Senior Product Designer: Design Systems | Core Foundations | Enterprise Architecture
Architecting high-density enterprise UI frameworks, multi-tenant layouts, and design token systems that map perfectly to developer production.
Core Technical Authority:
- Legacy Modernization: Leading the end-to-end redesign of complex, data-heavy applications (Enterprise & Healthcare) into clean, high-usability interfaces.
- Systems Governance: Architecting and extending enterprise UI frameworks (e.g., Telerik/Kendo) into cohesive, scalable Design Systems.
- Figma Architecture: Building robust libraries utilizing Variables, Design Tokens, and Advanced Prototyping to ensure a "Single Source of Truth" for engineering.
- Responsive Architecture: Designing for platform-specific patterns (iOS/Android) and complex fluid layouts to ensure system integrity across all viewports.
- Developer Synergy: Delivering spec-ready, production-aligned documentation that maps directly to front-end build requirements.
Working with complex enterprise software is very much like my passion for upcycling jewelry or organizing a home – it's about seeing the inherent value in what already exists and having the vision to rearrange components into something more elegant, functional, and scalable. I don't just see a "messy" legacy app; I see a puzzle of established business logic and user data that simply needs a more modern, governed architecture.
My "Zone of Genius" lies in reverse-engineering legacy chaos into structured, modern libraries. By treating design systems as living organisms that require constant curation, I bridge the gap between technical debt and a "better way," ensuring the final product is as logically sound as it is aesthetically exceptional. This "upcycling" approach helps organizations reduce technical debt and accelerate development velocity without needing to rebuild from zero.
I thrive as a Senior Individual Contributor, focused on craft, execution, and the technical alignment of design. I am exclusively seeking to partner with 100% remote teams where Design Systems integrity and high-fidelity technical execution are prioritized.
Work
3 design systems enhanced
200+ UI screens designed
140+ pages audited
AI-assisted product built & iterated end-to-end
Design Systems
AI
UI design
Enhanced a robust Design System to Power Internal AI Applications
Strengthened a design system for AI tools and unified UI patterns across multiple internal platforms for CAI.
About Me
who i am
I bridge the gap between product management and development teams using UX design, UI design, and design systems. My passion lies in meticulously designing and curating design elements and guidelines for design systems to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across products.
I create tokenized, documented components that developers can trust — and designers love to use. With deep visual design roots and strong UI/UX instincts, I bring clarity, consistency, and structure to fast-moving teams.
My experience spans healthcare, AI platforms, and enterprise web apps — including building systems alongside ChatGPT-driven workflows and using MidJourney to explore creative design directions. While my focus is on design systems, I bring the versatility to contribute to UI and product design when needed.
My expertise:
Design Systems Architecture & Documentation
Figma Tokens, Variables, & Reusable Components
ZeroHeight, Dev Handoff, & Scalable UI Kits
AI-Enhanced Design (ChatGPT, MidJourney)
UI/UX Design for Regulated & Complex Products
I bring a decade of visual and UI design experience and 3+ years building real-world design systems that scale. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts & Sciences, and 6 certificates in Design Systems and UI Design.
I'm based in the Raleigh, NC area and looking for a full-time 100% remote role.
what i do
I'm skilled in 3 key areas:
Design Systems & Token Architecture
- Figma Variables & Token Taxonomy
- Multi-Brand/Multi-Tenant Systems
- Atomic Component Architecture
- System Governance & Documentation
Enterprise UI Engineering Layouts
- Data-Dense Grids & Complex Application Matrices
- Responsive Layout Primitives
- Interaction States & Advanced Prototyping
- Telerik-Kendo UI/Bootstrap Mapping
Technical Alignment & Delivery
- Figma-to-Code Translation
- WCAG AA Accessibility Compliance
- Component UI Spec Auditing
- Developer Workspace Optimization
when i've done it
where i've done it
why i do what i do
I've always been drawn to improving things — turning something clunky into something elegant, or transforming chaos into structure. UX design and design systems give me the perfect outlet for that mindset. I'm naturally attuned to poor user experiences, and I love solving them by building clear, consistent, and reusable UI patterns. Whether I'm designing components, curating styles, or documenting best practices in my blog, I'm in my element when I'm making interfaces better — piece by piece.
Testimonials
Anne did a wonderful job helping to mature CAI's UI design system by building out components in Figma, as well as helping document the design system and its components. Her efforts have streamlined our processes, making it considerably easier to onboard new designers and developers.
Pete Detweiler
UX + Digital Manager, CAI
Anne has provided a high level of attention to details and has been able to effectively communicate to the rest of the team on the work that she was doing. She has performed well at soliciting feedback from business users and take that feedback to create useful UI designs. Anne has been a key team member for our efforts.
Pete Balistrini
Sr. Software Developer, CAI, Trillium Health Resources
Anne is very motivated and is a great self starter. When she’s busy she doesn't let it affect her deadlines. She has a great understanding of UX and UI and I think she would be a great addition to any team.
Megan MacNaughton
Senior Product Designer, Lululemon
HUGE shout-out to Anne Youkey for designing the logo for my new business! Understood what I was looking for right out of the gate, quick design, multiple options she provided, and provided the artwork in the exact format I need. If you have ANY graphic or web design needs, you've GOT to get in touch with this intuitive professional!
Derek Scott
Owner, BlueQuad AeroVision
Anne is very smart and anticipates challenges really well giving her an advantage in overcoming them effectively and quickly. She is a great communicator and is skilled in all facets of web & eLearning. Any organization would be lucky to have Anne on their team.
