Design systems, which today form the backbone of consistent and efficient digital products and services, have their roots deep in the history of design and technology. This article examines the evolution of systems design from their earliest forms to modern integrated platforms that are used today by companies around the world.

‍

Origins of Design: Industrialization and Standardization

In the course of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the need for standardization of production processes began to take shape. The products were produced on a mass scale and it was essential to ensure their consistency and quality. Standards and systems were created for all aspects of manufacturing, from machine components to typography and graphic design.

The Origins of Digital Design: The 1960s and 1970s

With the advent of computers in the 1960s and 1970s, the first attempts to standardize user interfaces began. Companies such as IBM and Xerox began developing the first computer systems that needed a consistent design for their users. At this time, the first attempts arose to document design standards and principles that were intended to ensure a uniform appearance and behavior of software.

1980s and 1990s: The advent of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

In the 1980s with the advent of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), companies such as Apple and Microsoft began to develop their own design standards. Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HIG), and the Microsoft Windows User Experience Guidelines were the first comprehensive documents that defined how applications should look and function on their platforms. These documents included guidelines for typography, colors, icons, and interaction patterns.

2000s: Web Design and Frameworks

With the development of the Internet and web applications in the 1990s and early 2000s, the need for standardization became even more important. Developers and designers began to create the first CSS frameworks, such as Bootstrap and Foundation, which made it possible to create websites quickly and consistently. These frameworks included predefined styles and components that made work easier and ensured a uniform look and feel.

2010s: Rise of Systems Design

In the last decade, the design system has seen major development. Companies such as Google, IBM, and Salesforce began developing comprehensive design systems that included not only visual styles and components, but also policies for accessibility, international localization, and other aspects of the user experience.

• Google Material Design (2014): Google introduced Material Design as a comprehensive system that provides uniform style and interaction patterns for all of its products. Material Design emphasizes consistency, simplicity and effective interactions.
• Salesforce Lightning Design System (2015): Salesforce developed the Lightning Design System as a way to ensure consistency among its many applications and services. This system includes detailed documentation and tools for both developers and designers.
• IBM Carbon Design System (2018): IBM introduced the Carbon Design System as an open design system for its cloud products. Carbon focuses on scalability, modularity and accessibility.

2019: A Breakthrough Year

2019 has become a turning point in the field of systems design. This year saw several major events and innovations that took design systems to a new level:

• Adobe Spectrum: Adobe has unveiled its own design, the Spectrum system, which is designed to provide consistency and efficiency across all Adobe products. Spectrum focuses on flexibility and customizability, enabling designers and developers to create comprehensive and accessible user interfaces.
• Atlassian Design System: Atlassian has improved its design system, which is focused on teamwork and productivity. Atlassian Design System provides detailed documentation and tools that enable rapid and consistent development of applications and services.
• Microsoft Fluent Design: Microsoft has expanded its Fluent Design System, which combines materials, light, depth, movement and scale to create immersive user experiences. Fluent Design is designed to work on all Microsoft devices and platforms.

The Present and Future of Systems Design

Today, design systems are an essential part of digital product development. They not only provide visual and functional consistency, but also improve development efficiency, facilitate maintenance, and enable better collaboration between designers and developers. Modern design systems use advanced tools for documentation, testing and automation, ensuring their timeliness and relevance.

The future of systems design is likely to bring even greater integration with development and design tools, more advanced customization and personalization capabilities, and a deeper focus on accessibility and inclusive design.

Conclusion

The history of systems design is a story of continuous development and adaptation to changing technologies and user needs. From the first attempts at standardization in the Industrial Revolution to modern complex systems, design systems have played a key role in how we design and develop digital products and services today. As an important tool for ensuring consistency, efficiency and quality, design systems will continue to shape the future of digital design.

—
We work on our own CORES system design, thanks to which we can start sub-design systems for our clients. 💪🏻
—

‍