📝 Articles
Dynamic Pictograms For Design Systems | carbonemike.com
Mike discusses the implementation of dynamic pictograms within design systems, addressing challenges such as managing colour variations efficiently. They propose a solution involving preprocessing SVGs to allow for dynamic colour control using CSS variables, enhancing accessibility and customisation while simplifying integration into workflows.
Truly Semantic
Donnie delves into the concept of truly semantic tokens, distinguishing them from non-semantic ones and providing guidelines for their implementation based on simplicity, consistency, and independence. They emphasise the importance of thoughtful token construction and suggests reconsidering conventional naming conventions to align with semantic purposes and user needs.
Design Systems vs. AI: will the robots take over?
Lukas explores whether AI could potentially replace human designers in building design systems, noting the complexities involved. Despite advancements, current AI capabilities are insufficient due to the nuanced understanding and experience required in designing for users, businesses, and aesthetics, making the idea impractical and costly. Additionally, issues such as knowledge limitations, lack of control, and difficulties in fine-tuning and maintaining AI-generated systems further hinder their feasibility in replacing human designers for now.
👀 Interesting Reads
Design System- Grouping and naming components | by Shuchi Sinha-Saxena | Medium
Shuchi discusses the concept of Design Systems, outlining components and patterns within them, then delves into different ways of grouping and naming components, emphasizsng the importance of user-centric organisation and reducing cognitive load for users.
Beyond Launch: Nurturing & Sustaining Design Systems
In this Q&A on design systems, experts highlighted the need for flexibility, proper documentation, and avoiding over-engineering in early stages. They discussed the benefits of diverse team involvement, clear governance, and efficient communication tools like Slack and JIRA. The role of AI, accessibility considerations, user education, and adapting systems for various brands were also key topics.
Design System Wisdom 2023
Mark provides insights gathered from three years as lead developer on a design system, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful hosting, selective component building, and regular system pruning. It also stresses the significance of documentation, naming conventions, and careful versioning practices to ensure smooth system maintenance and user satisfaction.
Thoughts on a Global Design System – Chris Coyier
Chris reflects on Brad's proposal for a Global Design System, pondering over its challenges and potential. He questions whether existing open-source design systems already serve as global systems, discusses the ideal adoption rate, and explores the complexities of creating a universally useful system while avoiding conflicts with individual organizational needs and preferences.
Decoding Compound Tokens
Francesco delves into the concept of compound tokens, which bundle multiple design properties into one, challenging the core principle of "one token, one value," highlighting reduced modularity, maintenance challenges, and inflexibility as consequences. While compound tokens offer efficiency, the article advises cautious usage, suggesting their application in fixed component styles or exceptional cases to maintain a balance between efficiency and design principles in evolving design systems.