The document summarizes the key points from a conference on design systems. It outlines 4 major keys: (1) think in systems by understanding modules' functions and giving them memorable names for consistency, (2) focus on content and how voice is consistent but tone changes with situations, (3) expand the design culture by building an empathetic, research-focused team environment, and (4) recognize the work already being done well in user research, design sprints, modular design, and more. The document suggests creating a design system by establishing principals, a voice and tone guide, style guide, and pattern library.

1. Smashing
Conference
Review
@kmacdesign
Kathleen MacAinsh
Part 2

4. • How might our team work more
collaboratively and effectively (CX,
Research, Devs, Business, Content,
Analytics)
• What kind of deliverables are other
teams using to communicate designs
to devs?
• How might we better communicate
our work to the team and
stakeholders?
• How are other teams working with the
business to keep their vision and goals
in mind when improving the UX
• How might we implement a pattern
library at the start of a website
redesign?

5. MAJOR KEYS
SMASHING CONF | NEW YORK | 2016
KATHLEEN’S

7. MAJOR KEYS!
• THINK IN SYSTEMS
• EXPAND OUR DESIGN CULTURE
• WE’RE DOING GREAT!
• FOCUS ON CONTENT

8. THINK IN SYSTEMS
MAJOR KEY #1
Atoms, Modules and Other Fancy Particles - Part 2
by Alla Kholmatova

9. MAJOR KEY #1
How do you create an
enduring design system that people
want to use?

10. MAJOR KEY #1
Understand the function of a module
Give modules names that people will use
and remember
This results in consistency without
detailed design specs

11. MAJOR KEY #1
Understanding the
function of a module
is a team effort

14. MAJOR KEY #1

17. MAJOR KEY #1
Giving modules
names that people
will use and
remember is also a
team effort

24. MAJOR KEY #1
Consistency without
detailed design
specs team effort

25. MAJOR KEY #1

26. MAJOR KEY #1

27. FOCUS ON CONTENT
MAJOR KEY #2
Kate Kiefer-Lee: Writing in the Real World

28. MAJOR KEY #2
Voice and Tone

29. MAJOR KEY #2
Voice doesn’t change

30. MAJOR KEY #2
Tone changes
depending on the
situation

31. open sourced

35. EXPAND OUR DESIGN CULTURE
MAJOR KEY #3
Frances Berriman: Driving Culture Change With Design

36. DESIGNING GREAT CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCES STARTS WITH
THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

37. THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
MUST ALLOW THE TEAM
AND PLAYERS TO SUCCEED

38. FRIENDLY,
POSITIVE +
OPEN CULTURE
BUILD A

40. Empathy

41. Straight to
the point

42. Research
as a team
sport

43. Play in the
same field

44. Share +
celebrate

45. WE’RE DOING GREAT
MAJOR KEY #4

46. USER RESEARCH
DESIGN SPRINTS
MODULAR DESIGN
TOWN HALLS
MOBILE FIRST
ACCESSIBILITY +
PERFORMANCE
CONTENT TEAM
ANALYTICS
AND MORE

47. Let’s continue to
expand our design
culture.

48. With each project
we grow as a team
and get better and
better!

49. • How might our team work more
collaboratively and effectively (CX,
Research, Devs, Business, Content,
Analytics)
• What kind of deliverables are other
teams using to communicate designs
to devs?
• How might we better communicate
our work to the team and
stakeholders?
• How are other teams working with the
business to keep their vision and goals
in mind when improving the UX
• How might we implement a pattern
library at the start of a website
redesign?
Design systems
Frontify Workspace
Design System
Voice and Tone Guide
Design System
Workshop with various
roles together
Design Sprints
Sharing often
Alla Kholmatova —
Building a Pattern
Language For The
Web
https://
www.dropbox.com/
s/picwj0kpkioicpg/
atoms-modules-
particles-alla-
kholmatova.pdf?dl=0

50. How might we
create a design
system for our
company?

51. Principals
Voice + Tone
Style Guide
Pattern Library