Measuring the value of design systems | Figma Blog

Design systems can substantially reduce the time designers spend recreating assets, searching for references, and making repetitive visual decisions. Figma’s controlled experiment found that designers completed tasks 34% faster when they had access to a relevant, up-to-date design system. The result represents an upper bound for real-world savings, since design systems are not always perfectly aligned with the work at hand.

Why Design Systems Create Time Savings

• Designers avoid recreating common elements from scratch.
• Shared libraries reduce the need to search through old design files.
• Predefined assets minimize small, repetitive decisions about:
  • Typography
  • Placement
  • Colors
  • Component structure
• The accumulated savings can give designers more time for strategic and creative work.

The Experiment

• Designers were asked to complete two comparable tasks for a bank account aggregation app:
  • Designing a screen for viewing account transactions and trends.
  • Designing a flow for connecting a new account.
• Each participant completed both tasks, but had access to a design system for only one.
• For the task without the system, designers could reference older design files.
• The tasks were balanced so each participant served as their own control.
• Researchers alternated task order, allowed participants to familiarize themselves with the assets, and avoided prescribing specific design solutions.
• Completion time was measured, while designers chose when their work was sufficiently complete.

The 34% Improvement

• Participants with access to the design system completed their objective 34% faster.
• The system was specifically relevant, current, and applicable to the assigned tasks.
• Because of those ideal conditions, Figma considers 34% a likely maximum rather than an average real-world benefit.
• Figma’s broader goal was to help design teams use analytics to keep libraries relevant and understand the value they provide.

Maintaining the System’s Value

• Design systems are most valuable when they reflect the work designers actually need to do.
• Quantitative usage data can help teams identify which components are useful, compare libraries, and decide where maintenance is needed.
• Figma introduced Design System Analytics to provide insight into library and component usage, supporting better decisions about shared assets.

A design system should be treated as an actively maintained productivity tool, not merely a repository of reusable components. Teams can maximize its value by measuring adoption and keeping its assets current and relevant.