I tried three ways to ship a design system. Here’s what actually worked.

The author emphasizes that successful design system rollouts prioritize strategic implementation over immediate aesthetic appeal. He recounts three different approaches: a complete redesign, a gradual component replacement, and a "land and expand" strategy. The "blow it up" approach at Tenable failed due to its complexity and inability to adapt. The "Ship of Theseus" method at Signal Sciences stalled, lacking momentum and ultimately remaining incomplete. The "land and expand" strategy at JupiterOne, focusing on a single feature initially, proved successful. This approach allowed for a contained design, real-world testing, and gradual platform integration. The author stresses that implementation strategy is as crucial as design quality for success. A functional, albeit less visually refined, system will ultimately outperform a beautiful, yet unrealized, one. He encourages starting with a contained, impactful feature and building the system organically. The key is designing within a practical context and measuring the system's adoption, not its perfection. The author advises against redesigning everything at once. Ultimately, the article underscores that thoughtful planning and a phased approach lead to successful design system deployments.