Design system: A tool for scaling product design in large technology companies
Nguyen, Giang (2018)
Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018120620425
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018120620425
Tiivistelmä
Recently, the values of design have been increasingly recognized by large tech companies. In the fast-growing digital world, tech companies have faced challenges of scaling such as inconsistencies in digital products and less efficiency. A phenomenon called “design system” has emerged as a potential solution to these issues. This thesis concentrates on the role of design system in scaling product design in large tech companies. It aims to investigate potential challenges and explore in which aspects design system can support the design scaling. Another goal is to figure out how design system can be integrated into the whole companies.
The theoretical background firstly studies the overview of design in technology companies. Secondly, the thesis investigates the factors that should be considered in scaling product design. Then, design systems in the context of product design scaling are studied deeper. This study is based on qualitative research method, consisting of 6 semi-structured interviews with designers who have been building design systems in 4 different large tech companies operating in Helsinki, Finland. The empirical research facilitates to understand the reasons for initiating a design system, the values a design system brings about and the approaches to integrating design systems into enterprises.
The findings indicate that design system plays an important role in scaling product design in large tech companies. Design system can solve the main potential challenges of design scaling by introducing design toolkits and common design language, which helps build design-driven culture. Besides, by providing design foundations, solutions to basic problems and promoting the user-centered design approach, the design system helps drive innovations and business value, therefore, enabling sustainable design scaling. Design system can be possibly integrated in companies on a large scale by bottom-up approach and good practices of communicating and promoting the values of design system in companies.
The thesis can contribute specific knowledge to the design system community, which can be beneficial to interested actors in large tech companies such as designers, developers, product owners. This research opens future researchable topics that are related to community-based design method, design system maturity level and the connection between design system and UX maturity.
The theoretical background firstly studies the overview of design in technology companies. Secondly, the thesis investigates the factors that should be considered in scaling product design. Then, design systems in the context of product design scaling are studied deeper. This study is based on qualitative research method, consisting of 6 semi-structured interviews with designers who have been building design systems in 4 different large tech companies operating in Helsinki, Finland. The empirical research facilitates to understand the reasons for initiating a design system, the values a design system brings about and the approaches to integrating design systems into enterprises.
The findings indicate that design system plays an important role in scaling product design in large tech companies. Design system can solve the main potential challenges of design scaling by introducing design toolkits and common design language, which helps build design-driven culture. Besides, by providing design foundations, solutions to basic problems and promoting the user-centered design approach, the design system helps drive innovations and business value, therefore, enabling sustainable design scaling. Design system can be possibly integrated in companies on a large scale by bottom-up approach and good practices of communicating and promoting the values of design system in companies.
The thesis can contribute specific knowledge to the design system community, which can be beneficial to interested actors in large tech companies such as designers, developers, product owners. This research opens future researchable topics that are related to community-based design method, design system maturity level and the connection between design system and UX maturity.