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The social impact of design systems: digital accessibility
An impact that goes far beyond efficiency in the digital product
Design systems are a tool that primarily serves business. This can be a controversial view, especially when we look at the topic from a design perspective. In many teams, and according to data from the Map of Design Systems in Portugal 2022 , design teams are often the main evangelists and promoters of design systems in companies. This is incredible. If you are starting out, this can be a very interesting way. However, the reality of many other companies is that design systems often become just another “scene” of design. And this does not play in the best interests of the topic at all.
There are, at least in my opinion, very few absolute truths about design systems. This fact is closely related to the impact that design systems can have on a company and its business. To generate a real impact, it is important that the design system is built and maintained based on the particular context of each company. Its business, its governance models, its people, its short, medium and long-term vision and so on. “White label” design systems solutions, by themselves and without any contextualization work, are halfway to a completely useless design system in that specific company.
