Systems

Design leaders create, maintain, and evolve the systems that support design teams. While sometimes we think of systems as a collection of tools (or, simply, the design system), systems underpin all aspects of design work.

Tools

Design leaders ensure teams have the right tools, including:

• Design systems
• Design and prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch, etc.)
• Documentation tools (Coda, Notion, etc.)
• Research platforms (Analytics, UserTesting)
• Collaboration and feedback tools (Slack, Miro)
• Project management tools (Jira, Linear)
• Asset management and version control

Processes

Design leaders establish clear, repeatable processes for:

• Design reviews and critiques
• Prioritization
• Research planning and synthesis
• Handoff and implementation
• Quality
• Knowledge sharing and documentation

Workflows

Design leaders create efficient workflows that:

• Connect cross-functional partners effectively
• Reduce friction in day-to-day work
• Scale design impact across products
• Enable consistent quality
• Support rapid iteration
• Facilitate clear communication

Support Systems

Design leaders build support structures that:

• Guide career development
• Enable skill growth
• Provide mentorship opportunities
• Foster knowledge sharing
• Support team wellbeing
• Enable continuous learning

Measurement

Design leaders implement systems to measure:

• Design quality and consistency
• Team efficiency and output
• User satisfaction and impact
• System adoption and effectiveness
• Process health and bottlenecks
• Resource utilization

Evolution

Design leaders ensure systems remain effective by:

• Regularly assessing system health
• Gathering feedback
• Anticipating changing needs
• Removing unnecessary complexity
• Streamlining outdated processes
• Introducing new capabilities thoughtfully