Design System: Explained, Explored, and Evaluated
In recent years, the world of digital design has been booming! There are tons of apps and websites out there, and even more are being created all the time. These apps and websites can be complex, with hundreds or even thousands of different screens.
This raises a crucial question: “How can global businesses manage to design all this stuff efficiently, especially when they have so many employees working on different projects?” Here's the secret: they use something called “Design system”!
This blog post by Lollypop will explain the design system definition, the pros and cons of using it, and even show some examples from big brands, like Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
So, if you've ever wondered how companies keep their apps and websites looking consistent, you've come to the right place! Let's dive in!
What is a design system?
Design system is a library of components guided by a clear set of standards, principles, and design assets. These components can be used across different interfaces and channels, eliminating the need for repetitive design work and saving time and resources on each project.
History of design systems
The root of design systems can be traced back to the early days of graphic design and print media. Back then, style guides and typographic standards were the first steps towards establishing systematic design. As branding became increasingly important in the mid-20th century, the need for a consistent brand identity led to the creation of comprehensive brand guidelines.
With the digital revolution, these early design systems were translated from paper to pixels to keep pace with the sprawling web and the burgeoning app market. Tech giants like Apple in 1987, followed by Google, IBM, and Microsoft, became pioneers in this space. They developed comprehensive design languages that would dictate the look and feel of countless user interfaces.
Elements of a Design System
- Component Library: Reusable UI elements like buttons, menus, and input fields that ensure a consistent user interface .
- Pattern Library: Design system patterns for common user flows, such as sign-up, checkout, or content management.
- Brand Style Guide: Outlines the visual representation of a brand, including Logo variations and guidelines for usage, typography system, color schemes,...
- Brand Values: The core principles that define a brand's identity, culture, and purpose, which serve as a guiding light for all design decisions, ensuring consistency in how the brand is perceived across various touchpoints
- Design Principles : The fundamental ideas that shape the design process, ensuring functionality, aesthetics, and usability.
- Icon Library: A collection of reusable icons in various sizes and file formats to enhance usability and interface navigation.
- Content Guidelines: Rules for tone, style, and language of textual content, maintaining consistent and clear brand communication.
- Accessibility Guidelines: Guidelines to ensure that products are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities, by addressing aspects like color contrast, spacing, and interactive elements.
- Design Tokens: A shared language between design and engineering to communicate detailed information about building user interfaces. They represent design decisions, such as spacing, color, typography, object styles, animation, and other values, translated into structured data.
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