Covea – Design System Foundations

Design efforts across products were fragmented, with duplicated components and inconsistent UI patterns. Designers and developers were working without a shared source of truth, which slowed delivery and made scaling difficult.

The system needed to support multiple brands and product types while remaining adaptable, not overly rigid. At the same time, it had to align with the newly established GoSure visual identity and support future digital initiatives.

I led the design-side foundations of the system, building the core UI toolkit in Figma and defining how components should behave, scale, and be governed.

I worked closely with developers as components were translated into a React Storybook library, ensuring the design intent was accurately reflected in implementation. I also contributed to documentation, naming conventions, and governance processes to create a shared language between teams.

The design system was built on the visual and structural principles established through the GoSure brand. Having defined the brand from the ground up - including its visual language, typography, and tone - I was able to embed those foundations directly into the component architecture.

Rather than creating a rigid library, I focused on modular, reusable components supported by clear rules and hierarchy. Foundational tokens such as colour, typography, and spacing were defined early, providing consistency across interfaces. Core UI components were structured with variants and usage guidance to support different product contexts.

Close collaboration with developers ensured that the Figma toolkit translated effectively into React components within Storybook. Regular reviews and workshops supported adoption and helped refine the system as it matured.

The system introduced greater consistency across digital products and reduced duplication between teams. By aligning the design foundations with the GoSure brand and supporting their translation into React, we created a stronger bridge between design and engineering.

The experience reinforced how important governance, shared language, and cross-team collaboration are when building systems within enterprise environments. A design system is not just a toolkit, it’s an operational shift in how teams work.