The Design Systems Edit

When beginning my work on Conviva's VISION design system, our strategy for tokens was one of the first challenges I tackled. It was important to create a color palette that not only aligned with the existing look and feel of the brand but also catered to the unique demands of a data-dense product interface. Balancing brand consistency with the need for clarity and readability in presenting large volumes of data became the motivation for the product's color roadmap.

I began by closely studying the brand's existing core colors as the foundation for our color palette exploration. I also researched color usage in other design systems and completed a thorough analysis of various approaches to color in the industry which can be found here.

After a series of collaborative workshops involving key stakeholders from product marketing, branding, and design teams the design and marketing teams were able to align on the visual direction and goals for the color palette.

In addition, after thorough research on effective data visualization techniques and color theory principles we were able to collect a selection of colors that enhanced data comprehension and legibility that aligned with the color direction of VISION.

The collaborative effort resulted in the creation of a versatile color palette that seamlessly integrated with the brand identity while enhancing the usability of the data-dense product interface. The selected colors not only conveyed the brand's personality but also improved the clarity and interpretability of complex data sets.

Designing a component is a comprehensive process. A great example of a component design that involves a lot of complexity is a data table component. Conviva's products heavily rely on data tables and visualization, and it was essential to build the data table the right way.

Here I outline the process of gathering use cases, documenting requirements, designing and reviewing the component, documenting and handing off assets, testing across live and design environments, and finally, publishing the component to engineering and design libraries.

I began by collaborating closely with stakeholders, including product managers, developers, and end-users, to understand the diverse use cases and requirements for the data table component. It was important to cover all existing use cases as well as consider future innovation. Below are just a few of the many use cases that were collected.

Based on the insights gathered, I meticulously documented the functional and design requirements for the data table component. This documentation served as a reference point throughout the design and development process, ensuring alignment with stakeholder expectations and project goals.

Using wireframes and rapid prototyping tools, I iteratively designed the data table component, focusing on intuitive user interactions, information hierarchy, and visual clarity. Regular design reviews with stakeholders helped validate design decisions, gather feedback, and refine the component iteratively.

Once the design was finalized, I created comprehensive documentation detailing the component's specifications, usage guidelines, and design rationale. This documentation facilitated smooth handoff to developers and ensured consistency in implementation across different platforms.

To validate the design and functionality of the data table component, I conducted thorough testing across live environments and within Figma prototypes. This involved usability testing with real data sets, as well as cross-browser and device compatibility testing to ensure a seamless user experience.

Upon successful testing and validation, I collaborated with engineering teams to integrate the data table component into the codebase. Simultaneously, I published the component to design libraries within Figma, ensuring accessibility to design assets and promoting consistency across design projects.

Using my experience at both Conviva and Workday, as well as best practices through my own research, I have created a process that can support an organization through the ideation, creation, or maintenance of a design system.

This process is born out of a deep understanding of the challenges and complexities inherent in design systems development and is crafted to guide teams towards cohesive, scalable, and user-centric design solutions.

Throughout my career journey, I've dedicated significant effort to developing and curating assets that facilitate the design systems creation process. Leveraging my expertise and insights gained from hands-on experience at Conviva and Workday, as well as continuous research into industry best practices, here is my toolkit of resources to streamline and enhance design systems development.