https://lottie.host/embed/5dd5ad16-510e-4b92-bf3e-2747cda26577/d0WnD84k15.json
BASE represents the Toptal core principles of being; BOLD AUTHENTIC SERIOUS ENERGETIC
As Toptal experienced hypergrowth, doubling in size just two years, it became clear that the design practice needed to scale rapidly to keep up with evolving company initiatives. While the design team had established solid system foundations, they were struggling with design consistency across their three main user-facing platforms (Staff, Client, Talent Portals), multiple internal (CMS Tool, TopTeam, TopTaste, TopShop) and external tools (Time Tracker, Screenshot app), and numerous new initiatives.
With so many projects running in parallel, a lack of cohesion led to frequent custom designs that carried over into the implementation phase, increasing costs and debt and reducing the ROI for every product-focused team member. Maintaining consistency became an ever-greater challenge as the company's ecosystem continued to expand.
As companies scale, and teams grow they always face similar challenges that affect team performance and overall product quality. When teams are small and nimble, communication lines are short, allowing for rapid decision-making. However, as teams expand, the complexity of collaboration increases bringing alot of process challenges.
Throughout my experience working with various large organizations, I have seen the following common challenges emerge time and time again: