Master
Design System
Contributions
Learn how to create an actionable checklist for your Design System Contributions.
Building components for a design system might seem simple—just follow the definition of done, right?
But without a clear process, miscommunication creeps in and progress grinds to a halt. Soon, stakeholders lose faith when they can't see what the team is accomplishing.
The solution? Turn your definition of done into a procedural checklist.
Each completed check becomes a visible win for your team and keeps stakeholders informed in real time. It's a win-win!
Enter Compfeed—a Design System Ops tool integrated with Figma that makes checklists helpful, easy, and fun to use.
You're just one step away from transforming your workflow. This article will guide you through the first step: creating a process.
We'll help you get started by showing you how to convert your process into an effective checklist, using our own checklist as an example.
Setting Clear Goals:
The Heart of Your Checklist
Creating a checklist isn't just about listing tasks. It's about setting clear, actionable goals that guide your team through each project phase. Keep these goals in mind:
Governing Contributions
Include specific questions as checks. For instance, did the designer try to use existing components first? Are the changes well-documented? These checks help in maintaining the integrity of the design system.
Outlining a Process
Start by organizing the phases and checks in logical order. This ensures a smooth workflow and helps visualize the entire process from start to finish.
Ensuring Quality
Make sure every new contribution meets the defined quality standards, whether in naming conventions, the use of auto layout, or aligning properties with development.
Let's dive into the tasks for creating a design system component.
Navigating Different Processes: New vs. Evolving Design Systems
Not all design systems are created equal. The process will differ depending on whether you're working with a new or evolving system.
Brand new Design Systems
This isn't like a blank canvas. The focus is to consolidate all the variations you can find of buttons, checkboxes, modals, and such to define one clear Status Quo component. Your primary task is to remove discrepancies and establish a consistent foundation.
Evolving Design Systems
Conversely, an existing system already has a defined Status Quo. The focus here shifts to consolidating features, ensuring that new contributions still support the existing use case and align with the established standards.
What is the Status Quo?
The Status Quo is the current accepted state of a component following the defined process. Establishing this baseline is the first step in a new system.
