handoff

Clean file structure and ready-for-dev screens simplified implementation

Faster onboarding

New designers understood the system and workflow quicker thanks to clear structure and documentation

Design consistency

Unified components, styles, and guidelines enhanced the overall product quality