Design systems · Governance
Proving design systems as a strategic capability
A colour foundation proof of concept that made the enterprise case for systems.
6
stage operating sequence, mobilise to governance
2
core CTA colours, down from a fragmented palette
4
sprint cycles to executive sign-off
- Company
- Flutter Entertainment
- Period
- 2022 — 2023
- Role
- Director, Product Design — sponsoring a cross-tribe Tiger Team.
Situation
Colour was applied inconsistently across every platform, with duplication, drift and no usage rules. Accessibility was assessed after the fact, if at all.
Task
Demonstrate, with evidence, that treating the design system as a strategic capability creates clarity, consistency and momentum across teams.
six stages
How design strategy was operationalised into system capability.
- Mobilise and align — cross-tribe Tiger Team, benchmarked best-in-class systems, principles set
- Diagnose and frame — ecosystem-wide colour audit mapping usage by intent
- Rationalise and simplify — structured palette, two core CTA colours, clear usage rules
- Apply and validate — applied to priority experiences, reviewed cross-tribe
Result
A production-ready, governed foundation with a model extendable across typography, spacing, iconography and the wider component library.
- Common language reducing ambiguity across teams and decisions
- WCAG 2.1 AA compliance built into core components
- Single source of truth adopted by design and engineering
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