Case Study

G-P Design System: Zero to 100% and Beyond

Building a scalable, accessible, internationalized design system for 50+ apps across 188 countries.

Problem

G-P needed a scalable, accessible, and internationalized design system to support a rapidly growing microfrontend ecosystem across 50+ applications in 188 countries. The existing environment lacked standards for accessibility, internationalization, and governance, creating bottlenecks and inconsistencies.

Approach

  • Architected a design system ecosystem for microfrontend delivery, isolation, communication, and customization.
  • Prioritized ASA and EAA compliance — accessibility as a first-class concern.
  • Implemented internationalization support for global operations.
  • Centralized styling and theming using pure CSS for maximum compatibility.
  • Built lightweight, modular components optimized for microfrontend integration.
  • Collaborated with designers on new branding while maintaining legacy support.
  • Scaled from solo to a team of 6 engineering contractors.
  • Established contribution processes, guardrails, and governance structures.

Results

50+

Apps supported

Weekly

Consumer team contributions

AI-augmented

Governance & DLC

Key Learnings

  • · Early investment in accessibility and internationalization pays dividends in global adoption.
  • · Distributed governance and clear contribution processes are essential for scaling.
  • · AI augmentation dramatically improves efficiency in both contribution and governance.

Adam Harrington

Software Engineer · Design Systems specialist · Frontends at Scale

Frontend Specialist

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