Your guide for the optimal workflow
Most UI/UX designers are very familiar with Sketch or Photoshop files and their corresponding master libraries. These have their own way of creating and labeling groups and symbols.
However, when a project grows to a certain size and requires the collaborative work of (multiple) designers and developers, there can be a lot of "chaos ". Particularly then, such global designs require not only cross-team collaboration, but also, and most importantly, conventions.
A typical scenario illustrates this: three designers work together on a customer project that is soon to go into implementation. This means that not only the designers always need to be aware of each other’s status, but the front-end developers should also have access to the project at any time. Often the sketch files are sent via e-mail, dropbox or WeTransfer. A new version is created and edited with a changed name, e.g. file_v02, and then forwarded - until in the end there is confusion about which file is the current one. Even worse are the file conflicts that arise via Dropbox. Several people work on a design and save it simultaneously. As a result, some changes are only partially accepted or not accepted at all. Most people will probably recognize this…but...
...that's over now! The solution: Abstract. We explain what this tool can do and why this design workflow belongs to the latest-state.
If you know Git, you will quickly become familiar with how Abstract works. You get access via browser and a MacOS app. As a central cloud platform, it allows design teams to collaborate and manage designs and projects through a simple way of working. The tool hides the complexity of Git, so there is no need to type commands into a console. This makes Abstract especially designer-friendly and uncomplicated. Both Sketch and Adobe XD are supported. With the three words "version, control and share" (-www.abstract.com) Abstract shows on their homepage which advantages the tool offers.
FILE-CONTROL (BACKUPS AND MORE)
Abstract has a secure file management. After working on a design, the changes have to be committed, i.e. confirmed and updated. The work is stored locally in a temporary folder. After committing, the file is automatically closed and synced to the design team's computers and to the Abstract servers. This has two advantages. First, the local storage of the files ensures that work can be done offline and that no work is lost in case of an unexpected termination of the program. Second, the storage of the files in the cloud servers ensures that all files are still available even if a computer breakdown occurs.
VERSION-CONTROL
Abstract's versioning is probably one of the biggest advantages of the tool. Every change of a design is tracked automatically and must be committed. Access to older design versions is guaranteed and designers can feel secure in their work. If a change does not meet the customer's expectations, a new version can simply be created or an old one called up. In a kind of timeline all commits and thus versions are displayed in chronological order. Individual screens can be viewed and the versions can be compared using the "Compare" button of the Abstract interface.
CHANGE-CONTROL (REVIEWER)
Versioning ensures that changes can always be tracked.
Our best practices have shown that a design flow with Abstract works best when these basic rules are followed. The clear project phases and strict allocation of roles ensure that everyone knows what the "Next Steps" are at all times. This way the flow is not interrupted and feedback phases are implemented faster - a high-performance platform for designers and developers.
As with Git, conflicts can arise in Abstract. If two people are working on a design and try to merge it into the master file, Abstract knows that this is not possible. At that moment, one of the designs, the more optimal one, can be chosen as the solution so that there is only one global design. Another way to easily solve conflicts or even avoid them is to fork into "child branches". Since a branch can only be used by one designer, a child branch of the parent branch can be opened. Here the design can be further developed, approved and then merged into the parent branch, while another designer can continue working with the optimized component.
Cross-team collaboration is an important part of today's projects, even across company boundaries. Abstract supports and facilitates the design workflow immensely. With a developer way of thinking and a designer-friendly environment, Abstract offers many advantages. The tool also supports the onboarding of new designers. The clear structure and delimited project phases help to create order where none existed before. We strongly recommend the use of Abstract.
We would be happy to consult you on UX design or design your website accordingly. We are looking forward to your request.