how to estimate creating a design system

Guri Bee

2 min read

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17-10-2024

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Unlocking Design Consistency: How to Estimate Creating a Design System

Building a design system is an investment in the long-term health of your product. It brings consistency, efficiency, and scalability to your design process. But before you dive in, it's essential to understand the effort involved. This article will guide you through the key considerations for estimating the time and resources required to create a design system.

1. What is the scope of your design system?

The first step is to define the scope of your design system. This will determine the complexity and, consequently, the estimation effort.

• Comprehensive Design System: This includes everything from visual components like buttons and typography to design principles, style guides, and even code libraries. This approach offers the most robust solution but requires the most time and resources.
• Focused Design System: This focuses on a specific area, such as user interface (UI) components or a particular platform (e.g., web or mobile). This approach can be faster to implement and more manageable for smaller teams.

2. How big is your design team?

The size and experience of your design team will significantly impact the estimation. A larger team with diverse skills can complete the design system faster, but it also requires careful coordination and management.

3. What are your current design processes?

Your current design processes, especially if they are well-defined and documented, can significantly speed up the development of your design system. It allows you to leverage existing resources and build upon established practices.

4. What resources are available?

Estimating the cost of a design system goes beyond just designer time. Consider the following:

• Tools: Design tools, prototyping software, and documentation platforms are crucial. Consider the licensing costs and training requirements.
• External expertise: You might need to engage external consultants for specialized areas like accessibility or front-end development.
• Internal resources: Time allocated for design reviews, testing, and implementation across different teams must be accounted for.

5. How will you measure progress and success?

Defining clear success metrics is vital for effective estimation. This could include:

• Number of components documented and implemented: Track the progress of your design system's core elements.
• Time saved on design tasks: Measure the efficiency gains achieved by using the design system.
• Consistency across different platforms and teams: Evaluate the impact of the design system on achieving brand coherence.

Practical Example from GitHub:

A user on GitHub https://github.com/airbnb/lottie-web/issues/4610 commented:

"For us at Airbnb, we estimated the time to build a design system based on the size of our product and the complexity of our UI."

Airbnb's experience illustrates the importance of considering the scale and complexity of your product when estimating the time required to build a design system.

Key Takeaways for Estimation:

• Prioritize and Scope: Define the scope of your design system based on your product's needs.
• Team Capacity: Consider the skills and capacity of your design team.
• Existing Resources: Leverage current design processes and documentation.
• Cost Analysis: Account for tools, external expertise, and internal resources.
• Success Metrics: Define clear goals to measure the impact of your design system.

Remember, creating a design system is an iterative process. Regularly reassess your estimation based on progress and emerging needs. With careful planning and a clear vision, you can build a robust design system that empowers your team and enhances your product's user experience.