Building a design system from the ground up can feel like a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. 🌀 At the start, you're full of hope, thinking, "This is it! Everyone will love this. It'll make our lives so much easier!" But let’s face it – that’s not always the case. Sometimes, it feels more like everyone’s giving you the side-eye, wondering why they should bother with your system at all. 😅

Here’s a fun fact: When I first started my design journey at a massive company, our design system was a bit like a lonely island. It was all about getting it right, and we thought, “Once it's launched, people will adopt it without a hitch!” But when we asked if folks had used it, the answer was often a cringe-worthy, "What’s that?" 🚨

And yes, we tried some good ol' fashioned persuasion: a lot of "just give it a go, pretty please!" but the resistance was real. There were brand new names, shiny components, and all the latest jargon, yet the results were underwhelming. But I’ve learned a lot along the way, and here’s what worked (and some lessons learned) in my journey of getting a team on board with a design system.

1. Make It Simple (but Effective!)

At the beginning, everything felt like it was getting lost in the noise. 🎧 My first task was simplifying things. No more jargon or fancy names – just clear, simple components. When your team is too busy, they don't have the time for the complicated stuff, so simplicity was key. Simpler navigation, clear labels, and components that everyone can use. It’s like the good ol’ days of building Lego towers – everyone’s in on it, and it’s all hands on deck. 🚀

2. Educate & Communicate, Then Educate Some More

Surprise, surprise, not everyone is onboard with new ideas straight away. 🎓 At first, we saw a lot of reluctance to using our shiny new system, and honestly, we were a bit "why isn't this working?" But, as they say, "If you want something done, you have to teach people how to use it!" So we doubled down on education – not just once, but continually. It’s like teaching a dog new tricks: the more consistent and patient you are, the better results you’ll get. 🐶📚

3. Show the Impact (with Data!)

At first, we struggled to get stakeholders to buy in. Then, we started showcasing the numbers – the time saved, the processes streamlined, the consistency across teams. Once we showed people the magic behind the curtain, we had more than just the designers on board. The whole company started to see the value. ✨ Seeing tangible results? That’s the secret sauce, right there.

4. Be Flexible (and Don’t Lose Your Cool)

One thing I learned is that a design system is like a living organism. It grows, changes, and sometimes, it gets a little messy. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but you've got to keep your cool. As much as we think we’ve nailed it, feedback is key. You can’t take it personally when things don’t go as planned. Sometimes, it’s all about figuring out the best approach while still listening to what your team needs. The trick? Keep adjusting and don’t stop iterating. 🛠️

5. Know When to Take a Step Back

A design system is a team effort. There’s no "I" in team (well, except for ‘I’ – you know what I mean!). You’ve got to give others the space to contribute, make mistakes, and bring in their ideas. This wasn’t just about the design team – it became a cross-functional thing. Engineers, marketers, and product managers all needed to be involved. It’s about the collective effort, not just me putting my stamp on it. 💪

The Realisation

It wasn’t until we made things more collaborative and easier to use that the real magic happened. People started saying things like, “This is actually helping me!” 💬 Slowly but surely, the system was adopted, and eventually, we were able to move from chaos to collaboration.

A design system is a journey, not a destination. 🛤️ But with persistence, education, and a bit of humour to keep it light, we managed to turn our ‘design chaos’ into a smooth-running, scalable system. And let me tell you, when that happens, there’s no feeling quite like it.

And hey, if you’re ever in doubt, remember – don’t take it personally. We all have our bad days, but tomorrow’s a new day. Keep iterating, keep educating, and never stop having fun while doing it! 😄

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