Reinvention Navigator - Design System Optimization

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The Challenge

When I joined Accenture's Reinvention Navigator platform—a suite of digital transformation tools for C-Suite executives—the project was already in motion with multiple product tracks moving rapidly. Despite ambitious goals, it lacked a critical foundation:

• No centralized design system
• 100+ UI components scattered across files
• Inconsistent naming and zero documentation
• Siloed teams with limited visibility

The result? Fragmented user experiences, constant component recreation, unclear handoffs, and mounting technical debt.

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The Solution

Rather than just standardizing components, I developed a comprehensive system built around a component lifecycle model that brought order to chaos:

Component Lifecycle Framework

Based on research of established systems (USWDS, GitHub Primer), I implemented a status framework tracking components through their entire lifecycle:

Experimental → Beta → Stable → Deprecated → Removed

Enhanced with team-specific status columns that answered:

• Is the UX design complete?
• Has visual design been finalized?
• Is documentation ready?
• What's the development status?

Documentation That Connects Teams

For each component, I created standardized documentation cards containing usage guidelines, interaction states, variants, and code references—becoming the bridge between design and development.

The Process

I approached this systematically while balancing my primary UX responsibilities:

1. Research & Assessment: Cataloged existing components and researched industry best practices
2. System Design: Created atomic hierarchy and designed the lifecycle tracking model
3. Implementation: Built Figma component library with documentation in Confluence
4. Adoption: Facilitated workshops and established regular system updates

The key innovation was creating visibility across global teams through:

• End-of-sprint Design System updates in Microsoft Teams
• Component roadmaps aligned to sprint cycles
• Clear ownership and status tracking

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The Impact

The new system transformed how teams worked:

• Faster Development: Clear component status accelerated sprint planning
• Reduced Handoff Friction: Comprehensive documentation eliminated guesswork
• Enhanced Product Cohesion: Users experienced consistent interfaces across products
• Improved Cross-Team Trust: Designers and developers shared a common language

Most importantly: The system continued to be used months later, proving its long-term value in supporting Accenture's client-facing transformation tools.

The Insight

"Design systems aren't just about components—they're about communication."

This project revealed that at enterprise scale, a design system's success hinges more on transparency and shared language than perfectly designed components. Creating structure amid complexity isn't just good design—it's essential business strategy.

Want to learn more about my approach to design systems? Let's connect →

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