Design Systems, Oversimplified: The Definition (1 of 5)
This is a 5-part series to explain the who, what, when, where, and why about design systems in its most simplest form. Once you understand the nuts and bolts of a design system, you’ll appreciate its deeper nuances more and might even want to build your own.
The Oversimplified Definition
Ironically, there is no single definition for design system. Ask 20 different people and you’ll get 20 different answers. It’s paradoxical because design systems were created to unify UI elements, coding, brand identity elements, and other factors into one place for accessibility, reusability, consistency, and productivity. That sounds like a definition, right? Well let’s make it even simpler (after all this is the Oversimplified series and it should almost make you mad how simple I’ll describe things). Here’s my definition:
A design system is a set of standards that help a product development team ship to market faster.
That’s it! You’ll also see the phrase “single source of truth” floating around as well. You’re probably wondering, who makes up a product development team? What are those standards? I’m so glad you asked. Now that we’ve covered the “what”, check out Part 2 as I oversimplify who is involved in building a design system.
