Developing
Design Systems
Dennis Kardys @dkardys #FiLive
PATTERNS, PROTOTYPES, AND PEOPLE
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CC license: @matt_j https://flic.kr/p/fksgQJ
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the patterns in an
environment shape patterns
of behavior
[a horrible story about birds]
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“designing systems of
components…
-Stephen Hay
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“stitching atoms, molecules,
and organisms together to
form templates and pages.
-Brad Frost
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“bootstrap style systems
for every client…
-Dave Rupert
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a modular set of guidelines and
components to improve
consistency, efficiency,
sustainability
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Design Systems
taking first steps
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1. interface inventory
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2. organize your code.
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CSS, Sass, SCSS, Compass,
Less, BEM, SMACSS,
OOCSS, ACSS, CCSS, etc…
Front End Frameworks and Preprocessors
(Do Not Repeat Yourself—so, whatever works for you!)
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3. create useful
documentation.
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image courtesy Dean Hochman: https://flic.kr/p/nXSUzA
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design shangri-la
our innermost desires projected
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or glamorized reference
docs?
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should not be static
should not be incomplete
can’t be a developer’s problem
x
x
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what does it mean to build
a living design system?
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Understanding Systems
A set of interacting or interdependent components
forming an integrated whole.
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delineated by boundaries, surrounded and
influenced by its environment, described by its
structure and purpose, expressed in its functioning.
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http://blog.noupsi.de/post/44607342301/open-judge
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image courtesy Richard Hefner: https://flic.kr/p/quWY6H
you can’t design
interconnectivity when
you are inside a silo
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What are your system
boundaries?
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page to page
viewport to viewport
across platforms
across channels
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patterns are language.
many expressions out of simple rules and structures.
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each patterns we design
foster patterns of behavior
element + environment + experience
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to the design/development/authoring teams:
we need to generate
behaviors, not specify
behaviors.
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Creating Rules
photo CC license: @wanderlass https://flic.kr/p/97VZ2t
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1. avoid colliding with its immediate neighbors
2. be generally attracted to others of its kind
3. move in the same direction as the rest of the
group.
Flocking Logic
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Each simply coordinates its movements with
those of its neighbors.
The 1 Simple Rule
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“the chorus line hypothesis”
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Look left. Look right.
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the ultimate team skill is the
ability to choreograph actions at a
variety of scale.
CC image: @melfoody - https://flic.kr/p/ea5DSh
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systems
require rules.
with the right laws in place, order (rather than
disorder) will increase over time.
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imagine no rules.
freedom vs. flexibility
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“we want drag and drop.”
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systems require rules.
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prescriptive
specifying what you should do
proscriptive
identifying only what you should not.
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system rules
what the system permits and restricts
you from doing.
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editorial/design rules
guidelines for how you should use
different elements.
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principles
the rules the capture the system’s intent
and purpose.
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Weave it all together.
how will you design without seams?
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Ideation
Modeling
Mapping
Refining
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Ideation
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ideation
coming up with ideas
iteration
refining ideas
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Design Charrettes
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1. Work with a blended group.
2. Generate the maximum number of ideas.
3. Alternate between solo and group ideation.
4. Surface conflict and build consenus.
5. Inspire
DESIGN CHARRETTES
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Centerpoint
the core patterns and behaviors that define
your system.
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Inspiration Documents
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1. A tool to provoke conversation.
2. Use it to answer YOUR questions.
3. Describe rationale not “design options”.
VISUAL INSPIRATION
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Sketching
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1. Show multiple sketches.
2. Make each sketch unique in concept.
3. Discuss viability of concept and direction.
4. Never let your stakeholder hold on to them.
5. Avoid iteration.
SKETCHING (for presentations)
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modeling
(shaping the elements)
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Element Collages / Style Tiles
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Element Collages / Style Tiles
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Element Collages / Style Tiles
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Paper Prototypes
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Structured Content
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Content Patterns (templates)
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layout (pages)
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Navigational Patterns & Flows
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mapping
(find the points of intersection)
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structured
content objects
feed the data
model
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data model
helps define
patterns and
components
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styleguide
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code
content
design
image CC Nate Weigl https://flic.kr/p/7R8RqM
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refining and iterating
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• purpose
• intended behavior
• examples of states
• system or editorial rules
• use cases
• data source
• performance requirements
Documenting Patterns
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stress testing
too much content. too little content. poorly formatted image.
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the story of Coyote
and the Frybread.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/thaths/6200904390/
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http://blog.noupsi.de/post/44607342301/open-judge
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image courtesy Richard Hefner: https://flic.kr/p/quWY6H
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How can you extend
your influence beyond
your sphere?