Summary
In this engaging talk, the speaker shares insights from his decade-long experience running a UX firm and consulting with major companies like IBM, Cisco, and Marriott. Beginning with a recount of a pivotal meeting where he was tasked with creating a design system for a range of client products, the speaker emphasizes the need for cohesive design systems rather than standalone component libraries. He illustrates the importance of understanding user experience, integrating design language, and capturing diverse elements like motion, imagery, and content strategy, while comparing Google’s material design to his methodologies. The speaker explores the iterative nature of design systems, advocating for teamwork, stakeholder engagement, and prioritization exercises to ensure that design systems effectively enhance the customer experience over time, rather than being stagnant tools. Finally, he motivates the audience to view design systems as ongoing products that require support, collaboration, and alignment across various organizational levels, stressing that successful design systems lead to efficiency, improved collaboration, and ultimately, a better user experience.
Key Insights
-
•
Design systems should integrate multiple product lines for cohesive user experiences.
-
•
The success of a design system relies on commitment from leadership and stakeholders.
-
•
Design language encompasses more than just visual aspects; it includes motion and content strategy.
-
•
User-centric design systems improve efficiency and collaboration across teams.
-
•
Prioritization exercises are crucial for determining what components to include in a design system.
-
•
Design systems can evolve from component libraries into comprehensive frameworks.
-
•
Cross-functional team collaboration enhances the effectiveness of design systems.
-
•
Feedback loops with end-users improve design system relevance and usability.
-
•
Design systems must adapt to accommodate various platforms and evolving technologies.
-
•
Continuous iteration post-launch is essential to keep a design system impactful.
Notable Quotes
"I've learned a lot of lessons that I want to share around the tooling of a design system."
"I want a system for all that, not just a component library for the account home."
"From a visual style perspective, Google's done a damn good job."
"Cohesiveness isn’t just enough; it requires context for a design language to be effective."
"Visual style isn’t the only thing that makes something feel cohesive."
"A design system isn’t done when the living style guide gets launched, it's done when it improves customer experience."
"The mission of the design system is to achieve efficiency, collaboration, and quality."
"Design systems should prioritize elements that will create the most impact at launch."
"Ensure that the people serving the design system possess the necessary skills to represent its parts."
"Treat your design system like a product that needs endorsement from the top."
More Videos
"Never underestimate your ability to change the world through design."
John MaedaMaking Sense of Enterprise UX
June 9, 2016
"These thinking styles allow us to start filling in gaps for people who feel unsupported."
Indi YoungThinking styles: Mend hidden cracks in your market
January 8, 2025
"Collaboration between data teams and design teams can create delightful experiences for customers."
Chris ChapoData Science and Design: A Tale of Two Tribes
May 13, 2015
"Time management in collaboration is more than just meeting deadlines."
Elizabeth ChurchillExploring Cadence: You, Your Team, and Your Enterprise
June 8, 2017
"We really encourage wherever you are because those are great connecting points."
Rusha SopariwalaRemote, Together: Craft and Collaboration Across Disciplines, Borders, Time Zones, and a Design Org of 170+
June 9, 2022
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022
"Every once in a while, it's okay to turn your video off."
Ariba JahanTeam Resiliency Through a Pandemic
January 8, 2024
"We have more demand for design work than capacity right now, which is a good problem to have."
Julie Gitlin Esther RaiceDesign as an Agent of Digital Transformation at JPMC
June 9, 2021
"We should help our users follow a process and understand what could be useful for us and why."
Matteo GrattonCan Data and Ethics Live Together?
October 1, 2021
