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CASE STUDY
Proof Before Progress
Why HDS needed a real docsite, how a company-wide reorg finally created room to fix it, and how a single prototyped weekend built the case that closed out a $150K vendor decision.
Read time: ~7 minutes
ROLEDesign Ops lead who scoped, prototyped, and pitched the fix
PROBLEMHDS had no real documentation site, and a $150K/year vendor purchase was the assumed fix
SCALE9-month vendor evaluation vs. one prototyped weekend
WHAT CHANGEDA weekend AI prototype avoided the vendor spend and reset the system's roadmap toward v2
The BeliefI've believed a real docsite was foundational to a design system since the beginning.CHAPTER 1 · DOCUMENTATIONThe BeliefI've believed a real docsite was foundational to a design system since the beginning.CHAPTER 1 · DOCUMENTATIONThe ResetSouthwest's first-ever RIF rearranged the org chart under me. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.CHAPTER 2 · RIFThe ResetSouthwest's first-ever RIF rearranged the org chart under me. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.CHAPTER 2 · RIFThe Vendor Path Not TakenWe chose Knapsack and spent nine months building the case. Then we hit resistance I never fully understood.CHAPTER 3 · KNAPSACKThe Vendor Path Not TakenWe chose Knapsack and spent nine months building the case. Then we hit resistance I never fully understood.CHAPTER 3 · KNAPSACKThe Weekend and the ProofA single prototyped weekend gave me a concrete case for a larger team — and closed out a $150K vendor decision.CHAPTER 4 · AI PROTOTYPEThe Weekend and the ProofA single prototyped weekend gave me a concrete case for a larger team — and closed out a $150K vendor decision.CHAPTER 4 · AI PROTOTYPE