A roadmap for design system designers: From building blocks to org-wide influence

View profile for Keerthi ⚡

Product Designer - Design System | Awwwards Young Jury

🚀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀. We’ve seen ladders for product designers, visual designers, UX writers — but for those architecting 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀? It's been a fog. Now, models like the one by Javier Cuello (https://lnkd.in/gHEQSpZU) bring much-needed clarity. Not the model — but a strong lens into how this role evolves. Here’s how the craft scales across levels: 🔹 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 → From building blocks to influencing org-wide thinking 🔹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 → From fixing pixels to fixing processes 🔹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 → From documenting to defining contribution and scaling quality 🔹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 → From supporting designers to shaping how the org designs This isn’t a side gig. It’s 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. If you’ve been quietly holding the system together — this is your sign. Your role is real. Your growth deserves a map. #DesignSystems #DesignCareers #SystemThinking #DesignOps #UXLeadership #CareerGrowth #designsystem #design #career #roadmap #linkedin #linkedinconnection #linkedinfamily #ui #ux #designers #2024 #2025 #2026 #trendy #viral

  • graphical user interface, text
Murali Krishnan Sundar

Future UI/UX Designer | Crafting Intuitive Mobile & E-commerce Interfaces | Figma • Adobe XD | Design Thinker.

2mo

Well said @ Keerthi ⚡

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Sarankumar Maran

AI + Product : UX Architect, Design Systems, Mentor | Organizer @ Indehub & Swift Chennai

2mo

Design Ladders exist only within design agencies and some product based companies

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Ronak Shah

Ex. Product Design Intern at Returns(Fintech) | Like to Design End-to-End Interfaces | Graphics

1mo

Really appreciate this breakdown of the design systems role and how critical it's becoming for organizations. The points on scaling definitely hit home, especially regarding the challenges and opportunities in this field.

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