Why Design Systems

First, what is a Design System? There are various definitions, but according to Dan Mall’s “Design that Scales,” there are seven types. Throughout my career, I've worked on three:

Design system as a project: My first full-time role after attaining my Master's, as a product design generalist at SnapCheck, involved creating a design system to enhance consistency and efficiency. Delving into the most granular details ignited a passion I never anticipated.

Design system as a digital product: This passion led me to a role as a Design System designer at MuleSoft within Salesforce. Leading the post-rebrand initiative, I built and maintained the design system as a dynamic product serving the needs of 200+ internal users and third-party agencies.

Design systems as brand identities and visual languages: Working on design systems showcased my design strength. I attracted startups seeking a visually strong designer to define their app's visual design and subsequently build their design systems from scratch.

Ultimately, I find purpose in design systems as they allow me to create efficiency, accessibility, and visually appealing experiences that serve businesses and their users.

My Hard Skills

I am a visual thinker who approaches design systematically.

I find satisfaction in working with visual granularity and technical details. I recall styles by their pixels and their relationship with other components in my mind.

I love working with rules, yet I also constantly identify opportunities for improvement in existing systems. Precision and organization are important to me as a designer.

My Soft Skills

I am process-driven and inclined to lead and conclude actionable next steps in group settings.

I am confident in presenting ideas to audiences of any size. I drive progress through proactive cross-functional communication and being receptive to meaningful feedback.

I enjoy utilizing management tools to plan project roadmaps and document tasks. Completing items on my to-do list brings me a sense of accomplishment and helps me stay on track.