Have you ever used a website or an app and wondered “Hmm, this is…odd”
You couldn’t put a finger on it but you knew that something was not quite right.
In some cases, you may have noticed things like seemingly incorrect placement of objects e.g. the search bar was on the left in the first page but on the right in the second page. Or that the same button looks a little different on both pages.
As a product designer, creating a consistent and cohesive design is essential for building a strong brand identity and delivering a seamless user experience. However, as the complexity of digital products continues to increase, it can be challenging to maintain consistency across multiple platforms and devices.
That’s where design systems come in.
Design system? What the heck is that?
What is a design system?
A design system typically includes a variety of elements, such as typography, color palettes, iconography, UI components, and more.
Simply put, a design system is a set of guidelines and design elements that are used consistently throughout a product.
Think of it like a recipe for a designer. Just like a chef follows a recipe to make a consistent dish, a designer can use a design system to make sure a product looks and feels consistent across all screens and interactions.
But doesn’t a design system stifle creativity?
You are probably thinking that with all these guidelines and rules, your design might start to look generic. I see the concern but if you truly understand the power of a design system, you might start to see how this is necessarily not the case.
A design system is not meant to be a straightjacket for designers, but rather a tool to help them create better, more consistent designs. It allows designers to focus on the more important aspects of the product, such as solving user problems and creating an enjoyable user experience.
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The advantages of using a design system
By the end of this post, I hope to convince you that you should use a design system, haha. Seriously, they offer numerous advantages for designers and organizations and here are some reasons why:
Consistency and Cohesion
One of the primary benefits of using a design system is that it helps ensure consistency and cohesion across all products and platforms. By defining a unified design language, designers can ensure that every element of a product is visually and interactively consistent, regardless of the platform or device on which it is used. This creates a sense of familiarity and trust with users, improving the overall user experience.
Faster and More Efficient Design
Design systems can also help designers work more efficiently by providing pre-designed and tested components and guidelines. This reduces the time and effort required to design each element of a product from scratch and allows designers to focus on more complex design tasks. Additionally, because design systems are reusable, designers can easily replicate and modify existing components to create new products or features, speeding up the design process.
Better Collaboration
Design systems can also help improve collaboration between designers and other stakeholders in the design process, such as developers and product managers. By providing a shared language and set of guidelines, everyone involved in the design process can ensure that they are working towards the same goals and vision. This can reduce misunderstandings and disagreements, leading to more effective collaboration and better results.
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Increased Scalability
As products and organizations grow, it can be challenging to maintain consistency and coherence across multiple products and platforms. Design systems help address this challenge by providing a scalable and flexible approach to design. By defining a set of rules and components that can be easily adapted and modified, design systems can accommodate the changing needs and requirements of an organization, without sacrificing consistency or coherence.
Cost Savings
Using a design system can also result in cost savings for organizations. By reducing the time and effort required to design and develop products, design systems can help reduce development costs and speed up time-to-market. Additionally, by reducing the need for custom design work, organizations can save on design and development costs over time, resulting in a more cost-effective design process.
How to create a design system
Creating a design system requires a thoughtful and comprehensive approach that takes into account the specific needs and goals of the organization. Here are some steps to follow when creating a design system:
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Define Your Design Principles
Start by defining your design principles. These principles should guide all aspects of your design system, from typography and color palettes to UI components and layout. They should be specific to your organization and should reflect your unique brand identity and values.
Define Your Components
Next, define your components. These should include UI elements such as buttons, forms, and icons, as well as more complex design elements such as charts and graphs. Define each component in detail, including its purpose, behavior, and appearance.
Create a Style Guide
As an existing brand, you may already have a style guide. As the name suggests, style guides should include guidelines for typography, color palettes, iconography, and more. They should provide specific rules for how each component should be used and should be easily accessible to all members of your team.
Test and Iterate
Testing is often not given the importance it deserves. However, you need to test your design system thoroughly and iterate as needed. Solicit feedback from stakeholders and users and make adjustments as necessary. Continuously test and refine your design system to ensure that it is meeting your organization’s needs and goals.
CONCLUSION
Design systems provide a comprehensive and scalable approach to design that can help organizations maintain consistency and coherence across multiple products and platforms. By defining a unified design language and providing pre-designed components and guidelines, designers can work more efficiently, collaborate more effectively, and create products that are visually and interactively consistent.
Every designer should embrace the power of design systems and make them an essential part of their design process.