Skip to content
helptype.
Book a Call
Book a Call

Pillar / Build · Design

Design that engineering can ship without translation.

Product design, design systems, and research run as the same workstream that ships features. Figma sources, tokens, and component libraries — handed off in a state your engineers can use as-is.

Start a projectDesign-system readiness audit

01 · What we ship

Four design surfaces, one pod.

Pick the closest. The pod composition stays the same — staff designer, mid-level, researcher, plus shared engineering.

  1. 01

    Product design

    Feature flows, IA, hi-fi mocks. Tied to engineering velocity — design isn't ahead of the build, it's beside it.

  2. 02

    Design systems

    Tokens, primitives, components — Figma + code in the same release. Built so your designers and engineers don't drift.

  3. 03

    Research

    Generative + evaluative, sized to your decisions. Recruiting, moderation, synthesis — and a research repo your PMs can actually search.

  4. 04

    UI/UX engineering

    When the design needs micro-interactions, motion, or pixel-tight rendering — designers who write production code, not just specs.

02 · What you get

Four artifacts every design engagement leaves behind.

Tokenized, versioned, and owned by your team afterwards.

  1. 01

    Tokenized Figma library

    Single source of truth for color, type, spacing, motion — exported to CSS variables, Swift, and Compose in one pipeline.

  2. 02

    Component library (code)

    React + Storybook by default. Each component shipped with accessibility tests, visual regression baselines, and a usage guideline.

  3. 03

    Research repo

    Notion or Dovetail. Tagged interview clips, synthesis docs, decision log. So insights survive the people who gathered them.

  4. 04

    Handover package

    Architecture map, contribution guide, governance model. Your designers and engineers can extend the system without us.

03 · How we deliver

Discover → frame → ship → measure.

Design isn't a phase before engineering. It runs alongside, with measurable handoffs every two weeks.

  1. Discover

    1–2 weeks

    Audit existing surface, run lightweight research, name the constraints. Output: a problem framing doc + token audit.

  2. Frame

    1–2 weeks

    Information architecture, key flows, design-system rules. By end of week 4, the team has a usable Figma library and a contribution guide.

  3. Ship

    4–16 weeks

    Biweekly demo against engineering velocity. Components ship in code + Figma in the same release.

  4. Measure

    1–2 weeks

    Usability testing, accessibility audit, contribution model handoff. We hand over the keys — your team owns the system.

04 · How to engage

Four shapes — start small, scale only if it earns it.

Same pod, four contracting shapes. Most design buyers start with the readiness audit.

  1. 3 weeks · fixed

    Architecture review

    A written, fixed-scope assessment with priced recommendations. Zero pressure to engage further — most buyers start here.

    Fits when

    You need a second pair of eyes before a migration, refactor, or vendor swap.

  2. 8 – 24 weeks

    Project-based

    A defined deliverable, a fixed timeline, a quoted price. We ship, hand off, and stay on call through stabilization.

    Fits when

    The scope is clear and the date matters more than ongoing capacity.

  3. Annual retainer

    Managed operations

    A named pod, a unified SLA, and a monthly executive review. The team you'd hire if you weren't trying to stay lean.

    Fits when

    Multiple workstreams, a roadmap longer than a year, no time to coordinate vendors.

  4. Long-term placement

    Embedded engineer

    One senior engineer (SRE, platform, ML, security) placed inside your team for 6+ months, accountable to your manager — backed by ours.

    Fits when

    You have leadership and tooling, but a specific seat is empty and contracting cycles are too slow.

Indicative ranges in the calculator

Open the calculator

05 · FAQ

Four questions design buyers ask first.

Greenfield system or extending an existing one?

Both. Extensions need a 1-week token audit before scope — we won't quote on a system we haven't read.

Figma alone, or Figma + code?

Figma + code by default. Figma-only is rare — usually a sign the design system isn't being used.

Who maintains the system afterwards?

Your team. Handover includes a written governance model + a 4-hour contribution workshop. Optional retainer if you want us on call.

Smallest engagement?

A 2-week design-system readiness audit. Token coverage, accessibility gaps, contribution-friction read.

06 · Pairs with

Design ships best when paired with the engineering surface it lives on.

07 · Engage

Bring us a Figma file, an RFP, or a tokens-vs-CSS spreadsheet.

One delivery lead replies within a business day. Readiness audits are fixed-scope and can be priced in the same reply.

Start a projectSubmit an RFP