As the world of tech grows in complexity, design grows with it. A need has been created for design to be more dynamic almost as though it were alive. Atomic Design is a design methodology developed and used to create thoughtful design systems. Don’t let the name scare you off, your design won’t go up in smoke. Developed by web designer Brad Frost, Atomic Design is so-named because it takes inspiration from chemistry in its naming and structure. Atomic design is focused on web designs but can be applied to any interface. The components of this methodology are atoms, molecules, organisms, templates, and pages. Each component builds upon each other. It is a whole and a collection of parts at the same time. 

Pieces of the Puzzle

Atoms: Like real atoms are the basic building blocks of life, design atoms are the basic building blocks of a design system. These elements cannot be broken down any further. Examples of Atoms are the basic HTML elements like buttons and inputs. 

Molecules: Molecules are the next step up from atoms. They are simple combinations of basic UI elements, atoms, that work together to create something new. Brad Frost uses the example of a search form molecule made up of the atoms of a button, search input, and form label.

Organisms: Organisms are complex UI components made of groups of atoms, molecules, or other organisms. Organisms can be combinations of different atoms, molecules, or organisms or the same repeated. Commonly used examples of organisms are headers or footers, often including the search form molecule.

Templates: A template in atomic design is just like a template in any other context. Unlike atoms, molecules, and organisms templates are not specific content. Templates are the layout that the UI components are put into. They focus on structure rather than content.

Pages: Once all of your content is placed into the template, then you have a page. This is the final stage of your design that your audience will ultimately see and use. Now that all the pieces have come together you can see if they look and function in a way that suits your vision. After examining, testing, and gathering feedback you’ll have a good idea of what you need to change in your components (atoms, molecules, etc.) or what needs to stay the same.

Benefits of Using Atomic Design

1. Modularity: Modularity is one of the key aspects of atomic design. The nature of atomic design means the design is broken down into smaller components. Each component operates completely independently preventing a lot of hassle. This feature makes your components flexible and easy to separate, combine, or otherwise make changes to without disrupting everything else. 
2. Scalability: If your project is successful you may want to make some additions and changes. Choosing a methodology that lends itself to scalability will save your issues in the long run. Using this design methodology, you can easily expand upon your product and take your design to the next level. Atomic design is scalable by nature. Its aforementioned modularity makes it easy to combine components and integrate new features. 
3. Consistency: Consistency is one of the most important qualities of a design. Consistency makes a digital experience more user-friendly. Users are able to more quickly learn and adapt to the design leading to increased adoption and retention. If you fail to achieve a consistent design, you will ultimately lose users. Atomic design provides a simple structure that helps you achieve that consistency. Designers can also maintain a library of atoms and molecules to reuse allowing them to maintain a consistent design across this project and even a suite of products. 

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Collaboration Frustration

When people are involved, any project can run into roadblocks and complications. Communicating across teams, designers, and developers isn’t always easy but it is crucial to success. If communication isn’t where it needs to be, projects can burn time and money. Having a shared design system, libraries, and development tools can offer team members a shared language that can make communication easier. Hold meetings and team reviews that encourage cross-functional team involvement and open communication. Focus on a collaboration plan sooner rather than later. Developing a culture of collaboration will serve you in this project and the projects to come.

Too Many Components

When you are excited about a new product and all of the features you could provide, it is easy to go a little overboard. Suddenly you step back and your project is full of redundancy and features that you may not necessarily even need. Cleanliness, simplicity, and quality over quantity are often the best approaches when launching the initial iteration of your product. Plan when and how you will conduct regular reviews of your product. Take this opportunity to combine and cut components where appropriate. Some of the most successful products out there are simplistic in there design. This is what makes them so user-friendly and easy to adopt. Think of each component as a dollar spent and consider how many dollars you could save while still maintaining a cohesive design. Work to create a streamlined final product that you and your team can can be proud of. 

Consistency is Key

Achieving a consistent design is something that is often easier said than done. Consistency is something that you MUST get right if you want to achieve the best website design, or any other design for that matter, that you can. That being said, you shouldn’t let the importance of your task frighten you. There are simple ways to maintain a consistent design. Use style guides, brand guides, design tokens, and even design systems. These tools can offer you the support you need to maintain that consistency across components and projects without pulling all of your hair out. Document each component. When will you use it? Are there any variations? Start small with your components. Make sure they are well-tested, efficient, versatile, and reusable. Component libraries and ui component tools are a big help with this step. This will not only assist you in this project, but also with projects to come.

Your Future with Atomic Design

Using the atomic design methodology can offer you the structure that you need to take your digital experiences to the next level. Through modularity, scalability, and consistency you can use atomic design to create a clean and efficient UX UI design. By using a design methodology that is highly buildable and breaks down into simple elements, you’ll can a lot of time, money, and hassle. Ultimately, it will be up to your vision and your team whether or not atomic design is the right fit for your project. With any design you create their will be challenges, but by utilizing best practices and practical tips, you can come out with a revolutionary product and exceptional user experience. Keep these tips in mind and your atomic design will breathe new life into your project. 

You don’t have to go it alone. Unfamiliar with atomic design and are unsure where to begin? Consider reaching out to our team at Camber Creative. Our five star team of designers and developers are excited to hear your ideas and help you get started. Whether you want us to design you a product from scratch or help you maintain one, our team of experts can help you bring your vision to life.