Airbnb
Airbnb Design Language System (DLS) is a unified, scalable design framework which I led as Design Manager, standardizing visual and interactive design across all Airbnb platforms.
Engineering and Design Collaboration
One significant aspect of our success was the close collaboration between the design and engineering teams. We believed that a strong design is not just about aesthetic artifacts but also about deep integration within the platform architecture.
We co-developed a frontend architecture that accommodated the DLS seamlessly, facilitating the effortless implementation of the design system into the actual products. This included an API wrapper that allowed the designs and UI components to be utilized directly in the development environment. This efficient synergy between design and engineering ensured that our design principles were not just surface-level but were ingrained into the platform's core functionality.
Scalability and Speed
The DLS allowed for faster and more efficient product development by providing reusable components and clear design guidelines. My team leveraged the DLS to rapidly create and implement designs, catering to Airbnb's ever-expanding global user base.
Scaling Business by Design
As the UX Design Manager at Airbnb, I led the development of the Airbnb Design Language System (DLS), a unified and scalable design framework that was instrumental in Airbnb's business expansion. My role was to orchestrate the design system creation, ensuring it maintained consistency across all Airbnb platforms and improved the overall user experience.
At the heart of Airbnb's success lies its Design Language System (DLS), a robust system defining the design standards and guidelines for Airbnb's product ecosystem. As the UX Design Manager, I led projects to evolve their design system DLS, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and scalability in every touchpoint of the Airbnb experience.
Aligning Business Goals with Design
As Airbnb expanded into new business verticals, the DLS was instrumental in maintaining a coherent look and feel across all offerings. My team and I ensured that core aesthetic values and functional elements remained consistent while providing the necessary flexibility to differentiate each vertical.
Airbnb “Cereal” Typeface Design
The Need for a Distinctive Typeface for User Interface
A distinctive typeface does more than just contribute to a brand's aesthetic appeal; it plays a fundamental role in usability and user experience, and this was a key aspect in our decision to develop Airbnb Cereal. Here's why:
Improved Readability and Accessibility
With millions of users interacting with our platforms daily, it was paramount that our typeface prioritized readability. A well-designed typeface enhances text legibility, ensuring users can easily read and understand content, no matter their device or display size. Moreover, it's crucial for accessibility, making our services inclusive to users with visual impairments.
Brand Recognition
A unique typeface serves as a powerful brand identifier. As users interact with different aspects of our interface, a consistent typeface helps them to instantly recognize they're interacting with Airbnb, even subconsciously. This helps build trust and familiarity with our brand.
Leading the Charge in Design
In order to create this unique and functional typeface, I led the design effort by working closely with the renowned typeface foundry "Dalton Maag." Our collaborative efforts were driven by a shared vision of creating a typeface that not only represented Airbnb's brand identity but also enhanced user experience on all our platforms. The successful realization of Airbnb Cereal is a testament to our dedication and meticulous approach to design.
Versatility and Consistency Across Platforms
Airbnb operates on multiple platforms - from desktop to mobile applications. A custom typeface ensures that our brand’s visual language remains consistent across these varying display environments. Airbnb Cereal was designed with this in mind, ensuring seamless rendering regardless of platform or device.
Emotional Connection
Typography, subtly yet significantly, evokes feelings and sets a tone for interaction. Airbnb Cereal was designed to embody our brand’s values of warmth, trust, and community, creating an emotional connection with our users.
Cultural Sensitivity and Localization
With Airbnb's global footprint, it was essential for our typeface to support multiple languages and scripts. Airbnb Cereal caters to diverse users by supporting various languages, ensuring legibility and consistency in different regions.
By designing Airbnb Cereal, we didn't just create a typeface - we enhanced our user interface's functionality, making it more accessible, consistent, and engaging. It was a strategic move that demonstrated our commitment to improving our users' experience in every way possible.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
One of Airbnb's core beliefs is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere. We incorporated guidelines within the DLS to ensure adherence to international accessibility standards, thereby making Airbnb's product design accessible and inclusive, irrespective of a user's disability status.
Internationalization
With Airbnb's global footprint, the DLS offered tools and guidelines to create a design that adapts to different languages, cultural norms, and device settings. My team and I successfully integrated internationalization within the DLS, enabling Airbnb to provide a consistent and tailored experience for every user, regardless of their location.
Conclusion
Airbnb's investment in user experience and design reflects an understanding of the pivotal role design plays in business scaling. As the UX Design Manager, I was privileged to lead the team in establishing the DLS, a system that not only ensures design consistency but promotes accessibility and supports rapid product development and internationalization. Through strategic alignment of design and business goals, Airbnb has exemplified that design isn't merely an aesthetic decision, but a critical business tool driving growth and user satisfaction.