Alfresco design system
What we did
Customer research
Jobs to be done
UX strategy
Building a pragmatic design system for seamless product integration
As the Chief Product & Technology Officer at Alfresco, Tony Grout knew the importance of delivering products that consistently empowered enterprises to manage their content with ease and precision. But as Alfresco expanded rapidly, Tony was facing a critical challenge: misalignment between his engineering and design teams. This lack of cohesion was causing delays, inconsistencies, and frustration across the product development process.
Tony needed a solution that would streamline the workflow and bring these teams together—without slowing down Alfresco’s fast-paced development cycles. He needed a design system that could be integrated gradually, ensuring the product lines kept moving while maintaining high standards.
What we did
Customer research
Jobs to be done
UX strategy
Partnering with littlevoice: A pragmatic solution
When Tony turned to us at littlevoice, he wasn’t just looking for a quick fix—he was seeking a partner who could deliver a pragmatic, incremental solution. Together, we mapped out a path that focused on the most critical design elements first. Rather than attempting to overhaul the entire system at once, we prioritised what needed immediate attention, allowing Alfresco to move forward without disrupting ongoing projects.
We worked closely with Tony and his engineering and product management teams to ensure that the design system we built could evolve seamlessly alongside Alfresco’s products. The result was a system that not only aligned engineering and design but also fitted into Alfresco’s overall business goals, allowing the team to stay focused on innovation without losing momentum.
What we did
Customer research
Jobs to be done
UX strategy
Turning complexity into cohesion
Tony and his team had been struggling with the disconnect between engineering and design for some time, and it was starting to affect their ability to deliver consistent, high-quality products. We worked hand-in-hand Tony and his team to cut through the complexity and create a design system that could scale with their product lines, ensuring that consistency and quality became the norm across the board.
Our approach wasn’t just about fixing short-term issues; it was about building a sustainable solution. With Tony’s leadership and our expertise, we developed a design system that was both practical and scalable, adapting to the evolving needs of Alfresco’s teams while ensuring a cohesive user experience for their customers.
As Jesson explained,
littlevoice played a critical role in guiding us towards a practical approach, allowing our product development to continue while introducing a design system.” He appreciated how the system was built with an eye toward the future, adding, “They created a design system that baked richness into our products, working in an incremental way that kept the product lines moving.
Immediate results: Keeping products on track
Tony quickly saw the impact of this approach. By implementing the design system incrementally, his teams were able to continue their work without any delays. The incremental changes we introduced allowed them to stay on course, while at the same time laying the foundation for a more unified, efficient workflow.
As Tony Grout explained,
Anybody can read a book about how to create a customer journey. But the real talent lies in taking customer conversations & turning them into insights that add genuine value to the product team.
A unified vision for Alfresco’s products
What Tony valued most about our collaboration was how the design system created a new level of cohesion between his teams. By bridging the gap between design and engineering, we helped Tony establish a workflow that wasn’t just about getting the job done—it was about getting it done right.
The design system we built became a cornerstone of Alfresco’s product development. It provided the structure Tony needed to ensure his products delivered the seamless, high-quality user experience that Alfresco’s customers had come to expect. More than just a tool, the system became a part of Alfresco’s DNA, empowering Tony’s teams to work with more clarity and focus.
As Tony reflected on the partnership, he recognised how it had fundamentally transformed his product development process:
littlevoice didn’t just give us a design system—they gave us a system that delivered real value across our entire organisation.
A partnership for lasting innovation
With our help, Tony didn’t just solve an immediate challenge—he built a long-term foundation for growth. The design system we created was designed to scale alongside Alfresco’s expanding product portfolio, giving Tony and his teams the confidence to innovate without hesitation.
The design system we built became a cornerstone of Alfresco’s product development. It provided the structure Tony needed to ensure his products delivered the seamless, high-quality user experience that Alfresco’s customers had come to expect. More than just a tool, the system became a part of Alfresco’s DNA, empowering Tony’s teams to work with more clarity and focus.
Together, Tony Grout and littlevoice built more than a design system. We crafted a strategy for success that allowed Alfresco to continue its growth without sacrificing quality or cohesion. With our partnership, Tony and his team unlocked the potential for faster, more seamless product development, setting the stage for continued innovation in the years to come.