Designing for Trust: The Role of Design Systems in Public Service

In this presentation, we'll dive into the complexities of implementing design systems in the real world, especially within a multi-brand, multi-app environment like the Dutch Belastingdienst. Our speaker Joeri will guide you through his journey from the days of static PSD (yes Photoshop) files to today’s collaborative, cross-team design workflows using Figma and advanced design systems. You'll learn the best practices, do’s and don’ts for creating pixel-perfect, consistent designs across diverse applications.

We’ll explore the pros and cons of different approaches to design systems, emphasising that they’re more than just color tokens— they encompass front-end development, components, system thinking, and a shared way of working. Topics will include getting cross-functional teams on the same page with naming conventions, customisation boundaries, and system ownership.

We’ll also tackle practical aspects like onboarding and training designers, governance strategies for maintaining and evolving the system, and how to manage components, themes, and layouts in a fast-paced environment. Whether you’re building a design system from scratch or refining an existing one, this talk will provide actionable insights for navigating complex, multi-brand ecosystems.