Miles has led teams to build design systems for over 10 companies. He recommends starting with one product to establish foundations like design systems, processes, and culture. Then stress-test designs by launching additional products and features. Finally, streamline and optimize the design system. He also suggests being strategic by segmenting customers, prioritizing quick wins, and taking a hybrid approach for more complex needs. Most importantly, Miles emphasizes that the design system represents the company's design culture.

1. 1
DESIGN SYSTEMS AT SCALE
M DIGITAL PRESENTATION
FEBRUARY 19, 2020

2. 2
Hi, I’m Miles.
In the last 8 years, I’ve led teams to
build 10+ design systems for enterprise
and Fortune 500 companies.

3. 3
20+ PRODUCTS
A
B
F
G
C
E
D
…
H
K
I
J
DESIGN SYSTEM
BRAND
A
BRAND
…
BRAND
B
PRODUCT
A
2-10 PRODUCTS
PRODUCT
E
PRODUCT
B
PRODUCT
D
PRODUCT
C
DESIGN
SYSTEM
ONE PRODUCT
PRODUCT A
DESIGN
SYSTEM
USER RESEARCH

4. Momentum
breeds
sustainability
Be strategic
to leverage
resources
Design
System
=
Design
Culture
/
4

5. Momentum breeds sustainability
5

6. 6
Start with one product…
LAUNCHPRODUCT 1

7. 7
Start with one product to create a foundation.
LAUNCHPRODUCT 1
PHASE 1
“FOUNDATION”
DESIGN SYSTEM, WORK PROCESS & DESIGN CULTURE

8. PHASE 2
“STRESS-TESTING”
PRODUCT 2 LAUNCH
PRODUCT 3 LAUNCH
FEATURE SET 2 LAUNCH
8
Stress-test designs with additional projects.
LAUNCHPRODUCT 1
PHASE 1
“FOUNDATION”
DESIGN SYSTEM, WORK PROCESS & DESIGN CULTURE

9. LAUNCHNEW FEATURES
OMNI-CHANNEL
FEATURES
LAUNCH
A DESIGN SYSTEM OF
BUILT COMPONENTS
LAUNCH
PHASE 3
“OPTIMIZATION”
PHASE 2
“STRESS-TESTING”
PRODUCT 2 LAUNCH
PRODUCT 3 LAUNCH
FEATURE SET 2 LAUNCH
9
Streamline and optimize.
LAUNCHPRODUCT 1
PHASE 1
“FOUNDATION”
DESIGN SYSTEM, WORK PROCESS & DESIGN CULTURE

10. Be strategic to leverage resources
10

11. 11
(as complexity demands)
Customer
Segmentation
Products
(Internal Teams)
Hybrid
Approach

12. 12
Customer Segmentation
COMMAND
CENTER
CUSTOMER PORTAL
ON-SITE
MANAGERS
SUPERVISORS
REGIONAL
MANAGERS
IT ADMIN
(AT HQ)
SUPER
ADMIN
(AT HQ)

13. Products (Internal Teams)
13
FINANCIAL AID
SUPPORT
GRADES
QUICK
PRODUCT
WINS
DASHBOARD
CROSS
APPLICATION
LAUNCHER
PRODUCT X
PRODUCT Y
INITIAL SOFTWARE
PRODUCT
A
PRODUCT B
PRODUCT E
PRODUCT F
PRODUCT C
PRODUCT
D
PRODUCT
G
PRODUCT
H
PRODUC
L
PRODUC
PRODUC
J
PRODUC
PRODUC
PRODUC
O

14. BOOKING ENGINE ONE LOYALT
PROGRAM
PROPERTY
WEBSITES
UNIVERSAL
NAVIGATION
Hybrid Approach (as complexity demands)
14
CROSS-PLATFORM
EXPERIENCE
MOBILE APP
MULTIPLE
LOYALTY
PROGRAMS
25+ BRANDS
SERVICE
1
FEATURE
X
FEATURE
Y
PERSONALIZ
ATION

15. Design System = Design Culture/
15

16. 16

17. 17
Align on your values.

18. 18
Just pick a set of tools already!

19. MON TUE WED THU FRI
Cross-team
Meetings
Cross-team
Meetings
19
Align on your schedules.
Standards Weekly Review (1hr)
9AM
10AM
11AM
12PM
1PM
2PM
3PM
4PM
5PM
6PM
W O R K T I M E
Sprint Review (1hr)Retrospective (1hr)
Story Grooming (1hr)Sprint Planning (1hr)

20. 20
Align on your design system product
Unified Experience
Team
Management
-
Future Vision
Accessibility & Governance
Shared Component Library
-
-
-
-
-
Create a new Unified
Experience team to manage
your design system product
-
-
-
-
Lead
Product Owner
Designer Scrum Master
Management
Stakeholders
Developer
Research
Client Service

21. 21
Align on your working model

22. Momentum
breeds
sustainability
Be strategic
to leverage
resources
Design
System
=
Design
Culture
/
22

23. 23
Miles Kemp
Head of Design, M Digital
E: miles.kemp@workwithm.com
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mileskemp/
W: workwithm.com
P: mileskemp.com
What did I miss?