Design systems are smart tools for businesses to have a unified source of truth and adapt to user needs.
In fact, these systems can enable design teams to complete their work up to 34% faster!
They’re also great at enhancing development times, reducing costs and improving overall product quality.
What are the benefits of a Design System? How to estimate creating a Design System? Let’s explore all about it!
What is UX System Design?
To summarize, Design Systems are collections of reusable components, style guides, pattern libraries and design principles.
These components serve as a single source of truth to ensure consistency and seamless collaboration.
According to Figma, Design Systems include design patterns, styling guidelines and technical specifications.
They also enclose the design tokens and documentation that define a product's visual language.
Some practical elements are palettes, fonts, icons, texts and rules for placing design elements.
Design teams can use these systems to make design decisions for the entire Product Design ecosystem.
Why Use a UX Design System?
Design Systems can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration across cross-functional teams and accelerate time-to-market.
Establishing consistent visual elements with a Design System allows businesses to boost engagement and foster loyalty.
Further, Design Systems should include accessibility standards across all its components and guidelines, providing a basis for inclusivity.
By embracing standards such as WAGC, teams can create products that meet the needs of all users.
Lastly, Design Systems enable new designers to familiarize themselves with a project swiftly, improving efficiency and productivity and simplifying project scaling.
When to Use a Design System?
When implementing a Design System, teams should consider some challenges beforehand.
For example, these systems require ongoing maintenance, which can be difficult for small teams.
Moreover, resource allocation can be challenging because it may require significant investments involving time, budget and talent.
Yet, a Design System might not be required, or it could be done at a slighter scale, for small projects, such as landing pages.
In this context, you should consider the unique project's requirements to decide whether to use a Design System.
Here are a few benefits a Design System can provide:
- Smooth transitions between themes or platforms.
- Consistency across screens or devices.
- Standardized design assets and components.
- Not spending time clarifying concepts.
- Constant scalability with a rapid onboarding process.
How To Estimate Creating a Design System?
The first step is measuring the time needed to create a Design System.
This measurement will provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of the project's complexity and assist in prioritizing tasks.
Next, define the scope of the required components for the digital product and the objectives.
Examples include creating reusable Design System components and, for larger projects, developing comprehensive standard documentation.
Another aspect to consider when estimating the hours needed is the size of the Design System team.
According to Design Whine (DW), a single designer can make a medium-sized system in 150 to 300 hours.
Two designers can reduce that time by up to 40%.
DW also states that a simple DesignSystem for start-ups can take an average time of 80 to 150 hours.
Medium-complexity system infrastructures require more extensive documentation and support for multiple platforms.
As a result, it may take up to 400 hours.
Large systems for global brands with international support can need up to 1,000 hours of work to ensure consistency.
Note that these are rough estimates and can vary depending on specific digital experiences' requirements.
Conclusion
Design Systems can bring a wide range of benefits to Product Designers. Some include consistent design processes, improved user satisfaction and easier collaboration.
As a UX-driven Product Development agency, we know how beneficial effective Design Systems can be.
Reach out to hear our approach to implementing and creating world-class Design Systems!
