aalto1 untyped-item.component.html
Design system as a community: Current best practices and challenges for product design team collaboration using in-house design systems
Loading...
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Bachelor's thesis
Ask about the availability of the thesis by sending email to the Aalto University Learning Centre oppimiskeskus@aalto.fi
Authors
Date
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
44 + 7
Series
Abstract
This thesis explores the current best practices and challenges in in-house design system collaboration at large-scale companies. The best practices and challenges focus on collaboration within design system teams, with non-design system teams, and influences from external factors. This research is initiated by a literature review, which reveals how there is little up-to-date academic knowledge surrounding the collaboration between actors who create and use design systems. To better understand the current state of design system collaboration at large companies, eight experts (five designers and three developers) from the field are individually interviewed in a semi-structured way. Upon analyzing the interviews using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, four themes are extracted: design system structure, company-wide collaboration, design team collaboration, and external factors.
Findings show that design system teams, especially designers and developers, should communicate clearly and frequently with each other. Establishing naming conventions early on and utilizing user-centered tools are recommended. Effective collaboration with design system users happens when they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility over the design system. This can be achieved by facilitating methods to contribute to design system creation and transparent communication on the current state and future implementation plans. Finally, accessibility standards, company structures, and company politics are external factors that influence collaboration. Overall, the key to design system collaboration is to foster a sense of community around the design system, where all actors of product design teams are equal citizens in the project. The findings of this study are useful for product design teams with internal design systems who are looking to improve their design system and how they use it within their company.