There has been a lot of discussions going on about design systems in the design industry for the past few years. If you are a web designer, the chances are high that you have already come across one or more articles talking about design systems.
There’s no doubt that design is rapidly becoming complex. Design processes call for proper cross-sectional collaboration between different teams participating in product creation.
Having a common design language makes it easy for teams to collaborate and work more effectively. This is the major reason why many organizations spend a lot of money on design systems.
The effectiveness of a design system can be determined by how well it works when it comes to achieving the purpose of the product.
What is a design system?
A design system can be described as one major source of truth that has all that the design teams require to realize and create a product.
Why do you need a design system?
The importance of a design system cannot be overemphasized. Its need goes hand in hand with the need for efficiency, scale, and design consistency.
Try to imagine a situation where your organization has been creating a product for several months. Chances are high that the different teams working on the product will cause many inconsistencies down the line. Such inconsistencies are often a result of miscommunication and unclear instructions.
Besides, creating a product on different platforms such as mobile, tablet or web can also add to the inconsistencies, leading to a disjointed user experience.
Benefits of a design system software
It is common for design teams to try and create solutions for non-existent problems. Others attempt creating design systems just because someone else is doing it. Here are a few benefits of having a design system software.
Product and company maturity
Every company has its own level of design maturity. Some organizations have a product that’s being used by thousands of users while others are just getting started. It is not always easy to create a design system from scratch.
As such, it is important to assess the needs of your business or organization and use that as an inspiration to create a design system. Otherwise, the whole design process might turn out as a waste of time and resources.
Interface audit and technology
Many organizations often choose to create a design system on an existing interface. There are several reasons why this approach is not the best. One of the reasons is that there are going to be inconsistencies in your design system.
Expressing the purpose of the product
This is another great way through which a design system helps in achieving the purpose of a product. The purpose is the main reason for the creation of a product – that’s why it should be the one to influence all the development and design decisions.
Bottom line
Despite the trends that exist in the design world, choosing the right design system is not a simple task. Many organizations are facing difficulties when it comes to implementing design systems for themselves.
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