Summary
In his talk, Dave, head of a 50-person UX design team at GE Software, recounts the journey of creating a design system to address significant UX design challenges in a vast and complex organization. GE operates with 300,000 employees and diverse sectors, requiring an innovative strategy to unify the UX approach across various teams. Initially, Dave's team faced hurdles due to limited resources, a vast number of developers, and a lack of design consistency. Inspired by design systems from Apple and NASA, they adopted a 'tools, not rules' philosophy, creating a modular, intuitive design system that could scale efficiently. The design system not only provided a common language for designers and developers but also evolved through community contributions and user feedback, fostering a collaborative atmosphere. Over the years, GE Software has grown its design team and embraced UX more fully, transitioning from a focus on individual projects to integrated product delivery. Today, GE is moving toward a new generation of design systems that emphasizes extensibility and a deeper integration of user interfaces with backend technology.
Key Insights
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The importance of a design system for scaling UX across a large organization.
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Collaboration is crucial in creating effective design solutions among diverse teams.
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A 'tools, not rules' approach fosters adoption and usage of design systems.
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Different sectors of a company may require tailored design systems to meet specific user needs.
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Feedback from the user community is essential for continuously improving the design system.
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Prototyping can accelerate the development cycle and enhance user engagement.
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Building a shared understanding and vision through co-creation is vital in UX design.
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Design systems should evolve alongside the technology stack and user needs.
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A successful design system helps bridge the gap between design and development teams.
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Investing in co-creation spaces can enhance collaboration and innovation.
Notable Quotes
"Craft manifests in how we conduct co-creation workshops."
"One of the most important aspects of our journey was understanding that good design isn't just about aesthetics."
"We were looking to create a modular set of parts akin to Legos that could snap together."
"Over time, we realized the mission required a different approach than we had anticipated."
"Our design system was initially a set of rules, but we learned it needed to be a kit of parts."
"The goal was never perfect design, but rather a consistent and functional user experience."
"We discovered that good designing comes from iterative testing and community involvement."
"The demand for prototyping has surged; it empowers teams to validate ideas faster."
"Our view of craft has evolved to prioritize collaboration over perfection."
"The first iteration of the design system showed us the importance of proper usage guidelines."
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