Design Systems - Use Case

Before the development of dedicated Design System, the design process for AVA Systems and consumer-facing portals lacked uniformity, leading to inconsistencies in user experience, longer development cycles, and inefficiencies in cross-team collaboration. Designers often had to recreate UI components from scratch, increasing redundancy and slowing down product iterations.

To solve these challenges, AVA Enterprise initially adopted Design System in Adobe XD to establish a systematic approach to design and development. However, with Adobe discontinuing support for XD, the team transitioned to Figma, enabling a more collaborative and scalable design workflow while maintaining brand consistency across all digital touchpoints. The adoption of UI Kits significantly increased UI/UX team efficiency, enabled faster iterations and turnaround times, and enhanced collaboration between team members.

The Design Systems were developed as scalable design systems, integrating essential components, patterns, and interactions to enhance usability and efficiency. These kits served as the single source of truth for UI elements across AVA Systems and consumer portals.

Key Features of the Design Systems:

• Reusable Component Library – Buttons, forms, modals, typography, and interactive elements were standardized for consistency.
• Scalability & Adaptability – Designed to support multiple products, ensuring modular, adaptable UI patterns.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility – Ensured consistency between web, mobile, and tablet interfaces.
• Theme & Branding System – Integrated AVA Systems’ brand colors, typography, iconography, and UI behaviors.
• Figma for Collaborative Design – Enabled real-time collaboration between designers, developers, and product managers.
• Transition from Adobe XD to Figma – While Adobe XD was used in the early stages, the transition to Figma allowed for enhanced prototyping, better design collaboration, and ongoing support.
• Accessibility Compliance – UI Kits were developed with WCAG accessibility standards to ensure usability for all users.
• Enhanced UI/UX Team Efficiency – By standardizing components and design workflows, the UI Kits accelerated iterations, improved turnaround times, and strengthened collaboration across design teams.

As a UI/UX leader, I played a key role in the strategic development and implementation of these UI Kits. My contributions included:

• Leading cross-functional collaboration between designers, developers, and product managers.
• Defining design system governance to maintain consistency and scalability.
• Driving the transition from Adobe XD to Figma, ensuring a seamless adoption process.
• Optimizing workflows to enhance team efficiency and reduce iteration cycles.
• Mentoring designers and fostering a culture of design excellence.

1. Increased Design & Development Efficiency

• Reduced UI component rework by 60%, allowing designers to focus on innovation and agility rather than repetitive tasks.
• Accelerated time-to-market for consumer-facing portals.
• Improved UI/UX team efficiency, enabling faster design iterations and seamless cross-team collaboration.

2. Consistent & Scalable UI Across Products

• Ensured uniform brand identity across AVA Systems and all digital platforms.
• Provided a scalable framework that could adapt to future product expansions.

3. Improved Cross-Team Collaboration

• Figma’s real-time collaboration enabled seamless designer-developer communication.
• Reduced handoff friction, allowing faster iteration cycles and feedback implementation.
• Strengthened collaboration between UI/UX designers, product managers, and engineers.

4. Enhanced User Experience

• Standardized UI components resulted in intuitive, user-friendly interfaces.
• Improved usability testing and higher user engagement on consumer-facing portals.

5. Stronger Design Governance & Documentation

• Established a design system governance process to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Created comprehensive design documentation, reducing onboarding time for new designers.

• Efficiency Gains: Standardizing UI components reduced design redundancy by 60%, accelerating development and improving time-to-market.
• Scalability & Adaptability: The UI Kits provided a flexible design framework that supports multiple products and future expansions.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Transitioning to Figma enabled real-time collaboration, reducing handoff friction and improving feedback loops between designers, developers, and product managers.
• Stronger Brand Consistency: A unified design system ensured a cohesive visual and interactive experience across AVA Systems and consumer-facing portals.
• Accessibility & Compliance: Implementing WCAG standards enhanced usability and inclusivity, improving overall user experience.
• Design System Governance: Establishing clear documentation and guidelines streamlined onboarding and ensured long-term consistency in UI/UX practices.

• Tool Adaptability is Crucial: The discontinuation of Adobe XD reinforced the importance of choosing scalable and widely supported design tools. Figma’s adoption not only replaced XD but also significantly enhanced collaboration.
• Governance Ensures Longevity: A well-documented design system prevents inconsistencies and ensures seamless adoption by new team members. Clear governance reduces the risk of design drift.
• Cross-Functional Buy-in is Essential: Early involvement from developers, product managers, and stakeholders ensures smoother adoption and better alignment with business objectives.
• Accessibility Should Be Prioritized Early: Building WCAG compliance into the UI Kits from the beginning prevented costly redesigns and improved the overall inclusivity of digital products.
• Iterate & Evolve Continuously: A Design System is not a one-time solution, it requires ongoing updates to adapt to new design trends, business needs, and technological advancements.

The adoption of Design Systems in Adobe XD (early stages) and the transition to Figma has significantly transformed AVA Systems and consumer-facing portals, ensuring a cohesive, scalable, and efficient design process. By providing a centralized, reusable design system, the UI Kits have streamlined development workflows, enhanced brand consistency, and improved user experiences. Furthermore, the Design Systems have increased UI/UX team efficiency, reduced turnaround times, and strengthened collaboration across design and development teams. Moving forward, AVA Systems continues to evolve its design frameworks in Figma to support innovation and drive superior digital experiences.