Setup is about putting structures in place that keep your design system running smoothly. Without them, teams risk confusion over ownership, contribution, and decision-making, which slows adoption. This strategy defines how governance works, who contributes, and how progress is measured, so the system scales with clarity. Use it once you have alignment, or as a starting point if you already have leadership support and need to formalise how the system operates.
How to
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Choose a governance model
Decide how decisions will be made and who owns what by working through the Choosing a Governance Model tactic.
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Shape contribution
Define how teams can add to the system and what the process looks like with the Contribution Framework tactic.
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Assign responsibilities
Clarify who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed by running the System RACI tactic. Shape this ahead of time by leading with an Influence Mapping session.
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Set up guidance
Create the central home for your system and choose how documentation will be delivered through the Guidance Setup tactic.
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Define scope and direction
Decide whether the system should be custom, kit-based, or a hybrid by using the Custom vs UI Kit tactic. This helps you ground setup decisions in what the organisation can realistically support.
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Define success
Agree how you will measure progress and adoption by working through the Success Metrics tactic. This ensures you track the right signals as governance, contribution, and guidance take shape.
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Set priorities
Take outputs from the System Vision Workshop and shape them into a prioritised plan with the Roadmap Planning tactic.
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Build a business case
Bring all of this together in the Business Case tactic to package outcomes into a clear story for leadership.