CliffsNotes Design System
LitCharts and CliffsNotes are two of the most recognized study platforms in EdTech. When I joined LitCharts, the design workflow was fragmented — outdated Sketch files, inconsistent components, and limited visibility across teams. I led the migration to Figma, built LitCharts' design system from the ground up, and leveraged it to create CliffsNotes' foundational system.
Lead Product Designer, Design Manager
Direct report, engineers, product managers, CEO
Figma, Storybook
2021 to 2025
Challenge
When joining LitCharts, I observed a fragmented design workflow with collaborative inefficiencies. I recognized that moving to Figma was a strategic investment in speed, scalability, and cross-functional alignment. I presented a clear plan to leadership and secured dedicated time to do it right.
Results
The LitCharts design system became the foundation for how the org designed and built.
When CliffsNotes joined the Learneo family, I leveraged LitCharts' system to build foundational design system elements saving build time.
In another step toward tighter design-to-build translation, I paired with the lead engineer on a Storybook integration.
2
Design systems
20%
Time savings
20+
Adoption rate
Process
I led this initiative end-to-end, from securing leadership buy-in to mentoring the cross-functional team on systems thinking.
Migration & Audit: I led the full Sketch-to-Figma migration, auditing every component, removing redundancies, and establishing a clean, scalable foundation for the LitCharts design system.
System Building: I built a modern design system with variables, styles, components, and documentation — creating a single source of truth for design across the org.
Engineering Partnership: When the engineering lead wanted to explore a Storybook integration, I was the first person he came to. We could already see what it had the potential to become: tighter QA, fewer translation gaps, and a shared vocabulary across teams.
Scaling to CliffsNotes: When work began on CliffsNotes, I strategically reused the LitCharts system's foundations, reskinning components to match the CliffsNotes brand. What could have been a full rebuild became a fast, focused adaptation.
“ Reusing the LitCharts design system for CliffsNotes made development 20-30% faster. ”
Jeff Cohen
Senior Engineer | LitCharts
Conclusion
This initiative was more than a tool migration — it was a cultural shift. The design system didn't just improve our products, it changed how the organization worked together. Designers, PMs, and engineers shared a common vocabulary, handoff became seamless, and the system proved it could scale when it mattered most.