Project Overview
Cady needed a unified design system to bring consistency across their digital platforms and elevate their brand story.
As the lead product designer, I partnered with their team to create a scalable system that aligned visual language, improved usability, and strengthened the presentation of their unique photo offerings.
Timeline
3 Months
Team
1 Product Designer
Role
Lead Product Designer
Tools
Figma
Figjam
Zoom
ClickUp
Platform
Design System
Status
Shipped
Contribution
Design Audit
Variable Setup
Component Creation
Pattern Creation
Problem Context
Although Cady’s digital products appeared visually aligned, inconsistencies in design patterns, styles, and UI behaviors led to a fragmented user experience across their properties.
Without a centralized system, maintaining consistency across teams and platforms proved difficult and time-consuming.
Core Challenge
How might we create a scalable and unified design system that brings consistency to Cady’s digital platforms while supporting future growth and storytelling?
Design Audit
To better understand why Cady needed a design system in the first place, I conducted a comprehensive audit of Cady’s digital platforms to uncover inconsistencies and areas for improvement.
This groundwork helped establish the foundation for a scalable, cohesive design system that could support long-term growth. Key steps included:
Inconsistent UI Elements
Design components varied across platforms, leading to a fragmented and unpolished user experience.
Redundant Patterns
Multiple versions of similar components created confusion and unnecessary complexity in the design system.
Misaligned User Journeys
Key user flows revealed visual and functional inconsistencies, contributing to friction during important tasks.
Lack of Documentation
No centralized resource existed to guide design decisions, making it difficult for teams to maintain consistency or scale the experience effectively.
Design System
With a strong foundation from the design audit, I led the creation of a scalable and cohesive Design System that would unify Cady’s digital experiences and support future growth.
As the lead product designer, I partnered with their team to create a scalable system that aligned visual language, improved usability, and strengthened the presentation of their unique photo offerings.
Display of various components created during the design system creation.
Core Foundational Elements
To create a cohesive Design System for Cady, I started by defining core foundational elements like colors, spacing, typography, and grid systems. By carefully refining these details, I established a clear visual language that ensured consistency and improved the user experience across Cady's digital platforms.
Scalable Component Library
To support Cady’s growing brand, I focused on creating flexible design components that could scale with their evolving needs. While their digital properties appeared cohesive at first glance, deeper analysis revealed inconsistent styles and patterns that disrupted the user experience. I carefully evaluated each element, identifying gaps and redundancies, and developed a unified set of core components to serve as a single source of truth for future designs.
Patterns & Templates
To improve usability, I established template patterns that ensured predictable and user-friendly interfaces. By refining existing layouts and interaction patterns, I created adaptable designs that maintained consistency across all of Cady’s platforms, enhancing the overall user experience.
Documentation
Delivered clear documentation to support long-term use and growth by internal teams.
Key Success & Outcome
Built a comprehensive Design System that unified Cady’s digital experience and laid the groundwork for future growth.
The system included core foundations—colors, typography, spacing, and grids—as well as a robust component library covering elements like buttons, icons, and navigation. Paired with clear documentation and usage guidelines, the system empowered Cady’s team to scale confidently while maintaining consistency across all platforms.