Rzeszow Metropolitan Area
I’m a Design Systems Lead focused on scalable systems, multi-framework parity, and design-to-code workflows across complex product ecosystems. Most of my work happens at the contract layer — token architecture, behavior parity across frameworks, governance, and the operational gap between Figma and production. Currently leading the design system at Phenom across React and Angular ecosystems, building scalable foundations through readiness models, explicit quality gates, and closer design-engineering collaboration. I’m particularly interested in how AI-assisted workflows, machine-readable specifications, and structured system foundations reshape the way scalable products are designed and shipped.
Design Systems Lead at Phenom (HR Tech, ~1,700 people). Operate through influence in partnership with the Dev Lead. - Designed a three-layer token architecture (primitives → semantic → component) from scratch - with strict directional dependency where components consume semantic and semantic consumes primitives. The architecture is the shared contract between design and engineering across two frameworks. - Led two redesign cycles of the Phenom design system - first modernizing the visual baseline, then adding the architecture and governance that turned it into a platform contract. Every designer in the organization works on top of this system today. - Defined readiness as an enforceable contract: 5 categories, ~12 explicit gates, threshold model - one failed gate means the component isn't v1. No averaging, no "mostly ready." - Established a multi-framework parity model: React and Angular treated as two implementations of one system, aligned at the behavior level - focus, state, accessibility, token consumption - not just visually. - Stress-tested the readiness contract by implementing the Table system in code (filters, saved views, bulk actions) and redesigning the Candidates view in Recruiter - surfacing gaps that became the composition gate. - Built adoption infrastructure: internal sessions, public Slack help channel, machine-readable component specs - enabling design-to-code and AI-assisted workflows. Public case study - transforming a component library into a governed multi-framework platform: https://maciejkotula.pl/work/phenomdesignsystem
- Led the first full redesign of the Phenom design system — modernizing the visual baseline into a consistent design language used across every product. - Built the system as a shared foundation adopted org-wide, working closely with designers and engineers on production rollout. - This work set the stage for the next step: turning the library into a governed platform contract — the focus of the Design System Lead role from September 2024.
Led design across complex digital products for clients in Switzerland, the UK, Germany, the US, and the Middle East - across tier-1 financial services, fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, and B2B SaaS, translating business strategy into scalable product experiences across web and mobile. - Built and scaled the design organization: hired Product and Senior Product Designers, ran 1:1s with every direct report, defined growth paths, and mentored team members through promotions - with multiple direct reports promoted under my leadership. - Established design quality standards and operational workflows across multiple parallel product teams - design reviews, critique culture, and shared expectations for what "ready" looks like. - Architected scalable design foundations for client engagements, including design systems, component libraries, and governance models. Lead contributor to Silk - Netguru's internal design system - owning sections of the system and shaping how it scaled across teams. This work formed the foundation of my later specialization in design systems as platform contracts. - Owned end-to-end product design workflows across discovery, information architecture, interaction design, UI systems, prototyping, and design QA, in close partnership with product and engineering teams. - Curated and published team work on Dribbble and Behance, strengthening Netguru's design presence in the broader community.
Combined hands-on product design with team leadership across complex international client engagements in fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, and B2B SaaS. - Mentored Product and Senior Product Designers through regular 1:1s, design reviews, and coaching - with multiple direct reports promoted to Senior level under my guidance. - Established design quality standards across parallel product teams - shaping review culture, critique practices, and shared expectations across design, product, and engineering. - Contributed to Silk - Netguru's internal design system - through reusable UI patterns, interaction standards, and component documentation. This work formed the foundation of my later lead contributor role and long-term specialization in design systems. - Owned end-to-end product design workflows across discovery, UX strategy, information architecture, interaction design, prototyping, UI systems, and design QA. - Partnered closely with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints across multiple parallel client projects. - Participated in hiring, onboarding, and career development across the design organization - helping assess candidates, define growth paths, and support promotion planning.
Designed digital products across web and mobile for internal initiatives and international client projects - building strong foundations in product thinking, UX execution, and interface design. - Delivered end-to-end product design work across user flows, wireframes, interaction design, UI, prototyping, and design QA in close collaboration with cross-functional teams. - Balanced multiple parallel client projects across industries, developing strong delivery discipline and execution skills early in my career. - Curated and published work on Dribbble and Behance - including projects recognized with Best of Behance distinction - contributing to Netguru’s external design presence in the broader community.
Conducted a UI prototyping course focused on practical product design workflows, interaction design, and usability principles. - Guided students through hands-on prototyping exercises using tools such as Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD. - Taught UX/UI fundamentals including wireframing, interaction design, usability testing, and design communication. - Developed practical exercises and real-world case studies bridging academic learning with modern product design workflows.
Transformed and updated the EntertainTV (now MagentaTV) design system at Deutsche Telekom — Germany's premium digital television platform — partnering closely with engineering on the rollout of key product screens. - Migrated and updated visual system foundations — typography, color, iconography, layout structures, and reusable interface components — modernizing the system for ongoing product development. - Designed UI and interaction patterns for a multi-surface TV product across connected devices. - Partnered with developers on the implementation of key screens, ensuring design intent translated faithfully into the production product. First production design system work in my career — foundation of a long-term specialization in design systems.
Led design engagements for Deutsche Telekom, ECCO, Samsung, Clarks, TVN, and the Polish Ministry of Economy — across UX/UI, dashboards, brand identity, and digital product design.