How Design Systems can fuel innovation, cut costs and get you to market quicker.
As a passionate User Experience (UX) and advocate for design systems, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power a well-implemented design system can have on both the creative process and business outcomes.
In this article, I'll take you on a journey through the world of design systems, from their fundamental concepts to the impressive return on investment they bring. Whether you're new to the concept or looking to reignite your organisation's commitment to UX, this guide will provide valuable insights.
What is a Design System then…
For those new to the concept, a Design System is like a set of building blocks. It includes reusable parts, often called components, rules, and validated designs that come together to ensure all your company's digital products and services look and feel the same way. Picture it as an organised toolbox that gives designers and developers the power to create consistency throughout your organisation by using these building blocks over and over again.
What a design system conceptually could look like
Moving through the phases of creating a Design System
Research and Discovery: A successful design system starts with deeply understanding the organisation's brand, users, and existing design assets. This phase involves thorough research and analysis to identify common design patterns and user pain points.
Component Definition: Once the research is complete, it's time to define the components that will make up the design system. These components could range from basic buttons and typography to more complex elements like address-capturing forms. Consider at what level you want to uniquely identify assets from reuse and define a naming convention that allows you to track maturity and reuse.
Design and Documentation: With the components defined, designers create the visual guidelines for each element. This includes specifying colours, typography, spacing, and behaviour. Documentation is crucial as it ensures that anyone working on the design system understands how to correctly use and implement the components. A top tip here is also to consider capturing reuse as a measurement.
Development and Testing: The development team turns the design guidelines into functional code. Rigorous testing ensures the components work seamlessly across various platforms and devices.
Implementation and Adoption: This is the phase where the design system is rolled out to various product teams. Training and support are provided to ensure a smooth transition, and teams start using the components in their projects, and as they do, you should be measuring it.
Iterate and Improve: A design system is a living entity that evolves over time. Regular updates and refinements based on user feedback and emerging design trends keep the system relevant and effective.
So what are some key benefits to investing in a Design System for your organisation?
Consistency and Brand Identity: A design system guarantees a consistent brand image across all touchpoints, fostering recognition and trust among users. Each component undergoes a meticulous approval process, ensuring this uniformity is established right from the start.
Time and Cost Savings: With predefined components, standards and guidelines, designers and developers spend less time reinventing the wheel. This leads to faster project timelines and reduced development costs. Consider the multitude of instances where address capturing is needed across your organisation. Think about the varied approaches taken each time and the significant time invested in designing and developing these components. Now, envision the efficiency if address capturing was sourced from a Design System – that has already been approved for reuse.
Scalability: As your organisation grows, a design system ensures that new products or features align seamlessly with the existing design language, allowing for consistent expansion without losing coherence.
User-Centred Design: By addressing common user pain points and optimising components like address-capturing forms, the user experience is enhanced, increasing user satisfaction and completion rates. This user-centric approach lies at the core of the Design System's strategy.
Innovation and Creativity: Designers can shift their focus from repetitive tasks to innovative design solutions that add value to the user experience. Freed from the constraints of repetitive design, creativity thrives, allowing your team to concentrate on crafting memorable and impactful digital experiences.
“One notable ROI example comes from Salesforce, who in 2015 started to promote their “Lightning Design System”. Over a 3-year period, they reported that they saved more than $2.5 million by reducing support handling time, saved $1.1 million by avoiding documentation time, and increased customer satisfaction by 8.5% with 475% ROI on this investment...”
So, in rounding out this post…
In a world where user experience can make or break a business, a well-crafted design system emerges as a strategic asset, as Salesforce shows.
The ability to create consistent, user-friendly interfaces while fostering innovation is a game-changer. By investing in a design system, businesses set the stage for long-term success, empowering your teams to focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional experiences that leave a lasting impact.
So, if you're ready to elevate your organisation's design and user experience, it's time to embrace the power of a design system. Unleash your creativity, streamline your processes, and watch as your ROI soars to new heights. The world of design systems is waiting – are you ready to transform?
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