Designing a Future: Connecting the Dots Between Design Systems and Community-Building

Designing a Future: Connecting the Dots Between Design Systems and Community-Building

In the world of organizations, the concept of design systems has gained significant traction in recent years. Design systems, consisting of design philosophies, interface guidelines, visual guidelines, and component catalogs, provide a set of rules and standards that ensure consistency and coherence across different products and platforms. They not only streamline the design process but also enhance the user experience by delivering a cohesive visual language.

However, not all organizations have embraced the idea of design systems. Some have taken a different approach, focusing on individual components and tools rather than a comprehensive system. This article explores the challenges faced by organizations without a design system and the possibilities that lie ahead.

One key aspect of organizations without a design system is their struggle to align their design philosophies and articulate the value they want to provide to their users. Without a clear framework, design decisions often become fragmented and inconsistent, resulting in a disjointed user experience. To overcome this challenge, organizations need to define their design philosophies and communicate them effectively to their teams.

Another common point among organizations without a design system is their reliance on specific tools and frameworks, such as React and CSS frameworks, to implement their designs. While these tools are undoubtedly helpful, they do not provide a holistic solution. To move forward, organizations need to embrace a component-oriented approach, where they can create reusable design elements that can be easily implemented across different platforms and products.

Furthermore, the integration of design tools, such as Figma, can play a crucial role in consolidating design efforts and establishing a "Single Source of Design." By centralizing design assets and enabling collaborative workflows, organizations can simplify the design process and ensure consistency across teams.

Looking ahead, connecting the "Why" and "How" becomes crucial for organizations without a design system. Articulating the value they want to provide to their users and finding effective ways to implement it should be their primary focus. By bridging this gap, organizations can ensure that their design decisions are purposeful and aligned with their overall goals.

Now, let's shift our focus to community-building and the insights we can gain from comparing two popular platforms: SHOWROOM and Mirrativ.

On both platforms, the pivotal moment for fans is when their favorite performers switch platforms. Fans tend to follow performers to the new platform, as they want to express their gratitude and support in real-time. Delaying this transition can dampen fans' enthusiasm and weaken their connection with the performers. To maximize fan engagement, it is crucial to seize the moment of excitement and provide a platform for fans to express their support.

SHOWROOM and Mirrativ have different approaches to community-building. SHOWROOM creates a pyramid-shaped community, where performers and their fans interact through comments and gifts. However, the interaction is mostly limited to the virtual audience, who remain in the spectator seats throughout the live session.

In contrast, Mirrativ creates a spiderweb-like community, where everyone is a fan of everyone else. This interconnectedness allows fans to move from the spectator seats to the stage effortlessly through a feature called "Collaborative Calls." This feature enables fans to have real-time conversations that other listeners can also join, creating a more inclusive and interactive community.

In these community-building efforts, the presence of a central figure or "god" to admire may not be necessary. Instead, the focus should be on fostering a sense of belonging and facilitating meaningful connections between community members.

To conclude, organizations without a design system face challenges in terms of aligning their design philosophies and implementing consistent design decisions. By adopting a component-oriented approach and leveraging design tools like Figma, they can streamline their design processes and ensure coherence across teams. Simultaneously, community-building platforms like SHOWROOM and Mirrativ offer insights into engaging and inclusive communities. By seizing pivotal moments, enabling fan interactions, and fostering a sense of belonging, organizations can create vibrant and thriving communities.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Clearly articulate your design philosophies and the value you want to provide to your users. This will help align design decisions and ensure a cohesive user experience.

• 2. Embrace a component-oriented approach and leverage design tools like Figma to create reusable design elements that can be implemented across different platforms and products.

• 3. Focus on fostering a sense of belonging and facilitating meaningful connections within your community. Provide opportunities for fans to interact with each other and with performers, creating a more inclusive and engaging environment.