Exploring the intersection of Object-Oriented UX and design systems, diving into managing complexity and consistency in design systems, and uncovering truths through Object-Oriented UX. The episode features Dan Mall discussing the challenges of wrangling design system chaos and the importance of clarity and relationships in design.
Prioritizing object and relationship mapping in design systems is crucial for creating cohesive and usable systems.
Skipping object and relationship mapping can lead to complex and unwieldy design systems with redundant components.
Focusing on attributes before establishing clear object and relationship mapping can result in a bloated and uncoordinated design system.
Deep dives
Emphasizing the Importance of Object and Relationship Mapping in Design Systems
Effective design systems require a strong foundation in mapping objects and relationships before delving into component design. This approach ensures a clear understanding of how elements relate and interact within the system, preventing the creation of disconnected or redundant components. By prioritizing object and relationship mapping, design system practitioners can streamline the component development process and create more cohesive and usable design systems.
Challenges of Skipping Object Mapping in Design Systems
Skipping object and relationship mapping in design systems can lead to challenges in component development, resulting in complex and unwieldy systems. Rushing into component creation without a solid understanding of objects and relationships can result in an overwhelming number of attributes and variations, making it difficult to maintain consistency and usability across the system. By overlooking this foundational step, teams risk creating design systems that are underutilized and lack coherence.
Caution Against Premature Focus on Attributes in Design Systems
Prematurely focusing on attributes in design systems without first establishing clear object and relationship mapping can lead to a bloated system. Relying solely on attributes without a solid foundation may result in unmanageable variations and a lack of cohesion in the design system. Design system practitioners should prioritize establishing a robust understanding of objects and relationships before delving into attribute definitions to ensure a more structured, coherent, and functional design system.
Importance of Consistent Design Elements
Consistency in design elements such as colors is crucial to avoid variations that may arise from different interpretations or implementations. By establishing variables in one central location, like in CSS, the design team can ensure uniformity in the application of key brand elements like colors across various components and sections of a product. Failing to maintain consistency can result in a multitude of shades or versions of the same brand color, leading to confusion and inefficiencies in design and development processes.
The Role of Relationships and Objects in Design Systems
Effective design systems require a clear understanding of relationships between objects and attributes to prevent chaos and ensure a structured approach. Starting with defining objects and mapping relationships, design systems can evolve cohesively to accommodate dynamic content and functionalities. Emphasizing the importance of clear object definitions, the podcast stresses the need to prevent haphazard attribute inclusion, which can lead to inconsistencies and challenges in system maintenance and scalability.
Dan Mall is a creative director, designer, founder, and entrepreneur. He currently runs Design System University: curriculum & community to support how you design at scale. In this episode of the podcast, Sophia and Dan ask the question, are design systems folks and OOUX folks the same folks?
