Design Systems and Scalable UX
Correctional systems often carry public stigma. But the reality is simple: regardless of public perception, these facilities support real people who rely on clear, accessible information every day.
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At the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC), digital experiences are critical access points for visitation, reentry resources, and public transparency.
The Challenge
Across organizations, rapid growth in digital touchpoints often outpaced the shared structures needed to support them. Teams were moving quickly, but without a unified system, inconsistency, duplication, and accessibility risk accumulated over time.
Outcomes & Impact
The design system improved delivery speed and consistency across distributed teams. By establishing shared components and clear usage patterns, we reduced duplicative design work and lowered cognitive load across both design and development workflows.
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At IDOC, the system also enabled faster CMS production, improved communication with non-technical stakeholders, and created more efficient, focused design reviews.
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Key impacts included:
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Faster iteration through reusable components and standardized patterns
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Improved cross-channel consistency across web, email, and product surfaces
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Reduced cognitive load for designers and developers working within the system
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More predictable handoffs between design and engineering
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Faster, more reliable content builds within the CMS
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Clearer collaboration with non-technical stakeholders
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Smoother, more efficient design review cycles
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A stronger foundation for scalable, accessibility-aligned experiences
My Approach
My approach to design systems focuses on creating clarity for teams operating at scale. I establish shared, accessible patterns and reusable components that reduce duplication, strengthen cross-team alignment, and allow designers and engineers to focus on higher-impact experience work.
Our team improved the product design cycle by implementing a shared design system that streamlined wireframing and prototyping workflows. This reduced duplication, strengthened design-to-development handoffs, and enabled faster iteration across distributed teams.
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Through shared prototypes and regular working sessions, we maintained strong cross-team alignment despite geographic dispersion. The system also supported a more cohesive user experience across the site, reinforcing brand consistency across landing pages, articles, and email communications.
Development and Design
Strong alignment between design and engineering was essential to delivering efficiently at scale. I partnered closely with development teams to establish shared visibility into components, patterns, and implementation expectations early in the process.
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Connecting the design system to supporting code libraries reduced rework and improved consistency between design and production. This collaboration streamlined workflows and supported a more reliable end-to-end user experience.
