Vidhunnan
Murugan
I've spent 5 years designing product features and UX, and the last 3 years specialised in building design systems- token architectures, component systems, and internal tools across companies like Keka, Flipkart, and bigbasket. When I'm not shipping systems, I'm running Decode Design Systems - a community for people who build them - and mentoring the next wave of system thinkers.
MANIFESTO
I believe design systems aren't component libraries — they're a shared language. The best ones don't make teams follow rules; they let people design, decide, and ship faster without re-thinking the fundamentals every time. I build the system, the tools around it, and the culture that makes it stick.
Building systems that outlive the screens.
SELECTED WORK
Here's what I've been working on. Systems first, people always.
From multi-brand token architecture to the workflows and tools that made them stick. These are the projects I'm most proud of.
In progress & Archive
EXPERIMENTS
Tools are how I scale myself.
Small builds that solve real system pain - token processing, coverage analysis, colour, handoff. Some live, some cooking.
Token Processor
Structure, transform and validate design tokens across layers - fewer manual errors, predictable handoff.
View toolDS Coverage Analyser
Internal tool to see design-system adoption across products - usage, gaps, drift, data-backed prioritisation.
Design System Analyser & Notes Generator
Import a JSON from design files, surface insights about the system in use.
View toolColour Generator + Lab
Interactive OKLCH colour + contrast playground; generates token-ready, accessible palettes.
View toolDesign + Dev Mapping
Lightweight framework mapping design intent to engineering reality - components, tokens, states, behaviours.
WHERE I'VE BEEN
A few teams that shaped how I think about systems.
Keka HR
2025 - PresentLeading the evolution of an enterprise-wide design system, building scalable foundations that unify design and engineering across products. Driving system coverage across Core HR, Payroll, PSA, Talent, Hire, and Platform pods.
Collaborating with engineering to align components, tokens, and workflows for smoother adoption and governance. Building internal tools and automations that improve system adoption, measurement, and handoff.
Flipkart
2024 - 2025Product Designer
Designing for B2B enterprise products - planning, pricing, and operational tools. Contributing to enterprise design systems for consistency and scalability across products.
ADPList Bengaluru
2024 - 2025Bengaluru Ambassador: City Lead
Leading the ADPList Bengaluru community - fostering connections, organizing events, workshops, and networking sessions to support professional growth for designers and creatives.
bigbasket
2021 - 2024Product Designer
Co-led the design system initiative, shaping scalable frameworks for consistency across the platform. Built a B2C design system from the ground up and designed core experiences for bbDaily, Customer Support, and key app modules.
Rocketium
2021Product Designer
Designed and refined creative automation tools to scale content production. Focused on UX, design systems, and Figma workflows for seamless designer-developer collaboration.
Tydy
2018 - 2021Designer (Experience & Motion)
Part of a small team, working across product features, client content design, branding, and marketing. Created a design system, improved navigation and filter experiences, and built the brand identity for Tydy's Digital Onboarding Summit.
Yellow Tree Academy
2016 - 2017Designer & Design Mentor
Designed for startups and agencies across Coimbatore - internal projects, websites, and promotion videos. Also mentored students on web design, branding, and typography.
DECODE DESIGN SYSTEMS
Systems thinking, made practical - together.
A community-driven ecosystem to help people understand, build, and scale design systems - through conversation, tooling, experimentation, workshops, and real-world practice.
Open Hours
Casual drop-in sessions for live feedback and shared challenges.
The heartbeat that keeps the community connected between events.
Conversations Beyond Systems
Podcast + roundtables on the people and culture behind systems.
Humanizes design systems beyond components.
The Making & Breaking
Live showcases unpacking how systems are built, tested, reimagined.
Makes system-building transparent; the toolmaker mindset in action.
Breaking Into Systems
Hands-on workshops for first/next steps into design systems.
The entry point - UI thinking to system thinking.
Systems Academy
Advanced cohort programs on governance, multi-brand scale, leadership.
Creates mid-senior system leaders.
The Gathering
The flagship in-person event for practitioners and makers.
Shapes the cultural identity of the ecosystem.
AWARDS & HONORS
Recognized and honored.
Industry awards, community honors, and the milestones that mark the journey.
ADPList BeMore 2024 - Annual Conference Speaker
ADPList · Honor · 2024
Workshop at NID Bangalore
National Institute of Design · Honor · 2026
Decode Design Community
Community · Recognition · 2023
SPEAKING & MENTORING
On stages, in workshops, and giving back.
Hands-on sessions and talks on design systems, tooling, and design careers. I learn as much as I teach.
Impact in numbers
Mentoring platforms
I've spent a lot of my personal time mentoring designers - helping people find their footing in design systems, career paths, and portfolios.
IN THE COMMUNITY
When I'm not building systems, I'm usually in a room full of people who do.
A running log of meetups and conferences I show up to. Always learning, always connecting.
Friends of Figma Meetup
Bengaluru · 2026
Okta x FoF Panel
Bengaluru · 2026
Design Systems Talk
Bengaluru · 2026
Atlassian Design India
Bengaluru · 2025
DesignUp Conference
Bengaluru · 2025
Cloudle Meetup
Bengaluru · 2024
Flipkart Design DNA
Bengaluru · 2025
Community Gathering
Bengaluru · 2025
Networking Evening
Bengaluru · 2024
WRITING & BLOGS
Writing, sharing, thinking out loud.
Design thinking, tooling breakdowns, and the occasional rant about spacing - published on Medium and shared across Instagram.
CONSULTING
Need help with your design system?
I work with teams on token architecture, multi-brand theming, governance, adoption strategy, and design-dev alignment. Whether you're starting from scratch or scaling what you have - I can help you get there faster.
Token Architecture
Structure, transform, and scale your design tokens across brands, themes, and platforms.
System Governance
Frameworks for contribution, versioning, and decision-making that actually stick.
Adoption & Coverage
Measurement, migration strategies, and workflows that get teams using the system.
Multi-brand Theming
One system, many brands. Scalable theming that doesn't break when you add the next one.
Design-Dev Alignment
Bridge the gap between design intent and engineering reality - components, tokens, and handoff.
AI & Tooling
Integrate AI into your design system workflows - from code generation to documentation.
BEYOND WORK
Still mostly thinking about tokens.
Make things - and teach the making.
Off the clock you'll find me building small tools, mentoring, hosting Decode Design Systems, and sketching systems no one asked for yet. I'm a big believer in paying it forward - I wouldn't be here without the people who took a chance on me.
Based in Bangalore. Designing since 2018 - print to product to systems. Still going.
Decode, in the room.
Mentoring - keeps me honest.
A whiteboard, mid-argument.
SAY HI
Let's build something that scales.
Into design systems, tooling, or building things that stick? I'd love to chat.