Of all the lectures so far, this was most likely the one which had the greatest impact on how I will work going forward. Prior to this I had heard of the term design system, but did not know how to create one or implement it in my work, but after using and experimenting with the design system this week, I will create and use one for my project, due to the ease of use it creates later down the line when making edits to a prototype. I also previously did not know how to use the auto layout feature in Figma, which will also help me in the future to make quick iterations and make designing screens in Figma easier.
This week I also created my own design system, and applied the design tokens I created to the current iteration of my project. This allowed me to easily make the changes suggested in last week’s critique, such as lightening the background, darkening the body text and changing some icon colours for better contrast. Applying a design system to a real project highlighted to me their usefulness and helped me gain a better understanding of what I had learnt during the class.
I also read an article detailing the usability testing that went into updating the Material Design System to its most recent form. The team interviewed Google designers, the primary users of the design system, and users of google apps, who found that the newer version made it easier for them to find important information such as names of contacts due to the larger heading size. Users also preferred a prominent search bar over a smaller search icon as it was easier to see and interact with, I will also use a prominent search bar in my app’s home screen so that users can easily find groups and friends. Interestingly, the article stated that despite overwhelmingly positive results, the design is still an iterative process, and the team will take the feedback and use it to design the system’s next version, an approach I feel is essential to user centred design, as designers must be versatile and responsive to ever changing user needs.
https://m3.material.io/blog/testing-material-3
I also found the 60 - 30 - 10 rule covered in the lecture useful, and the examples of its use in design showcased how it can be used to full effect. The accent colours direct the users to the important parts of the page they must interact with like calls to action, while the 30% brand colour conveys the personality of the product without impeding on its functionality. Having this rule to draw upon will help me distribute my colour palette effectively across the product, ensuring each colour is being used for its intended effect.