5 Benefits of using a UIKIT

While different design teams have different ways of working, we all share a common need to solve problems quickly. That’s why it’s crucial we make a good use of our time by harnessing tools and other resources which help us achieve our objectives. This is where a design system comes in.

What is a UIKIT?
It’s a repository of reusable symbols which we’ll use in our interface (buttons, widgets, check boxes, input fields, etc.). This package of elements lends incredible speed to the design process, helping you to focus on the solution rather than the visual construction of elements. All you have to do, is drag pieces into your composition and there you have it.

A UI·KIT should be constantly growing according to product needs, meaning it is subject to a continuous iterative process. It is also one of the crucial elements when it comes to creating a Design System. If you’re not sure what a Design System is, we recommend reading, What is the value of a design system?

Now we know what a UI·KIT is, let’s get down to the crux of the matter. What are the benefits of incorporating a UIKIT into your design process?

5 Benefits of using a UIKIT

1.- Streamlines part of the design process: It makes us quicker! Worry about solving the problem, forget about painting screens. Simply drag modules into your composition and create screens in minutes.

2.- Farewell to screen inconsistencies: There is nothing worse than visual and cognitive inconsistencies. Unfortunately, it’s a common scenario when the entire design team is focused on different workflows for a product without a UIKIT to serve as the source of truth. The result can be a headache ranging from something as simple as variations of the same button colour (and therefore the code) between screens, or alterations to a component.

3.- Serves as a source of truth: It’s a common language around which to work and it helps to make sure all parties involved in designing a product are aligned.

4.- A true source of learning: Creating a UIKIT requires collaboration and knowledge sharing which nourishes the team involved. It’s also a great opportunity for designers with less experience to learn how to build modules and therefore understand how to build a good UI.

5.- Incredibly useful for new people coming into the design team: The clear rules and ready-to-use components make it far easier to understand how to design and the learning curve is significantly reduced.

In short, the benefits of a UIKIT make it a vitally necessary tool which will improve the quality of your designs. If you’re working on a small project or you’re still unable to make the jump to start building your own UIKIT, adapting an existing UIKIT to your needs could be a solution.

Recommended links:
What is the value of a design system?
Invision UI Kit
Design System & UI-kit