TLDR; A design system helps developers and designers (and any other stakeholders) to speak the same language in order to be more aligned and work better together.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, collaboration between developers, designers, and other stakeholders is essential to creating cohesive, high-quality products. One tool that ensures this collaboration happens smoothly is the design system. But what exactly is a design system, and how can it help everyone stay aligned while working efficiently?
Design Systems are a powerful tool that helps us build software better and faster.
When creating websites or software, we rely on teams of extraordinarily talented people. As technology continues to advance, the remit and challenges of these teams grow, producing bigger and better results.
Making sure that the end-to-end process remains powerful and efficient has never been more crucial to ensuring speed and accuracy in our delivery. One of the most effective ways to ‘join the dots’ between teams is through the implementation of design systems.
But how exactly do they benefit us? Who owns them? And how do they avoid creating friction?
Do the designers tell the developers what to do? Do the developers dictate what the limitations are? Do the marketing team jump in and declare what colour buttons must be? Spoiler: Nope, we’re all in it together!
Let’s start with what a design system actually is, and what it does.
In the simplest term, a design system is a ‘language’ that everyone can speak to discuss what the UI (User Interface) of an application or website looks and behaves like.
A design system is a set of standards to manage design at scale by reducing redundancy while creating a shared language and visual consistency across different pages and channels. (reference: Design Systems 101 — NNGroup)
I think of it as a bit like building a ‘lego house’ with a friend.
The lego house analogy
George (the designer) might start designing the house, they sketch a pink house with a white picket fence and a cat at the window. The house is small and cosy with an unusual black roof.
So they tell Jody (the builder) what they want, they have sketched it out and talk with their friend about the idea, everyone is happy and the builder starts building.
Long story short; the sketch is great, the lego house is great. But they don’t match.
In reality the sketch isn’t detailed enough to properly explain which sized bricks are needed in each space, it didn’t mention the windows were transparent, and the builder couldn’t create cats with the tools provided (lego) so they used a flower instead.
What went wrong?
Why didn’t the designer give more info?
Why didn’t the builder ask more questions?
Because everyone assumed they knew what was needed, they did what they thought best with the tools available and they didn’t think to check or ask because they just got on with it.
The end result? It wasn’t bad, but not quite right….
What could we have done better in this example? Well if the designer knew exactly what tools were available, they could have used that in their design before they started drawing, if the developer knew there was going to be a cat in the requirements, they could have discussed how necessary it was to the end goal, and found out if there was any way to buy a lego cat and how much it would cost them.
Essentially, if everyone starts with the same information, the same goals, the same shade of red, the same sized lego bricks, we are starting with a plan in place to succeed that speeds up the process and gives us better results in the end.
So, who is a design system for?
If you work in any kind of digital product development you will notice that sometimes it’s a bit like this when we build software/websites. Obviously building a lego house is a massive simplification of what happens when we build digital products, but essentially we have two (and usually much more than two) sets of people with goals, tools, and ideas who need to communicate with each other to get the job done.
Traditionally, developers focus on functionality, performance, and technical feasibility, while designers prioritise aesthetics, user experience, and creativity. These differing priorities, busy workloads, and lack of awareness of other peoples constraints can lead to miscommunication and conflicts.
Design systems are for everyone who is involved in developing a digital product, to help them align and communicate throughout the process.
Why is a design system is important?
Design systems will serve as a common language that aligns both teams, providing a shared framework that guides project execution. By establishing standardised visual and interaction patterns up front, design systems help developers and designers work together more harmoniously, reducing friction, ambiguity and fostering a unified vision.
Okay, how do we get started with creating a design system?
So it all sounds simple, right?
Not always. The biggest hurdle in creating a design system that helps all stakeholders lies in knowing what you want to achieve. It is likely that there are already designs created, code published and marketing materials being measured for their effectiveness.
Not you? If this hurdle doesn’t sound like one you have, then you are lucky! You are at the beginning, and have a blank slate, but take heed of what you will need to do to understand how you can avoid the pitfalls of having divergent design languages as your system grows.
Even if you have existing systems in place, the good news is that it’s all fixable, but it requires you to take a step back and perform an audit to find out what means the most to you, what you have that is great, good and damn right ugly. But the only way you will achieve this is collaboration.
The main thing to do right now is to sit down with a key group of people and lay out everything you have so far, and figure out how you can prepare to go forwards together.
Design Systems are THE pathway to collaboration
Design systems offer a pathway to join the dots, not just between developers and designers, but across entire teams. They act as a single source of truth, ensuring that every aspect of the design and development process is aligned and cohesive. This unified approach fosters consistency in the user experience, no matter how many hands touch the project.
However, building a design system isn’t just about creating a library of reusable components. It’s about fostering a collaborative culture. Regular check-ins, open communication, and a shared understanding of the project goals are key to success.
Having a flexible Design System is key to success
The beauty of a design system lies in its flexibility. It’s not a rigid set of rules but a living document that evolves as the team learns and grows. By incorporating feedback and iterating on the system, it remains relevant and useful, serving as a foundation for innovation rather than a constraint.
If a design system is going to be truly effective, it must be embraced by anyone who works with the product. This means providing training, offering support, and making sure everyone understands the value it brings. It’s a collective effort that, when done right, can significantly enhance productivity and creativity.
How to ensure your Design System succeeds
So, how do you ensure your design system is a success? Start by setting clear goals. What problems are you trying to solve? What are the priorities of your team? Once these are defined, you can begin building a system that not only meets these needs but also empowers your team to deliver their best work.
In conclusion, design systems bridge the gap between developers and designers by offering a shared language and framework for collaboration. They promote consistency, reduce friction, and ultimately lead to better, more cohesive products. By investing the time to create and maintain a robust design system, teams can work together more effectively, turning potential conflicts into opportunities for innovation.
Want to find out more about how a design system can help you make your process better? Schedule a free consultation session with us.
Coming up next: What is a design system? The nuts and bolts that keep collaboration together.
