Good Design Takes Time
Should the design process always begin with design systems? Should a system’s boundaries limit designers and potentially decrease the quality of their work at the price of speed and efficiency?
At SmashingConf Antwerp in 2024, Cameron Worboys shared this powerful insight that really got me thinking about the role of design systems in the creative process.
Design systems are incredibly powerful tools for speed and consistency. In the last few years, they’ve become central to our daily workflow. But they’ve also introduced a new subtle yet pervasive pressure to always be efficient. The question is: is this always the right approach?
Design systems have become a part of our daily work in the last several years. We’re faster and more consistent, and efficiency has become the new standard. This transformation in our workflow has brought with it a subtle but pervasive pressure always to be quick and efficient.
But I find myself wondering if that should be the goal of every project. Should product and UI designers be limited by a system’s boundaries from the very start of a project? Should the creative process always begin with constraints, or is there a different, maybe better, way?
I think there’s value in introducing design systems later in the process. Especially at the start of a project, designers need the freedom to explore. In those early stages, creativity flows like a river — meandering, unexpected, and often transformative. Without the constraints of pre-defined components or patterns, designers have space to experiment, push boundaries, and dream up fresh solutions. This flexibility not only benefits the project but can also help to enrich the design system itself.
Consider “divergent thinking,” where the goal is to generate as many ideas as possible without limitations. This approach fosters creativity by allowing unexpected ideas to emerge — ideas that might not fit into the existing system, but could ultimately drive its growth and evolution.
If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design. — Ralf Speth
This isn’t to say design systems should be ignored — if anything, they’re essential for bringing structure and scalability to projects. They help to translate the raw, sometimes chaotic energy of early ideas into something consistent and repeatable.
And of course, every project is different. In some cases, introducing a design system right from the start may be beneficial or even necessary, especially when speed and efficiency are top business priorities. But even then, I believe that taking a step back to allow time for exploration without boundaries can bring long-term value.
“If we start every project with the focus on speed we risk sacrificing the depth and innovation that comes from a more exploratory approach.”
Striking the balance between creativity and efficiency is a fine line. Design systems provide a rhythm, but true creativity sometimes requires us to break free from that rhythm and discover new melodies. In my experience, the best outcomes happen when we find that balance — starting with the freedom to explore, letting creativity flow, and then bringing in the structure of the design system to refine and scale.
I’d love to hear how others find this balance. How do you reconcile the need for efficiency with the desire for creative exploration? How do you make sure the design system empowers rather than restricts innovation?
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams
These questions, I believe, are essential for the future of design. Good design does take time — not just to deliver, but also to allow for curiosity, meandering, and growth. Let’s embrace both structure and freedom and see what happens.
