Design Systems, UI Design, Experience Design, Strategy
I led the expansion of our design system from a web-only, bootstrapped component library to a true multi-platform design system solution - called Sonic - with the goal of creating a more unified experience across our websites, iOS and Android apps, and our professional software suite.
Cochlear has some unique challenges as a large global organisation with lots of legacy software, so the first step was to craft a set of product principles to guide the design system team in making big architecture decisions. I also made the strategic decision to leverage native platforms as much as possible, so Sonic could be an enabler, not a blocker.
I also collected feedback regarding the existing web design token solution and reworked them and tested their comprehension and ease of use across all the platforms. I leveraged the latest Figma features to create a clear source-of-truth to close the gap between design and development.
I created and updated a unified design system that helps platform teams build their component libraries. I organized regular feedback sessions and communication with all product teams to encourage their involvement and to develop plans for integrating with Sonic.
Results
This transition not only strengthened our brand across platforms but also empowered teams to build faster with greater alignment and confidence. It allowed us to reduce our color styles from 250+ to only 64 tokens to cover 99% of UI design needs.
Our design token system was integrated in all platform component libraries, increasing consistency and reducing effort for future brand updates.
Sonic was top of mind for any new initiatives and we on-boarded 2 large greenfield projects to use Sonic within the first 6 months
“Amazing and streamlined design token setup. Thanks for taking us to new heights!”
“Sonic has made my life as a UX designer so much easier. It’s one of the few design systems I’ve used that actually feels built for real teams doing real work.
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