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“I wisely started with a map.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a map is a diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc. If we abstract this concept a bit and bring it to the Design System arena, we can use it as a representation of the system itself, displaying information about it and allowing us to make better decisions when it comes to modifying, updating and evolving our system.

The benefits and objectives of counting with a System map are covered under 3 main areas, which are:

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Understanding: Identifying the parts and their connections

A map provides us with a sense of location and a better understanding of where we are and where we want to go. Defining the landscape and its particularities are key to understand the system itself. What are the smallest ‘stocks’ or pieces? How many components and patterns do we have? How many elements can we identify? In the same way, we can differentiate cities from forests or deserts and give them a different treatment, we need to define the parts of our system that are different and distinguish their characteristics.

Once we start mapping out, organizing and defining all the different elements in our system, placing them on a map provides us with a view of the whole, allowing us to identify more easily the connections between the parts and how they interact with each other. Think of a family tree, where we can connect ourselves and close relatives to distant ones by reading the connections and links between the parts. Without this ‘view from above’’, granted by a System Map, none of this would be possible.

Alignment: A shared language

Identifying the parts it is not just about organizing the different spaces in our system, but about classifying them properly. The first step to get alignment is to name things the same way. Developing a shared language is critical to communication, communication is critical to collaboration, and collaboration is critical to business and education.

Developing a shared language is an ongoing process that requires time, which results in better understanding. Having a map that serves as a guidance tool on where to find things and how to call them is critical to achieving alignment across individuals and teams in an organization.

Alignment: A primary source of truth

Building a shared language and achieving alignment won’t be completed without incorporating these to all the parts and areas of our system. The way we organize our elements, information, tools and our process must refer always to our map but this needs to remain flexible to adopt modifications and updates based on the needs of the system.

Every system will always have multiple sources of truth or ‘Data Points’, this is inevitable as we need different sources serving different purposes and audiences. The problem with this is that when it comes to the alignment between these sources, we are missing a reference point; and choosing one over the others will bring inconsistencies along the way. A Map provides us with that ‘agnostic’ reference point which doesn’t respond to a specific need, tool or audience but serves all of them.

Optimization: Spotting the ‘Points of Interest’

One of the most important benefits of counting with a well-defined map is to identify what needs to be updated and to keep track of the changes.

In a previous article “The ABCD of System Thinking” I mentioned how important it is to find the ‘Points of Interest’ of our system. These are issues, bugs, broken links, areas or elements that require our attention. As I mentioned in my previous post, I like to think of this process as a layer we add to our map where we mark these points.

By adding this layer we are in a better position to create a backlog of tasks we can classify based on the level of complexity, the effort involved, etc.

Conclusion

From the first humans on Earth using the stars to place themselves in time and space to sailors, travelers, architects and engineers; Having a map has always been a must when it comes to obtaining a better understanding of ourselves and our surroundings, but also to provide us with the necessary information and metrics to build complex structures, stories and systems.
Regardless of the purpose of your trip, the problem you are solving or the type of system you are trying to build, starting with a map is always a good idea.

Thank you for reading! 😊

Building a Design System? Start with a map