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Issue no.4: Find your framework

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An illustration depicts a smiling person reaching out to catch a star. They are holding a transparent bag of other shapes and building blocks.An illustration depicts a smiling person reaching out to catch a star. They are holding a transparent bag of other shapes and building blocks.

What happens when a bunch of design systems diehards get together to talk shop?

Share Issue no.4: Find your framework

Hero illustration by Molly Fairhurst

We aimed to find out with Framework, our virtual design systems event for product builders. If you missed the action, don’t fret—we’ll get you up to speed and keep the conversation going with the latest takes from around the web.

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Framework fomo

Dig into everything we announced at Framework

What we launched at Framework

We announced Code Connect for developers, typography and gradient variables, and our Library Analytics API to help you drive design system adoption across your entire organization.

, including a feature called Code Connect that links your design system to code, and the much-anticipated typography variables. Plus, catch up on the roundtable talks and expert Q&As in our event recap.

A rectangle changes from hot pink, to periwinkle blue, to forest green, blending into the background of the graphic. The letter A and number 1 repeat at either end in different sizes.A rectangle changes from hot pink, to periwinkle blue, to forest green, blending into the background of the graphic. The letter A and number 1 repeat at either end in different sizes.

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What we launched at Framework

We announced Code Connect for developers, typography and gradient variables, and our Library Analytics API to help you drive design system adoption across your entire organization.

Peddle it like a product

Want your design system to be an essential part of your company’s toolkit? Start treating it like a product. In our latest on the future of design systems

The future of design systems is marketing

Design systems promise consistency, efficiency, and scalability, but realizing these benefits hinges on widespread usage. To get your entire team on board, you’ll need to tap into your inner marketer and craft a compelling adoption strategy.

, Ana Boyer unpacks how to drive internal buy-in and adoption across your organization. Discover how to ensure your design system becomes as indispensable as it is powerful.

A graphic shows cross-sections of a green circle snaking through blue squares on a bright yellow background.A graphic shows cross-sections of a green circle snaking through blue squares on a bright yellow background.

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The future of design systems is marketing

Design systems promise consistency, efficiency, and scalability, but realizing these benefits hinges on widespread usage. To get your entire team on board, you’ll need to tap into your inner marketer and craft a compelling adoption strategy.

Design systems 101

Not sure what all the fuss is about? For those yet to embark on their design system journey, we’ve put together an introductory series. The first two guides cover what a design system is

Abstract artwork featuring orange organic shapes and green zigzag patterns on a blue background.Abstract artwork featuring orange organic shapes and green zigzag patterns on a blue background.

Design system 101: What is a design system?

Understand the basics of design systems, what they are, how they work, and how they can change the way you design.

and how to build one of your own.

Abstract artwork featuring orange organic shapes and green zigzag patterns on a blue background.Abstract artwork featuring orange organic shapes and green zigzag patterns on a blue background.

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Abstract artwork featuring orange organic shapes and green zigzag patterns on a blue background.Abstract artwork featuring orange organic shapes and green zigzag patterns on a blue background.

Design system 101: What is a design system?

Understand the basics of design systems, what they are, how they work, and how they can change the way you design.

Fueling growth

It’s fitting that Carvana, the leading online retailer for used cars, has a need for speed—and scale. Learn how the team leveraged its design system

How Carvana fuels consistency and scale

Carvana, the leading e-commerce brand for buying and selling used cars, steers itself through periods of growth and evolution by leveraging its design system and variables.

to meet sky-rocketing customer demand during the pandemic, and how variables made it easy to keep design details consistent across the whole product.

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How Carvana fuels consistency and scale

Carvana, the leading e-commerce brand for buying and selling used cars, steers itself through periods of growth and evolution by leveraging its design system and variables.

Making headlines

Delivering the news in a clear, consistent way is top priority at The Washington Post, which maintains an ever-growing design system. When it comes to crafting new components, the team has instituted a 10-day sprint

An illustration of a ship hull being built in a warehouse with several workers building the body or examining drawingsAn illustration of a ship hull being built in a warehouse with several workers building the body or examining drawings

The anatomy of a component sprint

The Washington Post’s inclusive process for creating new design system components bridges the gap between design and development to make features that help navigate the news online.

that’s run jointly by design and dev. Here’s how everyone stays in lockstep to ship at record speed.

An illustration of a ship hull being built in a warehouse with several workers building the body or examining drawings. The ocean is visible through the open doors.An illustration of a ship hull being built in a warehouse with several workers building the body or examining drawings. The ocean is visible through the open doors.

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An illustration of a ship hull being built in a warehouse with several workers building the body or examining drawingsAn illustration of a ship hull being built in a warehouse with several workers building the body or examining drawings

The anatomy of a component sprint

The Washington Post’s inclusive process for creating new design system components bridges the gap between design and development to make features that help navigate the news online.

Rabbit hole

Illustrations by Cynthia Alfonso and Lorenzo Gritti

1. A series of interconnected green circles form a random pattern 2. An illustrated portrait of a man with dark, curly hair and a beard 3. A supergraphic formed of blue, green, orange, and pink shapes 1. A series of interconnected green circles form a random pattern 2. An illustrated portrait of a man with dark, curly hair and a beard 3. A supergraphic formed of blue, green, orange, and pink shapes

1. #DesignTwitter erupts after Daryl Ginn tweets that design systems are no fun, with others claiming that they stifle creativity and lead to generic interfaces.

2. Pascal Potvin says: Why not both? Efficient and boring, it’s on designers to leverage them effectively. Dan Mall suggests leaving 20% to creativity.

3. Bring your spicy takes to the design systems track at Config this June. See you there!

The last word

A handwritten font reads, "Design systems aren't creativity killers; they're clarity creators," by Ana Boyer, Designer Advocate, FigmaA handwritten font reads, "Design systems aren't creativity killers; they're clarity creators," by Ana Boyer, Designer Advocate, Figma

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