About 15 years ago, the design and implementation of Design Systems was something that was rarely discussed, but for several years now it has become especially relevant, particularly in companies that have embraced digital transformation.
Today, no organization that attempts to offer innovative products at any scale can function for long without a Design System.
What is a Design System?
A design system is a living ecosystem with tools, people, and processes that work together to create harmony between products and platforms, increase trust and familiarity with users, and thus save the organization time and money.
In the software world, the "front-end" part of any website or digital product is where users and potential buyers first experience and understand the value of a product.
The main objective and value of a Design System is to enable clear interfaces, helping organizations manage the major challenges involved in creating cohesive and consistent digital experiences.
We can then say that a Design System is:
- A model for creating consistent customer experiences
- A product to build better products.
How is a Design System created?
It will depend on the needs of each organization. Each organization's journey toward a fully realized Design System will be organic and unique to its own culture and mission. Design systems can be highly customized to the organization.
Phases for the development of a Design System:
Phase 1: Imagine
For most companies, the first step toward a great design system is creating a great product. At this stage, it's about finding ways to solve user problems more effectively and efficiently than the competition.
Phase 2: Create
Once you have a winning product, the user experience can be broken down into components. These building blocks form the basis of the UI (User Interface), allowing you to reuse and implement them like Lego bricks when building new digital products. Once modularized, the components can be standardized and integrated into existing design and development workflows, reducing friction in their adoption and use. When modularization and standardization are achieved, you have a Design System in its infancy.
Phase 3: Scaling
In the final phase, a cross-functional design, product, and development team implements and scales the Design System to support other teams in creating new products and features.
The most successful companies scale their Design System holistically, considering critical dimensions such as the system's overall purpose, the talent and tools it requires, the processes and structures that link talent and tools, the organizational culture that the system fosters, and how it is implemented. Furthermore, the results are measurable.
Just as digital products evolve, so too must their Design System. Once other teams begin adopting the new system, processes must be created for its governance, version control, quality assurance, and so on. This ensures that our Design System is robust, fosters innovation, and is successful in the long term.
To learn more, you can read the full article:
Design System 101