Summary
Designers need to work with developers. One of the core ways they have learned to do this is by taking something from the designer’s playbook—pattern languages—and mapping that against one of the chief learnings from contemporary engineering: componentization. By using design systems and associated object based documentation systems, design leaders have helped to reshape the designer/developer universe and improve operations within the software development lifecycle. Facilitated by Dave Malouf.
Key Insights
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Governance is crucial for the effectiveness and adoption of design systems.
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Balancing control and community contribution leads to better design system outcomes.
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Clear contribution guidelines foster user buy-in and system relevance.
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Usability and accessibility are central to the integrity of design systems.
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Co-creation encourages alignment and better usage of design systems across teams.
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Testing design components in real scenarios helps identify potential issues early on.
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Operationalizing design systems requires rigorous methodologies, including agile practices.
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Design systems should minimize constraints on creativity while offering essential guidance.
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Documentation should be clear, focusing on the user’s experience and needs.
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Engaging with product teams is vital to ensure that design systems solve real user problems.
Notable Quotes
"We want to establish clear ownership around components while recognizing that a static design system loses relevance quickly."
"Approaching governance from a rules-based perspective reduces buy-in."
"Tools, not rules, is our mantra at GE; make it easier for people to do their jobs."
"We do workshops with designers to get co-creation happening in the design system."
"For every component, we start with its purpose to ensure alignment with user needs."
"Our design system is meant to enable designers and developers to focus on solving core problems."
"Good design systems don’t just document rules but foster collaboration."
"Constraints are a key element to creativity; they focus our design practice."
"Break your components; stress test them to see where they fail in real life."
"Design systems should allow you to explore ideas in a sketch format without jumping to high fidelity prototypes."
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