📝 Articles
Boringness in Design Systems
Dave discusses the challenge of design systems becoming visually generic and diluted due to the fear of variable content, highlighting the complexities and constraints involved.
Multiple Layers of Abstraction in Design Systems
Charlie discusses how Spotify's design system, Encore, has evolved to meet the diverse needs of their customers. By implementing multiple layers of abstraction in their APIs, it is able to provide both customisation and configuration options, allowing for increased utility, enhanced reuse, and reduced static. This approach enables the Encore to offer a more flexible and cohesive Design System that can adapt to various use cases and foster innovation.
Design Patterns Are A Better Way To Collaborate On Your Design System
Ben highlights the importance of collaboration and suggests that focusing on design patterns instead of individual elements can enhance the effectiveness of design systems, allowing for parallel work between designers and developers.
👀 Interesting Reads
Seven lessons from 7 years designing systems
Ness shares seven lessons learned from designing systems, including the value of starting with existing resources, creating templates for consistency, collaborating closely with engineers, promoting the system through presentations, providing training, listening to feedback, and tracking metrics for improvement.
Design tokens: how we use and automate them at GR8 Tech
Daniela discusses the use and automation of design tokens, highlighting the benefits they provide in terms of supporting colour themes, facilitating rapid design changes, and ensuring product consistency. The article also introduces Token Master, a plugin which automates the management of design tokens and streamlines processes
The context dilemma
Francesco delves into the context dilemma of design systems, exploring the balance between semantic and specific design tokens to ensure consistency across different contexts.
🧰 Tools / Resources
Design tokens generator: swift and rational design system foundation
Evgeny introduces Design Tokens Generator, a tool for simplifying the management of design tokens. The tool aims to streamline the customisation and organisation of design tokens, providing a solid foundation for your Design System.
🎧 🎥 📊 Audio / Video / Slides
Systems of Harm
Amy explores the intersection of design systems and systemic harm, discussing the role of design systems in perpetuating exclusion and ways to create more inclusive experiences through insightful interviews with industry experts.