We've got the expertise you need. Here's the receipts.
6
years in design
4
full design systems, built and led
200+
components shipped, across startups and enterprise
9
product teams boosted
40+
documentation articles written
100+
tokens defined
What we build
Design foundations, built for the teams that have to live with them.
Figma Component Library
A branded, production-ready component library your designers can open on day one and actually use. Built to your visual identity, documented for handoff, and structured so it stays maintainable — not just pretty.
Design System Documentation
The part everyone skips and everyone needs. We write documentation that engineers actually reference — clear usage guidelines, component anatomy, do's and don'ts, and the decisions behind the decisions.
Library Customization
Already using Material UI, shadcn, or Chakra? We customize it to match your brand — so your product feels like yours, without rebuilding everything from scratch.
Coming soon
Code Components
Developer-ready code components that mirror your Figma library exactly. Design and engineering, finally speaking the same language.
Why it works
Most design systems don't fail because they're badly built. They fail because nobody uses them.
Deftly is built around one idea: a design system is only valuable if your whole team — designers and engineers — actually trusts it.
Adoption-first
We build for the people who have to use the system every day, not just the person who commissioned it. Every decision — component structure, documentation style, token naming — is made with your team's real workflow in mind.
Engineering-literate
With a background in computer engineering, Hiba doesn't just know what makes a component look good. She knows how engineers think about APIs, why certain docs get read and others don't, and how to build something that earns trust on both sides of the handoff.
Seen it from both sides
Startups and corporations run into design system problems for the same reasons, but in different shapes. Having worked across both, we bring the pattern recognition that only comes from watching these systems succeed — and fail — in the real world.
Built to outlast us
Our goal isn't dependency. It's a system your team can genuinely own, maintain, and grow after we're gone. For teams that want continued support post-launch, we offer ongoing partnership — but it's an option, not a requirement.
What people say
From the teams that know how we work, firsthand.
"[Hiba] combines great design & UX chops with an amazing attention to detail, plus an extremely self-starter 'get things done' mindset. I completely trust that she can drive any project or initiative to success, while also working to better the team around her."
Victor KovalevCofounder, ScaleGrowth.ai
"Hiba is more than a designer who makes things that look good — her process and ability to tame complexity through systems thinking ensures that her designs genuinely feel great to use. She sees patterns between things exceptionally well, and designs in a way that ensures users feel the best version of those relationships."
Reece JohnsonSenior Product Manager
"Hiba showed a high degree of ownership over her work and was able to lead up to improve the ways our team worked together... Hiba became a catalyst for our entire team's development and the success of a large project for our client Walmart."
Jared ClarkSenior Product Designer
"Hiba is a highly talented designer with a unique background in development and project management. This background equips her with a rare ability to deeply understand the needs of various roles, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams."
Kendall JohnsonPrincipal Product Designer
How it works
Simple process. Real results.
1
Discovery
We start by understanding your product, your brand, and your team's workflow. What do you have already? What's causing the most friction? What would make the biggest difference first?
2
Build
We get to work — designing and documenting your component library, customizing your tooling, and making sure everything is built to be handed off (not just shown off).
3
Handoff + Enablement
You get everything: the Figma files, the documentation, and a walkthrough for your team so they know how to use it and keep it maintained. We don't just drop files in a shared drive and disappear.
4
Optional
Ongoing Support
Some clients want a one-time build. Others want a partner to help maintain and evolve the system over time. We offer both.
Templates
Not ready to hire? Start with the framework.
The Design System Documentation Template is built for design teams that are tired of staring at a blank page when it's time to document their components. It gives you the structure, the prompts, and the formatting — so you can focus on the content, not the setup.
Built from the same documentation frameworks used across real design systems. Ready to use in Figma. Yours to keep and customize.
More templates coming soon — including component documentation kits for full design systems.
Built by someone who's been in the room.
Deftly Studio is led by [Hiba's name]. Before starting the studio, she worked inside both startups and established companies — which means she knows the difference between a design system that looks great in a presentation and one that a team of four will actually maintain eighteen months from now.
