Building a Scalable Design System for B2B SaaS
A journey of improving efficiency, consistency, and developer happiness
Queens Lane Consultants (QLC)
The Challenge: A Growing Platform, A Growing Mess
The Challenge: A Growing Platform, A Growing Mess
The Challenge: A Growing Platform, A Growing Mess
When I joined Queens Lane Consultants, the product was evolving fast—but the UI was struggling to keep up.
Each new feature was designed from scratch, with inconsistencies creeping in across pages.
Buttons had different styles. Input fields were varied in size and behavior. Colors were being picked ad hoc.
For developers, this meant constant rework and slower feature releases.
For users, this meant confusing experiences that didn’t feel polished or intuitive.
It was clear: We needed a design system.
Where to Begin? The Audit
Where to Begin? The Audit
Where to Begin? The Audit
I started by analyzing existing patterns to understand just how inconsistent the UI was.
✅ Collected screenshots of every button, input, and card used across the platform.
✅ Noted repeated issues—misaligned components, inaccessible colors, non-standard interactions.
✅ Talked to developers to understand what slowed them down the most.
One major insight: Each feature had a unique approach to forms, leading to bugs and a frustrating user experience.
→ Fixing forms became a priority.
Starting Small: The Core Components
Starting Small: The Core Components
Starting Small: The Core Components
Rather than trying to redesign everything at once, I focused on quick wins that delivered impact fast.
✅ Standardized buttons, input fields, and form layouts, ensuring a consistent and accessible experience.
✅ Defined typography and color guidelines, creating a scalable system that aligned with brand identity.
✅ Set up a library of reusable Figma components that developers could easily reference.
🥳 Impact:
Cut implementation time from 6 hours to 2 hours per screen by making UI components reusable.
Reduced inconsistencies by 80%, ensuring a polished and professional look.
Made onboarding easier for new developers, since they had a clear system to follow.
Collaboration: How We Got Buy-In
Collaboration: How We Got Buy-In
Collaboration: How We Got Buy-In
Introducing a new system required getting everyone on board. To make adoption seamless, I:
📑 Created internal documentation—simple guides on when and how to use components.
🎤 Ran workshops with developers, walking them through the new system.
💬 Got early feedback from stakeholders, making sure the system fit real needs.
A key learning? Instead of forcing adoption, I positioned the design system as a product that solved their problems.
Final Results: A Stronger, Faster Product
Final Results: A Stronger, Faster Product
Final Results: A Stronger, Faster Product
With the design system in place:
🚀 Developers could ship features 2x faster
🎯 User experience became more cohesive and professional
📈 Engagement rates increased as UI inconsistencies disappeared
What’s Next? Continuous Evolution
What’s Next? Continuous Evolution
What’s Next? Continuous Evolution
The design system isn’t a one-time project—it’s a living system that grows with the product.
We’re now expanding it to support dark mode, refine error handling patterns, and ensure full accessibility compliance.
Want to chat about building design systems? Let’s connect!
