Cutting Design Time by 80% with Modular Generators
Project Overview
As a Senior Designer at Blue Corona, I took the lead on developing a rapid page template builder within Figma to accelerate the website design process for clients in the home services industry. The primary goal was to create a system of reusable, customizable blocks to significantly reduce repetitive work, increase design efficiency, and enable designers to focus more on the creative aspects of each project.
Timeline
Multiple projects over 2 years
Skills/Tools Used
Figma
Role
Senior Designer, Lead Design System Architect
tl;dr
Faced with repetitive and time-consuming design tasks at Blue Corona, I led the development of scalable, modular systems within Figma to streamline workflows and boost design efficiency. This included creating a rapid page template builder for home service clients, a mockup builder for pitch decks, and a comprehensive UI kit for an AI-powered product. These tools cut design time drastically (e.g., reducing page design from 8-10 hours to under 2), automated consistency, and empowered teams to focus on creative problem-solving. The result was faster project completion, reduced manual work, and better adherence to brand standards.
The Challenge
Throughout my career, I have focused on scaling design systems, building modular asset libraries, and developing generators to rapidly create design outputs. This case study presents three "mini case studies" that illustrate my experience in building scalable design solutions that increased efficiency and helped teams focus on creative and high-value work.
Mini Case Study 1: Blue Corona Rapid Page Template Builder
As a Senior Designer at Blue Corona, I took the lead on developing a rapid page template builder within Figma to accelerate the website design process for clients in the home services industry. The primary goal was to create a system of reusable, customizable blocks to significantly reduce repetitive work, increase design efficiency, and enable designers to focus more on the creative aspects of each project.
The Challenge
The design team faced challenges with redundant work, as most websites followed a similar structure based on industry best practices. Recreating these layouts from scratch limited the team's efficiency and delayed project timelines.
Solution
I developed a library of modular, reusable blocks in Figma and a custom theming system that allowed designers to quickly apply client-specific styles. This approach enabled designers to maintain consistency while reducing design time.
Impact
The page template builder reduced design time for specific project stages from 8-10 hours to under 2 hours, with some smaller projects completed in as little as 30 minutes. This enabled the team to take on more projects and meet tight deadlines while focusing on creative problem-solving.
Live Demo
Mini Case Study 2: Mockup Builder for Pitch Decks
One of my teams needed a fast, brand-compliant way to showcase their products in a professional manner for client demos. To address this need, I developed a "Mockup Builder for Pitch Decks" within Figma that allowed users to generate mockups quickly.
The Challenge
Designers were spending hours creating mockups for pitch decks, which involved building screens from scratch and ensuring brand compliance. This repetitive task consumed valuable time that could have been used for creative exploration.
Solution
I designed a set of five key components that allowed users to drop in their final design outputs and automatically generate over 150 mockups. Each screen had a core "controller" component, making it easy to rebrand or update assets as needed. The entire process took less than 5 minutes, saving significant time for the design team.
Impact
The mockup builder saved teams hours of manual work, allowing them to focus on other creative aspects of their pitches. Additionally, the core "controller" component enabled easy global updates in case of brand changes, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
Live Demo
Mini Case Study 3: UI Kit for Infinite-Canvas AI Product
As a lead designer on an infinite-canvas product that leveraged AI capabilities, I was tasked with building a unique UI kit for the product. This required a balance between adhering to brand standards while creating a differentiated look and feel for the new, innovative experience.
The Challenge
The product required new flows and components that differentiated it from existing brand assets while remaining compliant. Every aspect of the app needed to be modular, allowing for updates based on evolving brand standards and user feedback.
Solution
I created a comprehensive UI kit consisting of over 60 components, constructed with building blocks from our design system while aligning with accessibility standards. The modular nature of the kit allowed us to easily update components as new icons, styles, and patterns emerged.
Impact
This investment upfront resulted in a significant reduction in maintenance time. It only took a few hours to make updates, as opposed to repetitive, manual work. The centralized library of components ensured consistency for developers and other product designers, enabling them to build their own projects efficiently using the assets I developed.
Prototype demo
Reflections
- Key Learnings: Building scalable and modular systems is a key investment that pays off in the long run, especially when maintaining consistency and keeping up with evolving brand standards. Integrating controllers and theming systems into components provides flexibility and adaptability.
- What I'd Do Differently: I would have involved cross-functional stakeholders, such as developers, earlier in each process to ensure smoother integration between design and development. Additionally, frequent feedback loops could have further enhanced the user experience of these design tools.
These mini case studies demonstrate my expertise in managing design systems, creating scalable asset libraries, and building modular generators for rapid design output. By automating repetitive tasks and creating reusable components, I helped design teams focus on creativity, reduce manual workloads, and ensure consistency across projects.
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