Technology leaders such as Apple, IMB, Google, and Atlassian rely on design systems to codify and scale design efforts across entire organizations. However, it’s important to note that design systems are not exclusive to well-known brands; in fact, a study conducted by Forrester in 2020 revealed that 65% of the companies surveyed have integrated design systems into their workflows.

What is a design system?

A design system is a comprehensive collection of design guidelines, principles, components, and assets that are created and maintained to ensure consistency and cohesion in the visual and user interface design of a product or brand. It serves as a centralized resource that helps design and development teams create a unified and coherent user experience across various platforms and devices.

A design system consists of:

• Pattern library
• Design tokens
• Components
• Brand guidelines
• Documentation

Why is having a design system important?

A design system provides numerous benefits to organizations, design and development teams, and end users. Here are some key reasons why having a design system is essential:

• Consistency: Design systems ensure a consistent and cohesive look and feel across a product or brand. This consistency builds trust with users and creates a recognizable and professional identity.
• Efficiency: Design systems save time and resources by providing pre-defined design components and guidelines. Designers and developers can reuse established elements, reducing the need to recreate design assets from scratch.
• Productivity: With reusable components and clear guidelines, design and development teams can work more efficiently, reducing the time required for decision-making and development iterations.
• Scalability: Design systems allow for easy scaling as a product or brand grows. New features, pages, or products can be created while maintaining a consistent design, saving time and effort.
• Improved Collaboration: Design systems promote collaboration between designers and developers. By speaking a common design language and using shared components and guidelines, teams can work together more effectively.
• Accessibility: Design systems often include accessibility guidelines, ensuring that products are designed and built with inclusivity in mind, making them usable by a broader range of people.
• User Experience: A well-designed system leads to a better user experience. Consistency and familiarity make it easier for users to navigate and interact with a product or brand.
• Brand Identity: Design systems help maintain a strong and coherent brand identity. This is crucial for branding and marketing efforts, as it reinforces brand recognition and loyalty.
• Rapid Prototyping: Design systems facilitate quick prototyping and testing, as designers can focus on the overall experience and functionality, knowing that the visual design is consistent.
• Adaptability: Design systems can be updated to accommodate changes in design trends, new technology, or user feedback, allowing products and brands to evolve without losing their core identity.
• Documentation: Clear and detailed documentation explaining how to use the design system’s components and guidelines. This is crucial for ensuring that designers and developers can easily implement the system.
• Version Control: A system for managing changes and updates to the design system to ensure that all team members are using the most current version.
• Cost Savings: By reducing design and development redundancy, design systems can save money in the long run, making projects more cost-effective.
• Maintainability: A well-maintained design system ensures that design elements are updated consistently, reducing the risk of visual and functional inconsistencies.

Examples of Design systems:

• https://atlassian.design/
• https://developer.apple.com/design/
• https://m3.material.io/

Conclusion

Design systems are a cost-effective solution for organizations, as they formalize design choices that can be easily replicated on a larger scale. There are specific ways in which these systems expedite the design and development processes, and maximize the benefits of your design system. For businesses, it streamlines workflows, ensures consistency, enhances efficiency and productivity, reduces costs, and contributes to increased ROI and revenue. Furthermore, it forms the foundation for the successful execution of marketing initiatives and overall brand development.

However, there are challenges associated with the implementation of a design system. It requires a commitment to making it a top priority, comprehensive planning, active involvement of all departments across various domains, and thorough testing to meet current standards. Additionally, it’s essential to recognize that this is an ongoing project that will continually need fine-tuning, regular maintenance, governance, and the addition of new essential elements and features to stay current and aligned with industry trends.

In the end, the effort is well worth it. Many companies that have established their brand design systems report accelerated growth and a substantial increase in revenue due to embracing this concept.

About the Author: Ashish is a Lead Designer at Mantra Labs. He helps clients make better decisions on their digital products with his expertise in UI/UX design.

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