Sep 8, 2024

A Design System ≠ a UI Kit. It Is a Product.

A Design System ≠ a UI Kit. It Is a Product.

design system is a product
design system is a product
design system is a product

You don’t have to start from scratch to make an impact on a design system and viewing it solely as a "UI kit" is a limiting perspective. A design system is a product. Like any other product it evolves with input from users — both internal (feature teams) and external (customers).

Improvements come in various forms:
  • Consolidating buried components into a library

  • Introducing new components

  • Enhancing efficiency of existing components

  • Making accessibility improvements

  • Enhancing documentation and organization

It also involves:
  • Adapting processes within team structures

  • Developing adoption strategies

  • Socializing changes and increasing visibility

  • Coordinating feature team contributions

  • Collaborating with engineering on reviews and refinement

  • Providing support through training and resources

  • Responding to user feedback

  • Tracking progress and measuring impact

  • Developing roadmaps for system initiatives

While an existing design system may seem complete, look for signals and gathering insights reveals potential for useful change. Embracing a product mindset creates a thriving design system to better support teams and makes better user experiences.

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