3 myths about Design Systems just got busted!
The continuous development of digital products has made design a rather complex area in the sense that it utilizes knowledge from different professionals, not just designers but developers too.
If you have been involved in designing digital products and experiences then you know how these things work. Design is not just about aesthetics, but about functionality, great user experiences and about evolving the day-to-day lives of modern consumers. This means that often different teams are involved in designing and delivering seamless experiences across different products offered by a single organization. Often times these teams are hired individually and or are located in multiple countries.
As a result, there is a strong need for a tool that can be seen as a universal language that can be used between different teams and professionals and will ensure that the end products are created fast and are more importantly consistent.
Design Systems are not the only one tool that can help scale the digital design process but it is surely a promising one since it helps professionals keep a clear vision of what is essential in the design process and how to best serve each business's needs. And as with all fairly new and trendy tools and methodologies Design Systems have also been facing some false accusations.
See below 3 popular myths regarding Design Systems being busted:
Myth 1: Design Systems prevent creativity
This is one of the most common rumours regarding design systems. Every team that is trying to implement this tool in its processes has team members being sceptical about whether this system will prevent designers from experimenting with different styles and will make the task of designing merely a process of stacking different elements.
The reality is that through a design system, every change in a design can be inherited throughout the system making style updates an easy task! You will not need to wait for months to implement a new feature on your burger menu. It will be done almost automatically across all digital platforms and products.
Myth 2: Design Systems are limiting.
Each product is unique and sometimes what works for one product does not necessarily mean it will work for another. Thus, design systems are perceived as being too limiting and concern arises that it will not be able to cater to the needs of specific products.
Well, the reality is that designers often create custom solutions for individual areas instead of focusing on how to create solutions that can work effectively across the system.
Myth 3: Design Systems are set in stone.
There is this notion among professionals that once the design system is created then there is no room for change.
The reality is that this is indeed very far from the truth. Design Systems are like living organisms. They need constant improvements and maintenance as per request. The big plus here is that because the system is based upon reusable components the process of improvement can be fast and requiring minimum effort.
Further Reading Suggestions:
- Design System: What is it and who is it for?
- The undoubted benefits of Design Systems
- 7 quotes about Design Systems that will inspire you
