at CodeNode

2, 3, 4 June 2026

Alex Edwards

Senior UX Strategist, Clearleft


Thursday 4 June | Delivery day

Putting the user at the centre of your design system

With Lucy Blackwell

talk design systems

Design systems are often thought of as a product.They promise cost savings and time efficiencies when creating and launching new products.

In our experience working on multiple design systems, what is most often overlooked is also the key factor that leads to success or failure. This is the need to deeply understand the needs of the user of the design system and then to create both a process and a product that works for them.

In this talk, we’ll share a recent experience working with UAL (University of the Arts London) on reinventing and relaunching their multi-product design system using a human-first approach.

We’ll cover tips and tricks for co-designing and continual testing with system users to increase product adoption, and for communicating and socialising the system with internal stakeholders to raise awareness and engagement. We’ll also show some of the finished product.

Alex Edwards focuses on simplifying design to meet user needs effectively.

With a background in visual design, typography, and front-end development, she brings a well-rounded perspective to her work.

After studying design at the University of Reading, Alex started her career as a UX designer in a digital agency, where she eventually led a team.

Now at Clearleft, she integrates her design skills with insights from client services, balancing business goals with user needs. Her attention to detail and collaborative approach inform her work in creating meaningful user experiences.

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