Design Systems That Work: Lessons on Collaboration and Flexibility

Toronto will host the next stop of the EvolveDrupal Summit tomorrow, December 6, 2024, bringing together professionals from digital strategy, design, and development to explore new ideas and share practical insights. With over 30 talks on the agenda, the summit emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and user-centric approaches. The event will happen at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus at the University of Toronto.

Among the featured sessions, Nika Karliuchenko and Donna Vitan from TELUS will present a concise yet impactful talk titled "Design Systems & Headless CMS: Best Practices for Seamless Enablement". This session will centre on the Universal Design System (UDS), a multi-brand governance framework that TELUS uses to drive alignment and consistency across diverse teams. By creating a shared foundation for collaboration, the UDS enables more efficient workflows while maintaining the flexibility needed for scalable, high-quality design and development.

"We will be sharing how to build a Design System and governance around it for big companies as well as best practices on what to do and NOT do when integrating with front-end frameworks and Headless CMS (in our case Contentful) but can apply to any content-driven modern CMS including Drupal"

A key element of the session will be the introduction of the UDS huddle, a governance structure designed to streamline decision-making and unify team efforts. Nika and Donna will outline how this system fosters cross-functional teamwork and ensures that design and technical goals remain aligned across brands.

The session will also delve into the technical integrations that enhance UDS functionality. Tools like Uniform and Contentful provide TELUS with advanced personalization capabilities, support for headless CMS architecture, and a composable framework for managing dynamic content delivery. These integrations allow teams to work more efficiently and adapt to the complexities of modern digital environments without sacrificing coherence or user experience.

"I'm looking forward to talking about how we've set up our design system and governance as a continually evolving product and community, that exponentially scales good design, quality code, and efficient workflows when powered by front-end frameworks and headless CMS."

adds Donna. Scheduled for a succinct 20-minute slot, the talk promises to pack in actionable insights and takeaways for organizations navigating the challenges of multi-brand ecosystems.

As EvolveDrupal makes its way to Toronto, the event highlights not only the tools and strategies shaping digital projects but also the thoughtful approaches that foster inclusivity, accessibility, and smarter ways of working. Learn more about the event here.