Design System for Embedded Finance
Marqeta is a modern card-issuing platform that enables businesses to embed banking services into their consumer products. To support this strategic initiative, we needed a design system capable of adapting to multiple brands while maintaining consistency and usability. We were building the system in parallel with the product itself. As new features and requirements emerged, the design language had to evolve in real time. This meant designing components that could adapt to shifting needs, while still laying down the foundation for long-term scalability.
Role
Product designer
what I did
UX Pattern Research
Atomic Design
Design Token Schema
Design System for Embedded Finance
Marqeta is a modern card-issuing platform that enables businesses to embed banking services into their consumer products. To support this strategic initiative, we needed a design system capable of adapting to multiple brands while maintaining consistency and usability. We were building the system in parallel with the product itself. As new features and requirements emerged, the design language had to evolve in real time. This meant designing components that could adapt to shifting needs, while still laying down the foundation for long-term scalability.
Role
Product designer
what I did
UX Pattern Research
Atomic Design
Design Token Schema
The Vision
Build a design system that balanced flexibility for customer branding with a scalable, brand-agnostic foundation.
The Vision
Build a design system that balanced flexibility for customer branding with a scalable, brand-agnostic foundation.
Atomic Design
Built reusable components using atomic design principles, improving scalability and consistency across the product.
Atomic Design
Built reusable components using atomic design principles, improving scalability and consistency across the product.
Theming
Created a design token schema that streamlined system-wide theming and contextual updates, enabling brand customization for customers.
Theming
Created a design token schema that streamlined system-wide theming and contextual updates, enabling brand customization for customers.
In situ
Stress-tested various themes to ensure system could scale across different brands.
In situ
Stress-tested various themes to ensure system could scale across different brands.
Outcomes
By building a reusable component library backed by clear documentation, we accelerated development cycles while ensuring consistency across products. Engineers could implement UI elements faster, reducing iteration time and freeing teams to focus on higher-value work. A unified design language also minimized inconsistencies, creating a more cohesive user experience.
Accessibility was embedded from the start, with WCAG standards guiding the system’s foundation. This not only improved usability for a wider range of users but also reinforced Marqeta’s commitment to inclusivity. The result was a design system that streamlined workflows, reduced maintenance costs, and empowered customers with a more intuitive, customizable UI—ultimately strengthening Marqeta’s position in the embedded finance space.
50%
Boost in dev velocity
8+
Designers actively using
100+
Points of customization
Content
By building a reusable component library backed by clear documentation, we accelerated development cycles while ensuring consistency across products. Engineers could implement UI elements faster, reducing iteration time and freeing teams to focus on higher-value work. A unified design language also minimized inconsistencies, creating a more cohesive user experience.
Accessibility was embedded from the start, with WCAG standards guiding the system’s foundation. This not only improved usability for a wider range of users but also reinforced Marqeta’s commitment to inclusivity. The result was a design system that streamlined workflows, reduced maintenance costs, and empowered customers with a more intuitive, customizable UI—ultimately strengthening Marqeta’s position in the embedded finance space.
50%
Boost in dev velocity
8+
Designers actively using
100+
Points of customization
Outcomes
By building a reusable component library backed by clear documentation, we accelerated development cycles while ensuring consistency across products. Engineers could implement UI elements faster, reducing iteration time and freeing teams to focus on higher-value work. A unified design language also minimized inconsistencies, creating a more cohesive user experience.
Accessibility was embedded from the start, with WCAG standards guiding the system’s foundation. This not only improved usability for a wider range of users but also reinforced Marqeta’s commitment to inclusivity. The result was a design system that streamlined workflows, reduced maintenance costs, and empowered customers with a more intuitive, customizable UI—ultimately strengthening Marqeta’s position in the embedded finance space.
50%
Boost in dev velocity
8+
Designers actively using
100+
Points of customization