In the vast digital world we live in, we are affected by a wide range of websites and applications, each with its own interface and user experience. However, it is impossible to ignore a striking difference between the digital products that captivate us and those to which we are indifferent: the implementation of a visual and behavioral ecosystem known as a design system (DS).
What exactly is a design system, and why does it play such a crucial role in creating truly impactful digital products?
A DS is not just a set of design guidelines or visual component libraries – it is the backbone of any successful digital experience.
Think of a design system as the architect behind a well-designed city, where every street, square, and building fits perfectly together to create a harmonious experience. It is also the foundation on which every layout element is built, ensuring that every interaction is usable and accessible.
Design System, why?
Users expect a useful, valuable, and engaging experience. However, without a design system, interface elements can vary widely in style, behavior, and even terminology, leaving users confused and frustrated. A design system establishes clear guidelines that direct the appearance and behavior of all components: consistency and cohesion, time and effort savings, scalability, and collaboration.
Usability and Accessibility enhancements
UX consistency is not just an aesthetic matter; it plays a crucial role in usability and accessibility. Users familiar with the interface will have a more valuable experience, while the application of required accessibility standards guarantees that the product is usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities or limitations.
Importance of a Design System for team collaboration
A design system plays a vital role in collaboration between the teams involved in a project. It promotes effective communication and collaboration, reduces time spent on rework and ensures a coherent implementation of UX.
Furthermore, the ease of adjusting or changing components is key. For example, if the color palette or typography is updated, these changes can be easily applied across all relevant DS components. Minor adjustments or changes, like the color of a button or the spacing between elements, can be made immediately across all project layouts.
This flexibility and consistency not only facilitate maintenance and product evolution: they strengthen collaboration and alignment between teams.
Components and best practices
A design system comprises various elements working together to create a cohesive and efficient experience: typography, colors, iconography, interactions, sizing, animations, and transitions.
To guarantee the success of your DS, it is essential to follow good practices. Document, test, iterate, and involve all your stakeholders in the product’s development and maintenance.
UI Kits
For smaller projects and/or limited resources, UI kits offer a simpler alternative. A UI kit is a collection of pre-designed elements like buttons, icons, and other common elements that can be easily incorporated into a project to accelerate design and implementation processes.
While UI kits are less comprehensive and flexible than a full DS, they still provide significant benefits for smaller teams and projects.
UI Kit
UI Kits are built at a certain point in a project’s lifecycle. From that point onwards, as the projects scales, they become outdated. This is referred to as Design Debt.
Design System
As the project scales, the Design System is continuously updated. Once it is created, it is updated in parallel with technical development. This approach significantly reduces design debt and allows companies to save time and money.
Final thoughts
Now, you have a good idea of what a design system is and how it can benefit your business.
A single repository source for UX and front end allows greater control over multiple product versions and scalability.
A well-structured design system helps solve common project development issues. On the other hand, product teams are empowered to start new projects more quickly and easily. The design system contributes to creating an engaging and effective user experience.
Maintaining the design system is crucial to ensuring its longevity and effectiveness. At Xpand IT, we follow a flexible process for maintaining these ecosystems, starting with regular audits to assess the DS’s alignment with the brand’s evolution. We conduct in-depth analyses to ensure that visual elements remain consistent and cohesive across all platforms and touch points.
Additionally, we offer ongoing support to address any emerging design challenges or opportunities, such as a complete re-branding, for example.
Xpand IT’s UX unit has extensive experience creating design systems for projects of various complexity levels across multiple industries, not just only in large enterprises but also in SMEs.
If you’ve considered implementing a DS in your company but are struggling to define the starting point, our specialists can assist with your needs.
A Design System is a multi-faceted layer cake, and also operates as part of other layered systems within an organization.