Role
- Sr. UX Designer
- User Interface Designer
- Interaction Designer
Company
- Honeywell
Team Credits
- UX Forge Design System Team
4 UX Designers, 3 UX Researchers
The problem
The design system that Honeywell introduced in 2018 failed to meet the updated standards and goals set by HCE for their software products. Though it was adopted to an extent, the gaps in the system compelled designers and engineers to come up with customized solutions, leading to inconsistencies, bugs, and an unfavorable user experience for both product teams and end-users.
To overcome these problems, the new design system was created with a focus on addressing the issues that led to customization and departure from the legacy system. It aimed to ensure responsiveness, accessibility compliance, and a consistent set of aesthetic values that designers and engineers across the world could easily follow. Accomplishing these goals was challenging, as the design system had to be flexible enough to cater to changing needs, scale, and mature, while also adhering to the core principles of being modern, vibrant, accessible, and responsive.
Unlike smaller design system teams that cater to specific products or users, the users of our design system are widespread. Multiple user groups were identified, including employees using Forge UI, external end-users ranging from blue-collar to executive level, internal Honeywell employees utilizing Forge UI in HR tools and Procurement, internal developers building Forge UI, and external developers or designers using Forge UI.
My Role
As the designer leading the creation of the initial direction for the design system, I have taken on several responsibilities, including research, design, training, and governance. Some of my notable achievements during my tenure on the Design System are:
- Our design components were created following the principles of the atomic design system. We have thoroughly documented them in a web portal that can be accessed by all employees within our organization.
- As part of the design system production, I provided mentorship to two interns and multiple junior designers.
- Once the design system was finalized, I took on the responsibility of educating global UX teams across five sectors on how to effectively implement the system. As part of the training, I revamped the core products in each vertical to provide a clear example of the desired design approach that the designers could follow in the future.
- I was involved in the creation of various design patterns, which were later patented. As a result, I am recognized as one of the inventors.
- I made sure that the design system was compliant with AA accessibility standards and internationalization requirements, considering that the products utilized by the design system had a global reach and were accessible in different languages.
Next Steps
Although access to the complete design system is restricted, you can catch a glimpse of some of the applications created using this system through the photos shared here.
Passion leads to success