Post-Acquisition UI Migration: Aligning Two Design Systems into One Seamless Experience

Design system integration, platform migration, cross-functional collaboration

^Scope

After Qwak’s acquisition by JFrog, our MLOps platform needed to transition from a standalone product into a fully integrated part of JFrog’s tech ecosystem.

My role was to lead the UI migration - ensuring we maintained Qwak’s core user experience while aligning with JFrog’s infrastructure, design system, and product vision.

This work required system-level thinking, precise execution, and close coordination across design, product, and engineering.

^Challenge
Merging two design systems is never just visual - it’s structural. We needed to:

• Preserve what made Qwak’s UX effective
  
• Avoid disrupting workflows for existing users
  
• Seamlessly integrate with JFrog’s broader ecosystem
  

All while navigating platform differences and tight timelines.

Design System Mapping & Strategy
I began by auditing both Qwak’s and JFrog’s design systems — mapping components, identifying overlaps, and spotting gaps.

I created a set of decision rules:

• Reuse existing JFrog components when a match existed
  
• Adapt Qwak components to fit JFrog’s styling and patterns
  
• Redesign when neither systems offered a viable solution
  

This framework ensured a consistent, scalable approach throughout the migration.

Collaborating for Edge Cases
For complex components and edge cases, I worked closely with JFrog’s design system team to propose solutions that respected both the system's standards and our product's unique needs.

This collaboration helped shape new guidelines that future product teams could benefit from - extending the design system in meaningful ways.

^Outcome
The result was a seamless UI migration that preserved Qwak’s core workflows while visually and structurally aligning with JFrog’s platform.

• Created a unified, cohesive user experience
  
• Reduced engineering complexity by using shared components
  
• Built design bridges for future integrations across teams

^Reflection
This project taught me how to:

• Balance consistency with usability
  
• Collaborate deeply with cross-functional partners to solve structural UX challenges
  
• Document design decisions in a way that supports long-term system evolution