Global Pharmaceutical Company | Designit
Building a unified design system across a fragmented product portfolio
Brand Experience | Creative Direction | Business Design | Process design.
Background
A global pharmaceutical company's device and packaging portfolio had grown fragmented over time, resulting in inconsistent products that were costly to manage and confusing in the market. They partnered with Designit to develop a unifying Device and Pack Design System.
Challenge
Stakeholder interviews across 18 participants revealed a core tension: most recognised the need for a more systemised approach, but viewed design investment as an unnecessary expense. No dedicated team existed to drive packaging innovation, and development processes were reactive and siloed.
Solution
Designit was tasked with defining a Device and Pack Design System, supported by a business case demonstrating how design investment could generate value while reducing cost. This included a front-end innovation process, a dedicated cross-functional team structure spanning core, extended, and governance layers, and a senior governance board to ensure oversight and organisational commitment.
Outcome
The client and its key project stakeholders were given a clear, actionable case for the design system, providing clear oversight to the level of effort, investment, and complexity involved, enabling them to make informed strategic choices with increased confidence and clarity. As Strategic Design Director, I led the strategic workstream, owning the business case and operational development, while working closely with the Design Director to ensure alignment to the design vision.