Revolutionizing Design Consistency: A UX/UI Overhaul for Founders Network
Transforming Chaos into Cohesion through Streamlined Design, Typography, and Figma Organization
role
UX/UI Designer
Design | Style Guide
August 2023
Keywords: Founders Network, UX/UI Design, Design Process, Typography, Color Styles, Componentization, Design Consistency, Figma, Audit and Assessment, Icon Library, Componentization, Redesign, Efficiency, Collaboration, Workflow, Figma File Organization, Design Standards, Transformation, Efficiency Gains, User Experience Enhancement
Problem Statement
In the fast-paced world of digital innovation, clarity and efficiency in UX/UI Design are paramount. Founders Network, a dynamic hub for entrepreneurial minds, faced a critical challenge: their design files and processes were convoluted, causing confusion among developers and hindering the optimization of their platform.
The initial state of Founders Network’s design assets was plagued by a cacophony of font sizes and types, contributing to developer frustrations and adversely affecting site performance. Furthermore, the absence of a standardized color palette and a lack of componentization in the design files amplified the design inconsistencies. This inconsistency presented a significant hurdle for the team, as designers and developers found themselves uncertain about which fonts, colors, or components to use, resulting in a disjointed and less user-friendly experience for Founders Network’s audience.
This case study will delve into the transformation journey, highlighting the challenges encountered, the methodologies employed, and the outcomes achieved in streamlining Founders Network’s design assets and processes. The goal was to foster a more cohesive, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing user experience by establishing a solid foundation of design consistency and clarity. By addressing these issues, we aimed to empower Founders Network to create a seamless digital ecosystem, aligning their design language with their mission to facilitate entrepreneurial growth and collaboration.
Project Approach and Methodology
1. Audit and Assessment:
The first phase of this UX/UI design project for Founders Network involved a comprehensive audit of their existing design files and processes. This step was crucial to understand the client’s concerns and gather feedback from the development team. Through interviews and a deep dive into their design assets, we identified several key issues: the jumbled typography, lack of color styles, and a dearth of componentization, leading to design inconsistencies.
2. Figma File Page Structure:
The Figma file was divided into clearly labeled pages, each dedicated to a specific section or component of the website. This organization allowed team members to quickly locate and edit the relevant design elements without sifting through a cluttered workspace.
3. Typography and Color Standardization:
To address the typography issue, a standardized typography scale was meticulously crafted within Figma. This scale served as a foundational guide for future designs, ensuring that font sizes and types adhered to a consistent system. Simultaneously, a comprehensive color palette, including color styles, was introduced to maintain visual harmony throughout the design files.
4. Icon Library Integration:
Recognizing the challenges the development team faced in accessing and implementing icons, an icon library was seamlessly integrated into the Figma file. This resource simplifies the process for developers and subsequent designers, streamlining the incorporation of icons into various pages and maintaining design consistency.
5. Componentization and Redesign:
With typography, color styles, and the icon library established, the focus shifted to componentization. Components were created for various design elements, allowing for a modular approach to page design. This approach not only expedited the design process but also greatly enhanced the overall visual consistency and cohesiveness of the website.
6. Transformation and Results:
The culmination of these efforts led to a remarkable transformation in Founders Network’s design assets and processes. The redesigned feed now boasted a sleek and uniform aesthetic, making it easy for designers to work within established parameters. The standardization of typography, colors, and components has eliminated the ambiguity that previously plagued design decisions. Developers found it significantly easier to work with the new design system, reducing the potential for misinterpretation and errors in implementation.
Key Takeaways
Design Consistency is Essential: Achieving design consistency across a digital platform is paramount for enhancing the user experience. In the case of Founders Network, addressing inconsistencies in fonts, colors, and components significantly improved the overall aesthetics and usability of their site.
Comprehensive Audit and Assessment: The project began with a thorough audit and assessment of the existing design assets and processes. This step is critical to identify pain points, gain insights from stakeholders, and set a clear direction for the design overhaul.
Typography and Color Standardization: The creation of a standardized typography scale and color palette is foundational for maintaining a cohesive design system. It ensures that all design elements adhere to a consistent and visually pleasing style.
Efficient Figma File Organization: Organizing the Figma file with a clear page structure, design components, version history, comments, and access control is essential for improving collaboration and streamlining the design process. It allows team members to work more efficiently and with reduced errors.
Icon Library Integration: Incorporating an icon library into the Figma file simplifies the process for developers and designers, making it easy to access and implement icons consistently throughout the design.
Componentization Enhances Efficiency: Creating components for reusable design elements not only speeds up the design process but also ensures that design elements remain consistent and easily modifiable.
About me
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and Urban Planning at PUC Minas and the University of Utah. Associate’s Degree in Computer Science at Cruzeiro do Sul.
- Design Experience: 10+ years in architecture and design, with a focus on UX/UI for the past 3 years.
- Rapid Career Growth: Proven track record of success in UX/UI design, with a focus on creating intuitive and engaging digital experiences.
- Content Creator: Share knowledge and expertise with others through YouTube at UX Gamer UAI and blog posts.
Skills: User Experience (UX), User Interface Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, User Research, Design Systems, Usability Testing, Product Discovery, Visual Design, Web Design, Cross-functional, Collaboration, Problem-Solving, Project Coordination.