Design Systems: Key Concepts and Benefits

Definition

• A design system is a collection of reusable elements and guidelines for designing and developing products according to set standards.
• Includes guidelines on brand identity, components, color palettes, typography, and more.

Components of Design Systems

• Visual Styles:
  • Defines styles for typography, color palettes, and iconography.
  • Ensures consistent brand expression and improved user experience.
• Guidelines:
  • Includes design principles, editorial, and implementation guidelines.
  • Helps maintain consistency in product design.
• UI Patterns:
  • Comprise text, color, icons, components (e.g., buttons, form labels), modules (e.g., headers), and templates (e.g., page layouts).
• Supporting Code for Developers:
  • Includes code to implement design elements, aiding developer accuracy.

Benefits of Design Systems

• Consistency:
  • Reduced inconsistencies in design and brand representation.
  • Example: A specific orange color and font for buttons in a dog-walking app.
• Reinforces Brand Identity:
  • Consistent visual design across products (e.g., Google's use of specific colors and fonts).
• Scalability:
  • Supports growth and evolution of product design, useful for startups.
  • Easier onboarding of new designers.
• Efficiency:
  • Saves time and money through uniform design application.
• Improved Collaboration:
  • Aligns design and development teams from the start, facilitating smoother handoffs.

Design Systems in Practice

• Larger companies may have established design systems; smaller companies may involve creating new systems.
• Example systems:
  • Material Design by Google:
    • Publicly available, with private versions for internal use.
    • Provides resources like icons and type scales.
  • Polaris by Shopify:
    • Includes guidelines for internationalization, content, and user experience.

Working with Design Systems

• Importance for UX designers to understand and efficiently use design systems.
• Design systems can be customized to fit brand needs or used as-is.
• Sticker Sheets:
  • Collections of elements and components often used in designs.
  • Facilitate quick design assembly and consistency.

Tools and Resources

• Material Design Resources:
  • Available at material.io; includes guides on navigation, color, typography, and more.
  • Components like buttons and app bars can be downloaded for integration into designs.
• Color Tools:
  • Allows experimentation with color combinations respecting accessibility guidelines.

Practical Application

• Figma:
  • Use design system UI kits for creating mockups.
  • Customize elements like navigation bars and buttons to fit specific design needs.

Conclusion

• Design systems are crucial for ensuring consistency, efficiency, and collaboration in design processes.
• UX designers should leverage design systems to enhance and streamline their work.