The initial assessment revealed several challenges with the existing design system. Key components were overly complex, primarily due to responsiveness issues and excessive customization options, making them cumbersome to use. Documentation was embedded within the design file, making it difficult to access, and the absence of a variable system complicated support for a multi-brand design framework.To address these challenges, we took immediate steps to improve the user experience at the component level, simplifying customization and enhancing responsiveness. Regular workshops and updates were introduced to foster knowledge sharing and build awareness around the design system. We developed a structured adoption strategy aimed at encouraging contribution and engagement, complemented by establishing communication channels to keep all stakeholders informed about the system’s progress.As part of the six-month roadmap, we released Version 2 of the design system with a stronger focus on scalability. A white-label design system was introduced, with variable support to allow easy swapping between brand styles based on the environment. Additionally, we restructured the documentation to make it more accessible, ensuring smoother adoption and reference.

We undertook several steps to refine the design system. User audits were conducted to understand how, when, and where the design system was being used, identifying which components were most valuable. This process revealed gaps in documentation and highlighted missing components. The core components were then built to be versatile and straightforward, ensuring ease of implementation across different use cases.

Comprehensive documentation and guidelines were created to support the design system. Each component was prototyped and tested to confirm functionality across diverse scenarios. Feedback loops were established to refine the components further, ensuring the system was aligned with user needs. We also implemented a maintenance and roll-out process to manage contributions, updates, and new releases for the design system.The impact of these changes was significant. Adoption of the design system increased by 32% within three months, demonstrating active utilization. Additionally, the time required for component updates was reduced from 10 days to just 5 minutes through the implementation of variables and token files, which enabled automated updates.