- Client: Honeywell
- Role: Sr. UX Designer
- Tools Used: Figma
Building a Unified Design System for Future-Shaping Innovation
Honeywell’s core verticals—ranging from aerospace and connected worker to healthcare, retail, and cybersecurity—encompass hundreds of applications, each with a distinct interface and functionality. The Honeywell Forge project aimed to develop a unified design identity that would position Honeywell as a best-in-class organization. As the lead designer, I was responsible for establishing the initial visual direction for Honeywell Forge, a comprehensive design system created to reimagine and enhance the user experience and connect Honeywell’s diverse applications under a consistent brand.
Problem Statement
Honeywell’s applications across various verticals were disconnected, with inconsistent designs that lacked a cohesive story, which diluted the Honeywell brand identity. Users interacted with multiple interfaces, each visually distinct, resulting in fragmented experiences that impacted Honeywell’s brand perception and usability.
Project Goals: Create a unified design system to establish a cohesive identity for Honeywell applications, improving the user experience and positioning Honeywell as an innovative, future-oriented leader.
Process & Research
Our process involved deep collaboration across Honeywell’s core verticals to understand their unique needs and existing workflows:
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Cross-Vertical Collaboration:
Partnered with UX teams from each vertical to identify components and workflows commonly used across applications. This collaborative approach helped us build a comprehensive component inventory. -
Research and Inventory:
Conducted an inventory of existing components and workflows to assess core functionalities and identify areas for improvement. -
Establishing a Design Identity:
Developed an initial look and feel for Honeywell Forge that embodied a future-forward aesthetic, emphasizing consistency, usability, and adaptability.
Key Insight: A unified design system needed to maintain flexibility for diverse applications while reinforcing Honeywell’s identity through cohesive visual patterns and workflows.
Solutions
Honeywell Forge was designed as a scalable system to unify all Honeywell applications with a consistent visual and functional identity:
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Cohesive Visual Language:
Developed a consistent visual style that could adapt across applications, from aerospace to healthcare, ensuring a unified user experience. -
Component Library and Pattern Creation:
Built a library of reusable components that address shared functionalities across applications, making it easy to implement the system across diverse use cases. -
System Implementation:
Beyond creating the design system, I worked with Honeywell’s UX teams to implement Honeywell Forge, reimagining core applications with the new design elements to ensure seamless integration.
Design Iterations
1. Iterative Development and Testing
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Collaborative Feedback Loop:
Worked closely with Honeywell’s engineering and UX teams, conducting iterative testing and refinements to ensure Forge components met the needs of each vertical. -
Prototype Testing:
Developed prototypes to demonstrate Forge’s versatility and adaptability, gathering user feedback to validate design decisions.
2. Functional and Visual Improvements
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Innovative Workflows:
Leveraged the rebrand effort to enhance core functionalities and introduce new, innovative workflows, aligning Honeywell Forge with best-in-class standards and positioning Honeywell as an industry leader.
Outcome & Impact
The Honeywell Forge design system successfully unified Honeywell’s applications under a consistent brand identity, enhancing usability and improving operational efficiency. The streamlined interface and cohesive visual language strengthened Honeywell’s brand, positioning it as a future-shaping organization. My contributions led to 4 design patents (USD989093S1, USD962963S1, USD967141S1, USD1003909S1) for innovative workflows and patterns developed through Forge, highlighting the system’s impact on user experience and product innovation.
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of consistency and collaboration in developing a large-scale design system. Creating a unified design language that was flexible yet recognizable required careful planning and iteration. The experience deepened my understanding of scalable design systems and effective cross-functional teamwork.
Next Steps: Further development of Honeywell Forge could include advanced customization options for vertical-specific needs and continued iterations based on user feedback to ensure ongoing relevance and adaptability.