Global Pharmaceutical Company | Designit
Building a unified design system across a fragmented product portfolio
Stakeholder analysis | Value proposition and business case | Business Process design.
Background
A global pharmaceutical company manufacturing medical dermatology products had a device and packaging portfolio that 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.
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.
Impact
The client and its key project stakeholders were given a clear, actionable case for the design system, complete with the business, operational, and organisational requirements needed to execute it.
This gave decision-makers a transparent view of the level of effort, investment, and complexity involved, enabling them to move forward with confidence and clarity.
My Role
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 intent behind the design system.