Design System Metrics
Design System Metrics
Design System Metrics
Actionable Metrics for Design System Success
Actionable Metrics for Design System Success
Actionable Metrics for Design System Success
Mainline coverage
56.12% coverage
+21.77%
Workspace
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This year
This year
DESIGN SYSTEM XYZ DASHBOARD
Don't put in metrics just because having many of them on your dashboard will look fantastic. If it's not an actionable metric, it's a vanity metric.
Don't put in metrics just because having many of them on your dashboard will look fantastic. If it's not an actionable metric, it's a vanity metric.
Don't put in metrics just because having many of them on your dashboard will look fantastic. If it's not an actionable metric, it's a vanity metric.
Business
Return on Investment (ROI)
Clearly tied to financial value. Is the investment paying off?
Return on Investment (ROI)
Clearly tied to financial value. Is the investment paying off?
Return on Investment (ROI)
Clearly tied to financial value. Is the investment paying off?
Company Scalability
How much did your company's capacity for workload increase after having the Design System?
Company Scalability
How much did your company's capacity for workload increase after having the Design System?
Company Scalability
How much did your company's capacity for workload increase after having the Design System?
Brand Reputation Improvement
People start to recognize your brand and learn how to use your products when you communicate with consistent visual language.
Brand Reputation Improvement
People start to recognize your brand and learn how to use your products when you communicate with consistent visual language.
Brand Reputation Improvement
People start to recognize your brand and learn how to use your products when you communicate with consistent visual language.
Brand Consistency Improvement
With a strong foundationDesign System), there will be less work to fix visual differences.The goal is to Increase familiarity with product design and drive repeat usage.
Brand Consistency Improvement
With a strong foundationDesign System), there will be less work to fix visual differences.The goal is to Increase familiarity with product design and drive repeat usage.
Brand Consistency Improvement
With a strong foundationDesign System), there will be less work to fix visual differences.The goal is to Increase familiarity with product design and drive repeat usage.
Product
Amount of Libraries / Library usage
How many libraries do you have? How many of them are in use? Figma offers Library usage trends.
Amount of Libraries / Library usage
How many libraries do you have? How many of them are in use? Figma offers Library usage trends.
Amount of Libraries / Library usage
How many libraries do you have? How many of them are in use? Figma offers Library usage trends.
The Total Number of Components
This one is easy at the beginning, when you need to track the progress of growing the design system. Later on, you don’t need more components, you need to improve the important ones.
The Total Number of Components
This one is easy at the beginning, when you need to track the progress of growing the design system. Later on, you don’t need more components, you need to improve the important ones.
The Total Number of Components
This one is easy at the beginning, when you need to track the progress of growing the design system. Later on, you don’t need more components, you need to improve the important ones.
The Total Number Component is Used Across Products.
This one is connected to the adoption rate. You want to reuse the component as many times as possible because you can start saving time.
The Total Number Component is Used Across Products.
This one is connected to the adoption rate. You want to reuse the component as many times as possible because you can start saving time.
The Total Number Component is Used Across Products.
This one is connected to the adoption rate. You want to reuse the component as many times as possible because you can start saving time.
Amount of Products Using Different Libraries
Design systems are challenging to build and maintain without understanding how designers use them. Figma offers a lot of insights into components and library usage. This helps you measure design system adoption before the product development process. Figma analytics.
Amount of Products Using Different Libraries
Design systems are challenging to build and maintain without understanding how designers use them. Figma offers a lot of insights into components and library usage. This helps you measure design system adoption before the product development process. Figma analytics.
Amount of Products Using Different Libraries
Design systems are challenging to build and maintain without understanding how designers use them. Figma offers a lot of insights into components and library usage. This helps you measure design system adoption before the product development process. Figma analytics.
Adoption Rate
What % of products use the design system? Compare by departments and teams. The more the design system it's used, the more days are saved.
Adoption Rate
What % of products use the design system? Compare by departments and teams. The more the design system it's used, the more days are saved.
Adoption Rate
What % of products use the design system? Compare by departments and teams. The more the design system it's used, the more days are saved.
Usage Statistics
Compare components usage in Figma, Github, your libraries.
Usage Statistics
Compare components usage in Figma, Github, your libraries.
Usage Statistics
Compare components usage in Figma, Github, your libraries.
Number of Component Detachments (Figma)
If some components are often detached, some user flows/scenarios are missing. Think about improvements.
Number of Component Detachments (Figma)
If some components are often detached, some user flows/scenarios are missing. Think about improvements.
Number of Component Detachments (Figma)
If some components are often detached, some user flows/scenarios are missing. Think about improvements.
Number of Snowflakes
Do components exist just because the designer had time to do them?
Number of Snowflakes
Do components exist just because the designer had time to do them?
Number of Snowflakes
Do components exist just because the designer had time to do them?
Average Task Completion Time
The time employees spend on completing the task (for example designing a new component). Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Task Completion Time
The time employees spend on completing the task (for example designing a new component). Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Task Completion Time
The time employees spend on completing the task (for example designing a new component). Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Time (from an idea) to Market
The time employees spend on completing the user flow. Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Time (from an idea) to Market
The time employees spend on completing the user flow. Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Time (from an idea) to Market
The time employees spend on completing the user flow. Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
User Interface Design Consistency
With a strong foundation (Design System), there is less work for fixing visual differences.
User Interface Design Consistency
With a strong foundation (Design System), there is less work for fixing visual differences.
User Interface Design Consistency
With a strong foundation (Design System), there is less work for fixing visual differences.
Documentation Updates/Syncs
Update documentation regularly (as automated as possible); otherwise, a lot of info is lost.
Documentation Updates/Syncs
Update documentation regularly (as automated as possible); otherwise, a lot of info is lost.
Documentation Updates/Syncs
Update documentation regularly (as automated as possible); otherwise, a lot of info is lost.
Documentation Visits
Are your employees even reading your Documentation?
Documentation Visits
Are your employees even reading your Documentation?
Documentation Visits
Are your employees even reading your Documentation?
Amount of Products Using Different Libraries
This one is important. Imagine having a Design System in place, but no one would use it. This KPI shows how many products use the coded components (or libraries in Figma). You want to achieve the highest possible %.
Amount of Products Using Different Libraries
This one is important. Imagine having a Design System in place, but no one would use it. This KPI shows how many products use the coded components (or libraries in Figma). You want to achieve the highest possible %.
Amount of Products Using Different Libraries
This one is important. Imagine having a Design System in place, but no one would use it. This KPI shows how many products use the coded components (or libraries in Figma). You want to achieve the highest possible %.
Team Efficiency Improvement
Try to compare workflow before the design system and find out how much time it takes to complete the task/user-flow/app design now.
Team Efficiency Improvement
Try to compare workflow before the design system and find out how much time it takes to complete the task/user-flow/app design now.
Team Efficiency Improvement
Try to compare workflow before the design system and find out how much time it takes to complete the task/user-flow/app design now.
Conversion rate
How much did the conversion rate improve? Analyze what works and what doesn’t.
Conversion rate
How much did the conversion rate improve? Analyze what works and what doesn’t.
Conversion rate
How much did the conversion rate improve? Analyze what works and what doesn’t.
Accessibility Score
Create an accessible design, so users of diverse abilities can navigate, understand, and use your UI successfully.
Accessibility Score
Create an accessible design, so users of diverse abilities can navigate, understand, and use your UI successfully.
Accessibility Score
Create an accessible design, so users of diverse abilities can navigate, understand, and use your UI successfully.
Qualitative metrics
User Interviews with Employees and Stakeholders
Find out how employees work right now. How do they communicate? Where do they find out about design updates? Who would use the Design System? Why and how would the Design System help them? Do this kind of interview again once you have the Design System in place.
User Interviews with Employees and Stakeholders
Find out how employees work right now. How do they communicate? Where do they find out about design updates? Who would use the Design System? Why and how would the Design System help them? Do this kind of interview again once you have the Design System in place.
User Interviews with Employees and Stakeholders
Find out how employees work right now. How do they communicate? Where do they find out about design updates? Who would use the Design System? Why and how would the Design System help them? Do this kind of interview again once you have the Design System in place.
Team Efficiency and Productivity Improvement Survey
Don't just compare numbers; send a survey. Do employees have more time for focused work, thinking about flows, etc.?
Team Efficiency and Productivity Improvement Survey
Don't just compare numbers; send a survey. Do employees have more time for focused work, thinking about flows, etc.?
Team Efficiency and Productivity Improvement Survey
Don't just compare numbers; send a survey. Do employees have more time for focused work, thinking about flows, etc.?
Tech Debt
After having the Design System in place, there should be less tech debt.
Tech Debt
After having the Design System in place, there should be less tech debt.
Tech Debt
After having the Design System in place, there should be less tech debt.
Design Debt
After having the Design System in place, there should be way less UX and Design debt.
Design Debt
After having the Design System in place, there should be way less UX and Design debt.
Design Debt
After having the Design System in place, there should be way less UX and Design debt.
Development
Design to Development Time (Handoff)
The goal is to speed up the process from design to handoff.
Design to Development Time (Handoff)
The goal is to speed up the process from design to handoff.
Design to Development Time (Handoff)
The goal is to speed up the process from design to handoff.
Average Task Completion Time
The time developers spend on completing the task. Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Task Completion Time
The time developers spend on completing the task. Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Average Task Completion Time
The time developers spend on completing the task. Try to compare before/after the Design System. How much did the time improve?
Linter Warnings
Number should be much lower.
Linter Warnings
Number should be much lower.
Linter Warnings
Number should be much lower.
Code Complexity
The goal should be to reuse the code from the Design System and decrease the cost of refactoring.
Code Complexity
The goal should be to reuse the code from the Design System and decrease the cost of refactoring.
Code Complexity
The goal should be to reuse the code from the Design System and decrease the cost of refactoring.
Adoption
Satisfaction Survey
Check reviews from different teams. How positive are they? How can you optimize workflows even more?
Satisfaction Survey
Check reviews from different teams. How positive are they? How can you optimize workflows even more?
Satisfaction Survey
Check reviews from different teams. How positive are they? How can you optimize workflows even more?
Contributions to the Design System
Design System gets more valuable with a collaborative team.
Contributions to the Design System
Design System gets more valuable with a collaborative team.
Contributions to the Design System
Design System gets more valuable with a collaborative team.
Participation in Meetings
Who is coming to the Design System "Office hours"? Are people interested in participating?
Participation in Meetings
Who is coming to the Design System "Office hours"? Are people interested in participating?
Participation in Meetings
Who is coming to the Design System "Office hours"? Are people interested in participating?
Adoption Rate
What % of products use the design system? Compare by departments and teams.
Adoption Rate
What % of products use the design system? Compare by departments and teams.
Adoption Rate
What % of products use the design system? Compare by departments and teams.
So, what is next?
So, what is next?
So, what is next?
Start according to your resources, and remember that no single set of metrics works for everyone.
Start according to your resources, and remember that no single set of metrics works for everyone.
Start according to your resources, and remember that no single set of metrics works for everyone.
Tools
Tools
Tools
The Design System Guide
Newsletter
Writing on topics such as design systems,
design process, design strategy. ✨
© 2022 - 2024 The Design System Guide by Romina Kavcic
The Design System Guide
Newsletter
Writing on topics such as design systems,
design process, design strategy. ✨
© 2022 - 2024 The Design System Guide by Romina Kavcic
The Design System Guide
Newsletter
Writing on topics such as design systems,
design process, design strategy. ✨
© 2022 - 2024 The Design System Guide by Romina Kavcic