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Western Today recently chatted with Kessa Volland, assistant director of Marketing at Western Washington University, to talk about Western’s Design System as part of the new "How-To Tuesday" series of articles this quarter that will help campus partners be aware of, and more easily use, tools, guides and resources on campus.

Western Today: What is a Design System?

Kessa Volland: “A design system is a broad term used to describe the resources, tools, components, and standards for an organization’s brand and identity.”

WT: Why would folks need to use the Design System?

KV: “Whether you are working on an event flyer for a campus speaker, need help creating a branded and accessible email signature, or wondering about when to collect a release form for a photograph, the system is in place to answer your branding, marketing and accessibility questions. When the work we produce looks cohesive and follows the same rules and guides, it boosts the overall profile of the university and allows us to talk with a more unified voice.

Western’s Design system has information for campus marketers, folks who manage Western websites, writers, social media administrators, and anyone with questions about how their area fits the university brand."

WT: How does the Design System support Western’s marketing and accessibility efforts?

KV: “Creating a centralized, digital system that houses Western’s branding components, guides, and accessibility information assures that information stays current, and that everyone is operating with access to the same standards.”

WT: What are some of the most commonly asked branding questions answered on the Design System website?

KV: “How to access the fonts for university projects. The digital version of brand colors for the web. Downloadable logos. Best practices with regard to social media and web accessibility… honestly, we’re adding new guides and answers to the system all the time.”

WT: How can developers and content creators on campus access the Design System?

KV: “It’s super easy, just go to .”