What is a Design System? 6 Different Types of Design Systems

Learn more about design systems in my online course: danmall.com/products/make-des...
In this video, I cover what a design system is and how to identify six different types of design systems.
Design systems are important for any designer, engineer, or product person. This video will help you understand what a design system is and the benefits it offers. After watching, you'll be able to identify what kind of design system you and your teams are working on!
⏩ CHAPTERS
00:00 = Intro
00:17 = What is a design system?
00:33 = “Design Systems,” by Alla Kholmatova
00:48 = “Laying the Foundations,” by Andrew Couldwell
01:04 = “Design Systems Handbook.” by InVision
01:21 = Other definitions of design systems
01:58 = Why are there so many definitions for design system?
02:50 = 1. Brand identity/visual language as design system
04:57 = 2. Tools as design systems
06:13 = 3. Design systems as products
07:41 = 4. Design systems as process
08:34 = 5. Design system as a service
09:19 = 6. Design systems as a practice
10:09 = Do we need a standard definition for design systems?
11:19 = Being inclusive about design system definitions
12:11 = Outro
For the same content in written form, see my article at danmall.com/posts/what-is-a-d....
🔗 LINKS
Buy my “Design Systems in 90 Days” workbook: bit.ly/designsystem90days
Enroll in my upcoming “Scaling Design Systems” course with Dribbble: bit.ly/danmall-dribbble-desig...
Enroll in my “Make Design Systems People Want to Use” course: bit.ly/make-design-systems
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#danmallteaches #designsystems #designsystem #uidesign #figmadesignsystem #brandidentity #uikit #servicedesign #uidesign #uxdesign

[@stevestremsterfer6038]

Thanks so much for this Dan. Currently, I am the sole contributor/maintainer of my company's fledgling design system and I don't really even know how to classify it based on your descriptions (yet). And, sadly, I don't have much time to work on it but I'm more upbeat after your video. I know my design system is better than no design system at all and, luckily, there is no deadline attached to it in any way.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Glad this video helped you keep your spirits high, Steve! “My design system is better than no design system at all"… so true, and I love it!

[@bestofyasi]

Thanks for clearing my mind.

[@b_dono]

It's no doubt at all that Dan would bring the quality. I'm so happy that you have a channel here now. One thing I want or if anyone can recommend is a tutorial on creating a design system from scratch. I feel I need to start at the beginning to really understand it. Right now, when jumping into a video or explainer videos, they assume you know things, making me feel lost or the need to learn something before I get here.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thanks for the kind words, Brandon! I'd love to do a tutorial for making a design system from scratch, but it's no easy feat! Gotta figure out how to explain it easily and thoroughly without it being a 12-hour video! 😂

[@b_dono]

@@DanMallTeaches The pleasure is all mine. You are absolutely correct and I do understand what you mean. Personally Would almost use it as a reference more than an informative one. I like how some product feature videos just have them broken up into sections as a playlist named steps 1 to 50 like a series. this way when I reference it I will know where to go for components or send newbies to a section I'm trying to explain. As far as explaining it goes dude you are epic with that, the one you did on skill share was gold. anyways that's my 2 cents. love your impact everywhere.

[@DanMallTeaches]

@@b_dono Ooh, great idea with the playlist! I'll noodle on this and report back soon. Thank you!

[@veronicasiu]

Great content on the variety of the design system! Thank you!

[@john_rodrigues]

Great content. Looking forward for more.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thanks John!

[@fabiomatteodozio3167]

Loved this from beginning to end.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thanks Fabio!

[@MarcFonteijn]

Great video Dan.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thanks Marc!

[@thaisanttune]

Wow! I really enjoyed this and shared it with my coworkers 🤩 thanks, Dan!

[@DanMallTeaches]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@indoorda]

Incredible quality content. 👌🏽

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thank you!

[@darian.rosebrook]

Love this! It really does rely on the design maturity of an organization, though. The different ways we call a design system kinda serves companies where they are at that level, maybe all they need is a library, but as the org scales, it is important for them to systematize their process.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Great point, Darian! How’d you know that I came up with these classifications as a lead-in to an exercise for assessing matching design maturity to design system maturity? You genius, you!

[@darian.rosebrook]

@@DanMallTeaches haha it’s hyper relevant because it’s literally the pain point I’m running into with my current role. I’m now a systems designer, working through how we elevate design maturity through the underlying design process, toolkits, and connected systems

[@DanMallTeaches]

You're not alone! (We should catch up soon!)

[@darian.rosebrook]

@@DanMallTeaches I would love that, I’ll send you a message soon then!

[@DanMallTeaches]

@@darian.rosebrook 💪🏽

[@YogenderKumar98]

Hurry! my like was the 500th like to this video.

[@DanMallTeaches]

Wow! Thank you!

[@Videosuser]

quality content.

[@hlib_mitiushyn_work6129]

Video quality is too good for one thousand subscribers

[@DanMallTeaches]

Very kind of you to say! Should I make the next few videos worse or work on getting more subscribers? 🤣🤣🤣

[@vmonzillo]

That's just.. Wow!

[@DanMallTeaches]

I hope that's a good wow!

[@vmonzillo]

@@DanMallTeaches I can assure you it is! This video taught me a lot, thanks to you and your approach

[@smeech5177]

I’ll have to wait as a teacher since it’s my first year and just want to focus on one thing at a time. But, I’ll definitely enroll for your class in the summer of 2024! I’ll definitely read these books in the mean time. Do you have any reading suggestions?

[@suelenfelix1305]

Thank you Dan for this valuable information! Which one of these books would you recommend to read first? I LOVE this content. Thanks again 😊

[@DanMallTeaches]

Definitely Alla Kholmatova’s “Design Systems.” It’s such a great entry point!

[@deardagger]

great stuff! piggy back on the books in the beginning, do you have a list of must reads beyond those once in the design systems space?

[@DanMallTeaches]

I do! Check out these posts: kzbin.infoIs6rHqZkaLU kzbin.infoGDfGINymP8M

[@deardagger]

@@DanMallTeaches thanks mate, pretty much all but two ordered! :)

[@kellinovotny]

This is a great overview Dan, and a reminder that IT IS ALL OK :) I could be wrong here but in order to reach the next level in your design system quest, you need buy in from engineers as well as the broader company (which in my case is not easy given legacy code AND limited resources). If you have any experience with managing a similar situation or have any advice on a good first step - I would love to hear it. I feel like if I grab ONE engineer and create ONE pattern that lives as a code snippet then I might be on the right track?!

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thanks Kelli! I'll be posting a few shorts over the next couple of days about buy-in specifically. Please keep an eye out for those!

[@PhilippUnterreiner]

I'd categorize "Material Design" as it's own category "Design System as Guidelines" for how to build digital products

[@nithishnitiz5891]

A design system is a meticulously crafted and comprehensive framework consisting of guidelines, principles, assets, and components that establishes a shared language and empowers teams to consistently create exceptional user experiences. It embodies the essence of a brand, encapsulating its values, personality, and visual identity, while also prioritizing usability, accessibility, and scalability.

[@Aaron-dv2rm]

Thats a follow ✅

[@DanMallTeaches]

Thanks!

[@nithishnitiz5891]

"You have your design system, I will have my design system"- Bernard Max

[@ToBeJazz]

”A Design System is a consistency promotion mechanism.” ?

[@ytrpaz]

Thanks dan it really help us for newbies.

[@njengathegeek]

New sub, I just came across your design system on dribbble and I chose to stalk you, I landed here and felt at home

[@DanMallTeaches]

Glad you're here!