Opportunity ⇢
Securian’s internal applications had become fragmented and inconsistent. Leadership sought a coherent design language, developers needed flexibility across frameworks, and internal users required tools that reduced friction in daily workflows.
Context
The work began with a directive to reuse a marketing design system for Securian’s internal tools. It would have been the simplest path, but deeper engagement with developers and daily users showed it would not meet their needs. The real opportunity was to take on the harder problem and build a foundation that would support the work for years to come.
Role
Lead designer responsible for framing the problem, guiding evaluation, and aligning design and engineering leadership around a sustainable solution.
Defining criteria to guide THE selection
EVALUATING strengths across CANDIDATE systems
Framing
The original plan expanded once the team saw how each system aligned with Securian’s technical landscape and workflow realities. Marketing patterns provided cohesion, but they did not offer the depth or flexibility needed for enterprise software. The evaluation widened to focus on what would hold up for both developers and users over time.
Strategy
A structured comparison of leading open-source systems (then narrowed to Material, Carbon, and Spectrum) was run with senior developers across React, Vue, and Angular. Evaluation criteria included scalability, accessibility, and developer experience. Material emerged as the most suitable foundation.
Execution ⇢
Momentum built as leadership buy-in was secured and developer champions emerged. Rollout was planned across four enterprise tools, supported by component libraries, standards, and usability validations that ensured the system was practical and durable.
Built for now. Ready for what’s next.
Building a scalable system on Material foundations
Impact
The adoption of a modern design system created momentum across the organization. Developers became advocates for the system, accelerating adoption and ensuring continuity. Internal users began to experience faster, more consistent workflows, reducing daily friction and improving confidence in the tools. Leadership recognized the outcome as a credible path for modernization, and a clear blueprint was established for continued rollout across additional product lines.
Reflection
The lasting outcome was not the choice of Material alone. It was proving a process grounded in listening, testing, and aligning leadership around evidence.
That approach transformed a fragmented environment into a unified system and placed Securian on a path toward sustainable modernization.
