“‘Change is the only constant in life", said Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher. Yet, adopting new tools like design systems often presents significant challenges. Despite their potential to streamline workflows with scalable structures and robust architecture, design systems often remain underutilized. Why?

The issue isn’t simply more documentation or additional training. The real challenge lies in changing ingrained work habits. Designers and developers often resist adopting new systems because they fail to recognize their full potential.

How do we overcome this? By clearly demonstrating the tangible benefits of adopting design systems at scale.

In this blog, we’ll explore effective strategies for system-based design adoption, how to convince designers to embrace new workflows, and how to build highly scalable UI and frontend systems. We’ll also delve into maintaining design systems and the principles that underpin scalable, sustainable solutions. Learn how to integrate design systems into your workflow, making them a seamless, natural part of your creative process.

Why do product teams hesitate to adopt a design system?

Product teams often hesitate to adopt a design system for several reasons, each rooted in both practical and psychological factors:

1. Fear of Change:

   Teams may be concerned that introducing a new system may interfere with their established processes because they are accustomed to their present workflows. Because team members are unsure of how the new approach will fit into their daily routines, this fear of the unknown may cause resistance. These worries may also be made worse by a lack of knowledge and a clear vision for the new system. Additionally, the sunk cost fallacy may also be at play, which makes teams hesitant to forgo their current time and resource commitments.

   
   

2. Perceived Loss of Creative Freedom:

   Designers may worry that a design system will limit their creative expression, seeing it as a set of strict rules rather than a tool for innovation. However, design systems can actually enable rapid creative iterations by providing a consistent framework that streamlines the design process. This allows designers to focus more on creativity and experimentation. Once the creative ideas are developed, the design system ensures that these concepts can be handed off without inconsistencies, delivering a cohesive experience to end users.

   
   

3. Complexity and Learning Curve:

   Design systems may be seen as complicated, particularly if they lack user-friendliness or adequate documentation. Teams may choose to remain with tried-and-true techniques rather than devote the necessary time to master a new system because of the intimidating first learning curve.

   
   

   

Having a clear plan is essential to overcoming these obstacles. To ensure that everyone recognizes the importance of the design system, begin by outlining its advantages in detail. To avoid feeling disruptive, make sure the system works well with the tools and procedures that teams are already using. To facilitate teams' seamless transition, offer continuing assistance and training. Organizations can foster an atmosphere where design systems are viewed as beneficial instruments that improve the product development process by tackling these problems.

How do we shift team culture so that the system feels like a natural part of the workflow?

Shifting team culture to make a design system feel like a natural part of the workflow involves several key steps:

1. Involve the Team Early: From the beginning, involve team members in the design system's development and execution. They are more likely to accept the system because of this involvement, which gives them a sense of ownership and investment in it.

2. Communicate the Benefits: Demonstrate the value of a design system through practical examples and small proof-of-concept projects within the current system. This approach can showcase how it reduces repetitive tasks, enhances consistency, and streamlines the design process, generating genuine interest and buy-in from stakeholders. Additionally, conduct interviews with team members to understand their specific pain points, allowing you to create a tailored solution that addresses their unique challenges. By aligning the system with the actual needs of your team, you can foster greater acceptance and effectiveness.

In order to minimize changes and make the design system a seamless part of everyday workflows, make sure it connects with current tools and processes. Furthermore, think about presenting and instructing the group on new technologies that can update procedures, ensuring that the system is not only unified but also forward-thinking and prepared for the future.

By carrying out these facts, companies can create a culture in which the design system is an essential component of teamwork and collaboration rather than merely another tool.

How Do We Successfully Overcome Adoption Challenges?

We tried a few crucial tactics that were very effective in overcoming the obstacles we encountered in encouraging our team to embrace the design system:

1. Reframing the System as an Enabler, Not a Restriction:

Instead of portraying the design system as a collection of constrictive guidelines, we changed the way we talked about it to emphasize how it might really encourage creativity. We demonstrated how the system enables rapid iterations, faster prototyping, and quick testing frameworks, allowing designers to explore and experiment freely. This process allows designers to go all out with their creative ideas while knowing they can apply the system's rules before handoff to ensure uniformity for end users. By emphasizing these advantages, designers learned to consider the system as a beneficial tool that improved their creative process rather than a hindrance.

2. Removing Friction by Integrating System Components Inside Design & Dev Tools:

We made the design system more accessible and user-friendly by integrating it directly into the tools our teams previously used, such as Figma and Visual Studio Code. Consider having all of the design system components easily available when a designer works on a project in Figma. This seamless connection not only eliminated friction and boosted productivity, but also encouraged teams to experiment and tailor the system to their individual requirements. This method enabled teams to gradually test new ideas and incorporate what worked best for them, resulting in more organic and individualized system adoption.

3. Tracking Adoption Metrics and Proving Business Value:

We began tracking the design system's usage and influence on our work, including indicators like project completion time and design uniformity. To reinforce our strategy, we set up points of contact from both the development and design teams to allow communication and handle any concerns. We also conducted surveys and developed regular review processes in the early phases to ensure a solid basis. We were able to get leadership support by sharing these findings and feedback. Knowing that the system was having a good impact motivated the team to keep using it.

These tactics enabled us to get beyond early opposition and establish a setting in which the design system was respected as an integral component of our product development procedure.

Wrapping it up

We have experienced the highs and lows of launching our cherished design system and winning over our team members. To demonstrate its value, we have addressed common misconceptions, incorporated tools, and even performed some mathematical calculations. But there's always a twist, just like in any good novel.

Just when we thought we had it all FIGRed out, we hit another snag. Even our most enthusiastic supporters sometimes forgot to use the system in their daily grind. It turns out, the real challenge isn't just about overcoming resistance it's about making the design system a seamless part of everyday workflows. Who would have thought? But rest assured, we’re just getting started. Stay tuned for the next installment of our series, where we’ll explore how to seamlessly integrate the design system into daily workflows. We’ll discuss strategies for making the system the default, not just an afterthought. Don’t miss out on the insights to come