UX CASE STUDY

Global Design System

Year: Sep 2023 - May 2024
My Role: UI/UX Design Lead
Client: Crowe Global, LLP and member firms

The project involved three main phases: redesign, global requests, and foundational design system work. The Redesign phase focused on updating existing modules to align with the new design system, while global requests enabled the application of brand updates across partner firms. Foundational design system work laid the groundwork for a robust design system by building essential components and assets. Deliverables included a comprehensive component library, documentation, training sessions, and a design style guide. The timeline was structured to ensure ongoing progress and collaboration among cross-functional teams.

Process

Research

  • Conducted a comprehensive analysis to discern user needs, align with brand requirements, and benchmark against industry standards.

  • Audited global firm pages to assess module utilization, informing decisions on module retention and removal.

  • Examined Zendesk ticket feedback regarding module issues and requests for new functionalities, guiding iterative improvements.

  • Engaged in extensive discussions with LLP and global digital content authors to gain insights into their specific needs as primary users of the modules, ensuring alignment with their workflow requirements prior to broader implementation.

Design

  • Developed initial designs based on agency deliverables, establishing a foundational module set to expedite page updates, while also implementing design refinements to ensure visual consistency and coherence across all modules.

  • Orchestrated the development of a comprehensive design system, integrating atomic design principles and core components to ensure consistency, accessibility and scalability.

  • Supervised a team of two contract UX designers, developed a project roadmap, and tracked our work in an Azure DevOps kanban board to keep the project moving efficiently, and to provide transparent progress updates to leadership.

  • Collaborated closely with global firms to design modules that accommodate both right-to-left and left-to-right languages, ensuring inclusivity and usability across diverse linguistic contexts.

Testing

  • Facilitated user testing and feedback sessions to iteratively refine and validate design decisions, ensuring alignment with user preferences and needs.

  • Collaborated with the development team to generate comprehensive lighthouse reports, evaluating module effectiveness and speed, and usage reports to gauge the adoption of new modules.

  • Solicited feedback from digital content authors on the usability of the new modules within the Sitecore environment, prioritizing ease of use and efficiency in content creation workflows.

  • Utilized Azure DevOps tickets to track module requirements throughout the testing phase, facilitating efficient communication and resolution of any issues that arose.

Outcomes

Results

  • Increased a brand consistency, efficiency, collaboration, and user satisfaction globally.

  • Project deliverables included a unified and updated component library, foundational components, documentation, training, communication strategy, adoption strategy, design style guide.

Reflections

  • The project's success, achieved through cross-functional collaboration, adherence to UX principles, and iterative refinement based on feedback, established a unified brand identity and enhanced user experience across digital platforms, setting the foundation for future enhancement and innovation.