EightShapes
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EightShapes

Design System Communications

Leveling up a design system’s multi-channel approach to messaging designers, developers and everyone else

Why Communications?

Outcomes

Part 1 of 3: Target Audiences

Part 2 of 3: Channels

Messaging Apps

Notifications

Published Content

Recurring Face-to-Face Meetings

Milestone Demos & Events

Other Random, Innovative Locations

Bathroom stalls

Part 3 of 3: Messages

List of potential messages, described later in the article.

Timing: Upcoming vs Announced

Routine Messages

*NEW RELEASE*
[system name] *v#.#.#* is now available, including:
* *NEW* [Feature name], including [feature details]
* *NEW* [Feature name], including [feature details]
* [Feature name] now includes [feature details]
* [Feature name] [feature details]
* Fixes that include [fix], [fix], and [fix]
Read release details at: [Release history URL]

Major Milestones & Campaigns

Diagram of a campaign that requires many communications over time
Diagram of a campaign that requires many communications over time

Organize Messages to See Patterns

Organizing messages across dimensions of regularity (routine, milestone) and timing (upcoming, announced)
Organizing messages across dimensions of regularity (routine, milestone) and timing (upcoming, announced)

Putting it Together: The Message Matrix

A message matrix relating problems, messages, target audiences, channels and frequency
Message matrix
Sample calls to action, such as Get Help or Request a Feature

Call to Action

Who Does the Communications Work?

Diagram of the proportion of capacity by team member each working on communications

Model 1: Balanced, Ad-Hoc Across the Team

Model 2: Concentrated on Leaders (or Others)

Communications Workshop Activities & Templates

Paper template for message matrix of routine iteration

The Routine Iteration

Paper template for message matrix of a major milestone

The Major Milestone

Paper template for message matrix of a PR crisis

The PR Crisis

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A collection of stories, studies, and deep thinking from EightShapes

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Nathan Curtis

Founded UX firm @eightshapes, contributing to the design systems field through consulting and workshops. VT & @uchicago grad.