A design system is more than just a collection of reusable components—it’s a set of standards that drive design consistency and efficiency within an organization. As a collaboration-first, cloud-based design tool, Figma is ideal for creating, managing, and scaling design systems. The Valtira UX team, with its seasoned design and technology expertise, can further streamline the process.
This article will walk you through the process of building and maintaining a design system in Figma and how Valtira’s UX team can enhance your design system’s value.
Building a Design System in Figma
1. Define and Build the Fundamentals
Begin with defining and creating your basic design elements directly in Figma. This includes your color palette, typography, grid systems, and spacing scales, which will form the foundational styles of your design system.
2. Create Global Styles
In Figma, create styles for your colors, typography, and effects. These global styles will serve as the base for your components. For example, defining text styles for headers and paragraph text can help maintain consistency in typography throughout your designs.
3. Create Components
After setting up your global styles, start creating components. These are reusable design elements, from buttons and icons to larger structures like navigation bars or card layouts. Figma’s components are powerful because if you update the master component, all instances of it in your design will automatically update as well.
4. Utilize Variants for Flexibility
With Figma, you can create component variants to manage multiple versions of a component, such as a button in different states (default, hover, active, disabled, etc.). This keeps your components organized and easy to understand for all team members.
Maintaining a Design System in Figma
A design system isn’t a one-and-done project. It evolves as your product and brand grow. Regular maintenance and updates are crucial to its success. Figma’s team-oriented, cloud-based platform makes it easy to update your design system and instantly propagate changes to everyone involved in the project.
How Valtira’s UX Team Can Help
While Figma provides a robust platform for creating design systems, navigating its best practices can be complex, especially for larger organizations or teams new to design systems. This is where the Valtira UX team can make a substantial difference.
- Expert Guidance: The Valtira UX team can provide expert guidance throughout the process. They will help set up your design system, define and build fundamental styles and components, and ensure everything aligns with your brand guidelines.
- Maintenance: As your products evolve, so should your design system. Valtira can help with regular system updates and maintenance, ensuring your design system always reflects the current state of your brand and product.
- Integration: Valtira can help integrate your Figma design system with other tools and workflows, enhancing team collaboration and efficiency.
In conclusion, building and maintaining a design system in Figma can significantly streamline your design process and ensure brand consistency. With the added support from Valtira’s UX team, you can leverage the full potential of a design system for your organization’s success. Reach out to the Valtira team of experts to learn more.