Understanding Governance in Design Systems

Now that we have addressed the elephant in the room, we can delve into the specifics of governance. However, before going too deep, we need to outline certain practices that will help you successfully implement governance in design systems.

Roles and Responsibilities

Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in the design system is crucial for successful governance. This includes designers, developers, product managers, and stakeholders. By establishing accountability and ownership, teams can collaborate more efficiently.

Design System Team

Establishing a dedicated team responsible for managing the design system is essential. This team should oversee the system’s development, maintenance, and updates, ensuring it meets the organisation’s needs and those of its various teams. The team’s composition may vary based on the organisation’s size and structure, but it should include representatives from design, development, and product management. If you are the only designer, it’s important to set aside time every month to meet with the rest of the team.

Guidelines and Standards

Creating comprehensive guidelines and standards is a cornerstone of effective governance. These guidelines encompass design principles, usage guidelines, and technical specifications. By establishing clear guidelines for design system components, such as colours, typography, and spacing, development can ensure consistency and unity across different products and platforms.

Documentation and Communication

Thorough documentation is crucial for effective governance. It includes design system principles, guidelines, usage documentation, code documentation, and other resources. Comprehensive documentation facilitates knowledge sharing, enables efficient onboarding of new team members, and serves as a reference for maintaining and evolving the design system.

In addition to documentation, establishing effective communication channels and processes is vital. Regular communication between designers and other stakeholders fosters collaboration, gathers feedback, and ensures that updates and changes are effectively communicated across the organisation.

Governance Frameworks

To establish a strong foundation for governance in design systems, organisations can leverage various frameworks and models. Let’s explore some popular frameworks.

Atomic Design Framework

In a previous mention, I discussed the Atomic Design framework, which was introduced by Brad Frost. This framework offers a systematic approach to organizing design systems. It divides components into atoms, molecules, organisms, templates, and pages. This hierarchical structure provides clarity and scalability, allowing teams to effectively manage and maintain the design system.

DesignOps Handbook

The DesignOps Handbook, developed by InVision, provides comprehensive guidance on managing design operations, including design systems. It covers various aspects of governance, such as defining roles and responsibilities, establishing documentation practices, setting up communication channels, and implementing feedback loops. Organisations can adapt the principles and practices outlined in the DesignOps Handbook to suit their specific needs.

Airbnb’s Design Language System

Airbnb’s Design Language System (DLS) is an excellent example of effective design system governance. They emphasize the importance of establishing governance committees, conducting regular reviews, and implementing feedback loops. These practices ensure that the design system aligns with the organization’s goals, evolves based on user needs, and maintains consistency across products and platforms.

Design System Governance Process

The Design System Maturity Model, another model provided by Brad Frost, offers a roadmap for progressing from ad hoc design practices to a mature, governed design system. The model identifies different stages of maturity and suggests activities and processes at each stage. By assessing their design system’s maturity level, organisations can identify gaps and focus on implementing governance practices that align with their current stage.

It is important to note that while these frameworks provide valuable guidance, they are not rigid templates. It is worth the effort to go through them and see exactly how they are tackling governance issues.

Practical Tips for Good Governance

Implementing and maintaining good governance practices in design systems requires a proactive approach. Consider the following practical tips.

Continuous Collaboration

Avoid working in silos! Foster a culture of collaboration by actively seeking input from diverse teams and stakeholders. Regularly engage with developers and product managers to gather feedback and continuously improve the design system. Collaboration ensures that the design system remains aligned with evolving organisational goals and user needs.

Iterative Development

Embrace an iterative approach to the development of design systems. Continuously assess and iterate on components, guidelines, and processes based on user feedback, changing requirements, and emerging design trends. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of design system components to ensure their ongoing value.

Change Management Process

Establish a clear change management process to effectively manage updates and changes to the design system. This process should include evaluating proposed changes, assessing their impact on existing components and user experiences, and implementing them in a controlled manner to minimise disruptions and maintain system stability.

User-Centered Design

Prioritise the needs and experiences of end-users in all aspects of design system governance. Conduct user research, gather feedback, and incorporate user insights to ensure that the design system aligns with user expectations. Regular usability testing and user feedback sessions can help identify areas for improvement and inform future iterations of the design system.

Tools for Design System Governance

Several tools can support the governance efforts throughout the design system lifecycle. Here are a few commonly used tools.

Design System Documentation Tools

Tools such as Zeroheight, Storybook, and Confluence can help create and manage comprehensive design system documentation. These tools allow teams to document components, guidelines, and usage instructions in a structured and accessible manner.

Version Control Systems

Git, along with platforms like GitHub or GitLab, provides version control and collaboration capabilities. These tools enable teams to manage changes, track contributions, and collaborate effectively on the design system.

Design Collaboration Platforms

Tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD enable teams to collaborate on design system components, share design files, and gather feedback in real-time. They support seamless collaboration among designers, developers, and other stakeholders.

Design System Analytics Tools

Analytics tools, such as Mixpanel, can provide insights into how design system components are used across different products and platforms. These insights help identify usage patterns, identify areas for improvement, and measure the impact of design system changes. I haven’t personally used it yet, but I’m considering trying it out soon.
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Governance in design systems plays a critical role in maintaining consistency, scalability, and collaboration. By implementing a strong governance framework, organisations can ensure the effectiveness and longevity of their design systems. As previously mentioned, there is no universal solution for governing your design system. With this article I’ve tried to outline the base, giving examples of successful frameworks that can help establishing and maintaining effective governance in your design systems, driving improved productivity and delivering exceptional user experiences.