You’re creating a design system that scales. What tools do you need to succeed?

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To create a scalable design system, you'll need tools like Sketch or Figma for design, InVision or Zeplin for collaboration, Adobe Creative Cloud for graphics, and tools like GitHub for version control. Documentation tools like Frontify or ZeroHeight, along with project management tools and communication platforms, will help maintain consistency and streamline the development process.

The essential tools for a scalable design system include Figma or Adobe XD for collaborative design, Asana or Trello for project management, and Frontify or Brandfolder for brand asset management. Communication via Slack or Microsoft Teams enhances real-time collaboration. Client collaboration is streamlined with InVision or Marvel. Harvest or FreshBooks simplifies time tracking and invoicing, while resource planning tools like Float or Teamweek optimize team allocation. CRM systems like HubSpot or Salesforce manage client relationships. Skill development is supported by platforms like Skillshare or Udemy. Proposal and contract management tools such as Proposify or PandaDoc streamline sales processes.

I believe the crucial factor for scaling up initiatives is the establishment of what I term a 'Minimum Viable Business' (MVB). This concept represents the smallest functional unit of a business, encompassing all vital elements necessary for the initiative's success. It includes key performance indicators (KPIs) designed to enable rapid identification of failure points, thereby minimizing costs. Once this MVB proves successful, it can be replicated and scaled up, ensuring alignment with the overall business strategy. This approach not only streamlines the growth process but also ensures strategic coherence and resource efficiency.

To create a design system that scales, a variety of tools is needed to ensure success. By leveraging these tools, one can create a user-centric design system that is scalable, consistent, and that meets the needs of users and stakeholders. 📊 Figma 📝 Notion 📈 Sketch 📊 InVision 📈 Adobe XD 📊 Google Analytics 📈 Axure 📊 UserTesting 📈 Abstract 📊 Jira

One of the most important assets of a creative department in any organisation is its research department. This one in common practice is called the Library, but yes that’s the space that all the young minds must be able to go to go through reference books, material, archives, brand work done in the past and more. Often if its an agency then all the various pitch work even if it’s soft copy/ cloud should be maintained in this one too

A component library is a great asset to have in place. This can be in the form of templates, brand guidelines, components for design, etc. By taking the time up front to create and organize these assets, it will save designers time and also allow for much quicker and easier onboarding for new designers as the team scales.

A component library is a collection of reusable UI components that serve as the building blocks of your design system. It promotes consistency across products by allowing teams to easily access and use existing components. Advice: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci Tips: Storybook, Bit, styled-components

A design tool like Figma or Sketch enables designers to create, iterate, and collaborate on UI designs efficiently. With built-in version control and design systems features, design tools are essential for managing and scaling a design system. Advice: "Good design is good business." - Thomas J. Watson Tips: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD

A code editor like VS Code provides developers a flexible and customizable environment to build components and integrate the design system into code. It should support features like auto-completion and linting to assist with following code standards. Advice: "First, solve the problem. Then, write the code." - John Johnson Tips: VS Code, Sublime Text, Atom

Version control with Git enables teams to collaborate and track changes over time. It's crucial for maintaining and evolving the design system code, resolving conflicts, and experimenting safely through branching. Advice: "Prototype as if you are right, listen as if you are wrong." - Satya Nadella Tips: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket

A design system manager oversees the system's governance, adoption, maintenance and evolution. They set priorities, provide guidance, and align teams to realize the system's benefits at scale. Advice: "The role of the director is to create a space where the actors and actresses can become more than they've ever been before." - Robert Altman Tips: Hire/appoint dedicated manager, Use Figma's design system features, Automate with CI/CD pipelines

When building a design system, it’s also important to consider how you will handle updates and maintenance. A design system is not a one-time project, but an ongoing effort that requires regular updates to stay relevant. You’ll also need to think about how to educate and support your team in using the design system. This might involve creating documentation, providing training, and setting up channels for feedback and support.

It may be worth for any mid- large creative team to definitely invest and have a creative centre/ research one or just a space to collaborate over past ideas. It’s also worth having someone responsible to own this library. Despite living in the Digital age with tons of data/ material online it may be worth investing in books, reference images more and keep growing the same.

Naming conventions. Give all your final assets a clear name, so that your team can find previous assets easily. This saves time in looking for specific content, as well as preventing double work.

Additional considerations include getting stakeholder buy-in, promoting cross-team collaboration, creating effective documentation, and integrating monitoring to track usage and return on investment. Advice: "A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well." - Jeff Bezos Tips: Workshops, Office hours, Surveys, Google Analytics, Dedicated Slack channels

As a figma novice but Understood the query. I may suggest that the Programme must be able to produce Multi *Readable* support files as 1.! Much like Jpg to Word & back to Pdf etc. IN many compressed formats. That wont need the same Data band & memory requirement for quick review or safe transfer. Possibly like applying image filters. Which can also caliberate or adjust to enlarge into *Editable* setup. Without much configuration version demands. While serve optional Ad-on features thats accessed & restored online to reduce size. Has template catalog to mix merge morph overlap & overwrite. A Suggestion chatbot like MS98 Word enabling same window tutorial guide Besides system warning. An auto-surfing Random browse copyright & error testing.