Leading Design at Metwork
Project Overview Role: Design Lead
Timeline: 14 months
Team: Product Designers, Engineers, Product Managers
Focus: Design Systems, Process, Team Leadership, UX/UI Execution
Metwork is a networking platform for legal professionals, helping them connect, collaborate, and grow in a competitive space. I joined at a key moment when the product needed to mature, scale, and solidify its design foundations. Over 14 months, I led design efforts across the company, shaped the product vision, and built a strong team and system that could scale.
The Challenge
- No unified design system or visual language
- Fragmented collaboration between design, product, and engineering
- No formal user testing process
- Team needed to grow and align quickly
My Role
As the Design Lead, I was responsible for:
- Hiring, mentoring, and leading the design team
- Defining a clear, scalable design process
- Building a robust design system in Figma
- Partnering with Engineering to build live components in Storybook
- Working closely with Product to turn ideas into user-friendly flows
- Leading user testing and feedback loops
Building the Team and Process
I hired and mentored a team of product designers, creating a culture centered around curiosity, ownership, and collaboration. We introduced weekly critiques, paired working sessions, and async feedback tools to keep things moving smoothly. I also rolled out a repeatable design process that worked seamlessly with Agile sprints. It kept designers close to the product work while giving them space to explore and iterate.
Creating the Design System
To bring consistency and speed to our work, I led the creation of Metwork’s first design system. Built in Figma, the system included components, spacing rules, type scales, color systems, and usage patterns. I worked closely with engineers to bring these into Storybook, which gave us a live component library and a single source of truth across design and development.
- UI components
- Color and type scales
- Layout rules
- Interaction patterns
- Documentation for usage and accessibility
This system reduced duplication and gave us a consistent foundation for every new feature.
Branding for Metwork’s Design System, Kangaroo
Screenshot of the color primitives
Partnering with Engineering
A key aspect of my role involved close collaboration with the engineering team to translate design concepts into functional components. By integrating our design components into Storybook, we established a living library that bridged the gap between design and development. This partnership ensured pixel-perfect implementation of our designs, reduced miscommunication, and streamlined the development process.
Collaborated with the Front-end Team to create elegant components
Partnering with Product
Working closely with the product management team, I played a pivotal role in transforming strategic ideas and user requirements into intuitive user flows and interactive designs. This collaboration ensured that our design solutions aligned with business objectives and effectively addressed user needs, resulting in a seamless and engaging user experience.
Leading User Testing
Understanding the importance of user feedback, I introduced regular user testing sessions utilizing prototypes and moderated interactions. These sessions provided invaluable insights into user behaviors and preferences, allowing us to refine our designs proactively. This user-centric approach not only enhanced the usability of our products but also fostered a culture of empathy and continuous improvement within the team.
The Outcome
- A scalable design system adopted across all product verticals
- Streamlined handoffs and faster development cycles
- A strong design culture built on ownership and clarity
- Better UX through consistent testing and feedback
- A high-functioning team delivering fast, thoughtful work
Will show acutal designs by request
Reflection
My tenure at Metwork was marked by significant contributions in design leadership, team building, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. By implementing scalable design systems, fostering strong partnerships with engineering and product teams, and prioritizing user feedback, we delivered products that were both innovative and user-friendly. This experience solidified my expertise in leading design initiatives that drive business success and enhance user satisfaction