Telstra Health Aged Care team manages multiple products, but there was no dedicated Design System in place. The main product, which has been around for 15 years, has an outdated, inconsistent, and inefficient interface. Building new components from scratch was time-consuming, and developers in each product frequently created components individually, leading to further inconsistencies across the product. This fragmented approach not only slowed down the development cycle but also negatively impacted the user experience, as accessibility and interactions varied significantly.
To address these challenges, we embarked on a comprehensive redesign of the design system, with a focus on standardization, efficiency, and accessibility, while revisiting and refining the existing style guide.
Revisiting the Style Guide
We conducted a full audit of the existing style guide, identifying areas where it didn’t meet the needs of the product or accessibility standards. The style guide was revised to ensure it supported a cohesive, accessible, and efficient design process.
Identifying Key Components
We began by auditing the entire product, identifying the most commonly used components and interactions. This allowed us to prioritize which components needed immediate attention and to build a more unified library that aligned with the updated style guide.
Standardizing Interactions and Accessibility
Consistency in interaction patterns and accessibility standards became a cornerstone of our new system. We ensured that each component adhered to WCAG guidelines, improving the product’s usability for all users.
Collaborating with Developers
Building a shared developer component library posed unique challenges, as different product teams used various code languages and versions. To address this, we opened up ongoing discussions with developers about how to standardize and streamline the component-building process. It was crucial to consider the impact on product delivery timelines, which required close coordination with the product teams to ensure development could proceed efficiently without disrupting feature or product releases.
Design systems are not static: They continuously evolve as the needs of the product change. To ensure the design system stays current, we established fortnightly meetings to discuss updates, new industrial standards, and any changes needed to maintain efficiency. Collaboration with both developers and product teams remains ongoing as we work to address any future challenges.
We also continue refining the developer component library to streamline its use across different product teams, especially since teams work with varying code languages and versions. This process requires careful coordination with product teams, considering the impact on product delivery timelines.
+ Researching Industry Standards and Health Guidelines is Crucial
+ Communication and Collaboration are Key
+ A Design System Benefits the Entire Team
Some of my projects
Wound chart enhancement - Telstra HealthEnd to end UX
Scheduling Intelligence - Telstra HealthEnd to end UX
Redesign the website - health.com.auEnd to end UX | Service design
Wealth management application | BMYGEnd to end UX | App design | Project managment
Onboarding experience - health.com.auEnd to end UX | Service design
EduFlix - ACMIACMI Xcel Accelerator finalist project
SHOUT - Deakin SparkDeakin Spark Accelerator project
© Shin Lee 2024
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