Modernizing Vanguard Products

Fintech

2024-2025

PACELift: Cleaning up design and development debt with Vanguard’s design system.

Saved $2M+ annually and cut major design debt

The Challange

Vanguard launched a new design system (Constellation), but none of our institutional or B2C platforms were compliant. This led to design and dev teams working from scratch, wasting time and money — over $2M annually in delivery inefficiencies.

My Role

As the IC design lead, I helped drive the initiative to migrate 3,000+ screens across 6 high-impact products to Constellation. I worked closely with our design system team and dev partners to:

  • Audit legacy designs and identify reusable components

  • Apply systemized updates across Figma files

  • Ensure accessibility, consistency, and dev handoff quality

  • Collaborate with leads to roll out screens in phases without blocking feature work

Results

  • $2.8M+ in annual efficiency gains

  • 6 products migrated in 6 months

  • Enabled 3x faster dev delivery using systemized UI

  • Helped pilot a new cross-functional working model still used org-wide

What I Learned

  • Design systems are only effective when supported by strong advocacy and clear ROI

  • Even highly manual work (like re-skinning thousands of screens) can be high-impact if it's strategic

  • Speed and quality scale with the right systems, team dynamics, and Figma process

Disclaimer ‼️

Unfortunately, I am unable to showcase specific work due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Please feel free to reach out to me directly for further information.

📮

Get in Touch

Whether you’re exploring a redesign, refining your UX, or just need creative direction — I’ll help you map the best next move. No pressure, just ideas. – Kevin ✌️

📮

Get in Touch

Whether you’re exploring a redesign, refining your UX, or just need creative direction — I’ll help you map the best next move. No pressure, just ideas. – Kevin ✌️

📮

Get in Touch

Whether you’re exploring a redesign, refining your UX, or just need creative direction — I’ll help you map the best next move. No pressure, just ideas. – Kevin ✌️

" A Day Wihtout Laughter Is A Day Wasted "

— Charlie Chaplin

Goodbye

" A Day Wihtout Laughter Is A Day Wasted "

— Charlie Chaplin

Goodbye

" A Day Wihtout Laughter Is A Day Wasted "

— Charlie Chaplin

Goodbye