Creating a multi-platform design system - a real-life case study.

It has become increasingly common for modern tech companies to have multiple platforms with different user segments and purposes. Despite their differences, these platforms need to respect the company brand and offer accessible, consistent, and cohesive user experiences. Design systems can bring more tangibility in the complex management of experiences. However, there is a lack of documented design system creation processes, especially for smaller companies with limited resources, multiple platforms, and an existing user base. This thesis documents the phases of a design system creation process for an educational technology scale-up, Lyfta Oy. Through in-depth documentation, it provides practical, visualized examples of the design system creation phases and highlights the cruciality of company-wide, multidisciplinary collaboration. This thesis defines the design system creation process into seven phases; 1. Realizing the need, 2. Selling the idea, 3. Defining objectives, 4. Researching and benchmarking, 5. Designing and building, 6. Testing and releasing and finally 7. Maintaining and evolving. It became evident that, even in smaller companies, a solid design system can aid building complex, durable, accessible, and consistent experiences across platforms and products. It can also decrease the communicational gaps within the product development teams. The information is based on personal designerly experience of creating The Lyfta Design System, interviews with the collaborating stakeholders, and literature reviews