We create advanced design systems that provide the foundation for consistency across your online ecosystem while enhancing the user experience. Our solution accelerates the design process and implementation of changes to your digital products.
What is a design system?
A design system is not just a library of components or a set of guidelines – it is a comprehensive strategy (single source of truth) that transforms the way companies design, build, develop, and manage their digital products. Our design system services not only ensure visual and functional consistency, but also streamline team collaboration, accelerate time-to-market, and improve product quality.
Learn more about what a design system is and its key components in the article “What is a Design System in the creation of digital products?”.
Problems solved by a dedicated design system
Starting with the specific problems that a design system solves, it is worth noting the wide range of potential benefits. There are so many benefits to having a design system that we’ve described them in a separate article “10 key benefits of having a design system”, but for now, let’s focus on some basic problems that you may be experiencing in your organization:
Thinking about your own design system?
Leave your email and phone number and we will call you back within 24 hours to discuss your needs and potential risks. Based on this conversation, we will jointly decide whether to schedule another meeting with one or more of our experts, who will ask more in-depth questions and prepare a proposal for your next steps.
What problems can arise when implementing a design system?
During the implementation of a design system in an organization, several challenges may arise that should be considered to ensure a smooth process:
- Lack of knowledge about the design system within the organization:
For a design system to be used effectively, it is essential that all stakeholders in the organization understand its principles and benefits. Unfortunately, knowledge of the design system is often not widespread, resulting in inefficient use of resources and time. It is important for those responsible for the design system to be present at planning meetings and to be able to advise whether the required components already exist, thus avoiding unnecessary work.
- Distribution of the system across products:
Often, products within an organization are different from each other, making it difficult to integrate them into a cohesive design system. The question may arise as to whether we should strive for uniformity in appearance and functionality across all products, or whether we should allow more variation to accommodate the specifics of individual products. The design system provides tools that facilitate the adaptation of “dissimilar” products, allowing for smooth implementation of changes and maintaining consistency.
- Component proliferation and granularity:
As the design system evolves, the number of components may become too large, making the system difficult to manage and maintain. It is important to define clear goals and boundaries for the system from the outset, and to strive to create components that are universal and easily adaptable to different needs. Over-specialization of components can lead to system complexity and increased maintenance costs. It is also worth considering choosing a methodology appropriate to the scale, such as material design.
What do we offer for our design system creation service?
A collaboration with us is more than just signing a contract. We ensure that the entire process is perfectly tailored to the needs of your company. We guide you step-by-step through the project stages so that the design system we create not only meets your expectations but also helps achieve your business goals.
1. An inventory of the organization’s existing ecosystem
The first step is to conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s existing materials and select the initial area for implementing the design system. This stage typically takes between two and four weeks.
2. Product planning and system architecture
- The establishment of the visual style foundation:
This involves defining key visual attributes such as colors, typography, and icons, which will become the aesthetic basis for all your organization’s digital products.
- Making technology decisions:
This step involves optimizing the architecture of UI components and product functionalities, as well as tailoring technologies to the current needs of the company.
- Release plan:
We have developed a structured approach to implementing the design system, which begins with the alpha version, progresses to the beta version, and culminates in the final release. Each stage is defined by clearly defined goals and expected outcomes.
3. Artifact management
- General Documentation:
We create and regularly update documents that describe design guidelines, usage patterns, and best practices.
- The design and development library contains:
We develop and maintain comprehensive collections of design system components—both graphical and code—that are easily accessible and ready for use by design and development teams.
4. Onboarding new users and training them
- We provide new team members with education on how to effectively use the design system, including access to necessary resources and tools.
- We organize workshops and training sessions that enable the team to continually deepen their knowledge and skills related to the design system.
5. Parameterization and improvement of components
- Parameterization:
We collaborate with designers and developers to create variations and manageability of components, enabling their flexible application to different needs and contexts.
- Iterative improvement:
We regularly conduct analyses and updates of the design system to ensure it remains current and responsive to evolving technological and market requirements.
Your own design system: Costs
The investment required to develop a design system is significant and requires careful planning and a dedicated team. The cost of developing the system depends on many factors, including the scale and complexity of the planned system.
Based on our experience, we estimate that creating a basic version of a design system takes about six months of work by a team typically composed of:
- At least one Developer:
Ideally, having two developers ensures greater flexibility and accelerates development.
- Designer:
Responsible for the visual concept and ensuring that all elements are consistent and aesthetically refined, also creating reusable graphic components (UI Kit).
- Design System Architect:
Responsible for the visual concept and ensuring that all elements are consistent and aesthetically refined, as well as creating reusable graphic components (UI Kit). The Design System Architect is often a specialist who designs the system’s architecture and takes care of its technical aspects.
- Product Owner:
A key person on the client’s side who works closely with the Design System Team. This person best understands the company’s needs and can quickly make decisions, speeding up the entire system implementation process.
The investment in a design system can vary depending on the specifics of the project, but we guarantee that it is a crucial step that significantly accelerates subsequent stages of work on digital products, ensuring their higher quality and consistency. We plan our work so that the cost is minimized and the maintenance time of the solution is as long as possible, generating maximum return on investment for your company.
An accurate estimate requires a tailored approach, and we work with clients who are prepared to invest between 150,000 EUR and above for a new system.
Do you have questions? We’re happy to answer them!
Leave us your email, and we’ll schedule a conversation. We understand that implementing a design system can be complex and full of challenges. Our goal is to understand your needs and tailor a solution that streamlines operations and increases your company’s efficiency. We will contact you within 24 hours to discuss details and plan the next steps.