Transforming a Developer Tool into a Strategic Brand Platform
Inherited a narrowly-focused design system project with:
50+ engineering teams without UI consistency guidance.
Corporate branding isolated in static PDF documents.
No connection between technical UI and brand guidelines.
Limited visibility beyond the IT department.
Technical project created by and for developers only.
Identified strategic connection between UI consistency and brand management needs.
Initiated partnership with brand team to align technical and brand objectives.
Expanded concept from component library to comprehensive brand platform.
Created digital solution for version control and distribution challenges.
Positioned platform for critical role during unexpected company merger.
Developer-focused UI component library with CSS snippets
Enterprise-wide Brand Portal supporting organizational transformation
Unified brand expression across both digital and traditional channels.
Streamlined implementation for 50+ engineering teams.
Facilitated major rebranding during company merger.
Gained executive visibility as strategic corporate asset.
Created cross-functional collaboration between previously siloed teams
"I was Bret's line manager when were both working on modernizing our Customer Service Portal, consumed daily by thousands of customers. I asked him to create a design system to help developers delivering digital products faster and better, while strictly aligning on our brand identity. What Bret came up with was something different to what I originally anticipated, in a very good way. As a matter of fact, what he produced became the go-to place for more than just our technical teams. Version after version, the system he designed became a reference for anyone involved in creating customer-facing content.
This is what happens when you work with people that can see beyond the original concept, and who can deal with abstraction to create something future proof. When even the smallest things are considered through the lens of the big picture, great things emerge. Bret is one of these guys.
Also, I believe we all love working with colleagues who can proactively reach out to other business units to aggregate the necessary knowledge. Marketing, Product Management, HR, Sales, Engineering: all got interviewed and their brain picked by Bret, so a static and annoying PDF file became a Brand Guidelines useful portal.
There’s a bit of magic when you work with someone who embodies your idea and then truly owns it. Bret is like that: he will turn it into something practical, and not just another vaporware. If you're looking for someone that can create real business assets, and finally turn them into practical outcomes, then you should 100% reach out to Bret."
Jacques Clement - Systems Architect
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