Design Systems

The dynamic nature of Cisco’s brand and software design necessitated a flexible and iterative design system. To address this, I created a simple library and process for managing the evolving nature of the assignment.

Always auditing

Iteration must include audits on progress across all resources from the different teams. This included communications and resource management across internal and client-side development, marketing, and digital teams.

Maintain our principles

Always measure back to and align with core design principles agreed to during project kick offs. Editing ourselves was key.

Emphasis on simplicity

Simple typography and interaction design was critical to maintaining the creative direction.

Collaboration

One of the challenges we faced was working alongside the real-time evolution of Cisco’s brand and software design. To navigate this, we adopted a structured approach to compliment the flexibility introduced with the design system.

Transparent and iterative design

Regular iterations allowed us to adapt to changes quickly while maintaining a consistent user experience. This included identifying necessary shifts in templates and working directly with front end engineers to be sure pivots were understood.

Open communication across disciplines was necessary to be sure we hit our goals. Continuous collaboration with cross-functional teams ensured that the design was both comprehensive and easily adaptable. My role in this project often acted as a bridge across disciplines and locations.

We utilized the design system to create vignettes that highlighted the versatility of Cisco’s products and services, demonstrating the system’s adaptability.