Let’s talk about Design Systems: DevFest Venice 2023
14/12/2023
Categories
Once again this year, one of the most loved and well-attended events for developers and students proved to be a great success. DevFest Venice 2023 attracted an enthusiastic and passionate crowd, with tickets selling out weeks before the start. It was a day full of talks, exchanges and the sharing of ideas between curious and open-minded people and companies.
For me, this edition was a whirlwind of intense emotions, with a touch of nervousness: it was an extraordinary experience because I had the chance to be directly involved by giving my very first talk!
Being on stage, sharing ideas and knowledge with such an engaged audience, was an unforgettable and inspiring moment.
The world of design and development is increasingly moving towards standardisation aimed at efficiency through the adoption of Design Systems.
These systems, made up of components, guidelines and principles, provide a structured method for creating high-quality, consistent user experiences. They define a common language, understandable to all teams, acting as a reference point to:
However, implementing a Design System is a challenge that requires bold decisions. I shared the journey of Aton’s Front-end team in tackling this challenge, turning guidelines into concrete actions to drive the desired change.
Despite the difficulties encountered along the way, we are extremely satisfied with the adoption of the Design System and the benefits it has brought to our design and development process. The positive impact has been tangible through:
In addition, a particularly important outcome has been the improved collaboration between designers and developers.
The implementation of the Design System has encouraged more effective communication, enabling the two teams to work in synergy from the very early stages of the creative process. This has led to a stronger mutual understanding of each other’s needs and constraints, resulting in more coherent and functional solutions.
Our experience with implementing the Design System generated great interest among the audience and, to my delight, at the end of the talk many people came forward with questions about our approach. Sharing our challenges and successes sparked valuable conversations and expanded our network.
The day continued with exciting talks that explored a wide range of topics, from the world of open source to front-end, back-end and artificial intelligence. Each session offered a unique opportunity for learning and the exchange of ideas.
As the hours went by, my energy grew, fuelling my passion and curiosity: by the end of the day, the satisfaction for what I had learned and the excitement for upcoming events were almost tangible in the air.
It was an extraordinary, enriching and stimulating experience that left me eager to take part in similar events in the future. Oh, and I mustn’t forget to mention that I also came home with quite a few goodies!
