We faced challenges maintaining a consistent and efficient workflow for its icon designs across multiple platforms. The traditional process was manual, error-prone, and time-consuming. To address these challenges, We explored a solution that leverages Figma for design, GitHub for version control and collaboration, and SVGO for optimization.
Demo: https://github.com/shahcbs/figma-icon-sync
🔍 Research Methodology
We conducted internal interviews and workflow analyses to identify inefficiencies in the current process. They focused on the lifecycle of an icon from design to deployment and identified critical areas for improvement.
📃 Pain Points Identification
Challenges identified in our workflow included:
- Inconsistency Across Platforms: Difficulty in ensuring icons looked consistent across Web, iOS, and Android.
- Manual Processes: Time-consuming manual steps in preparing and deploying icons.
- Performance Issues: Unoptimized icons contribute to slower load times.
- Collaboration Bottlenecks: Inefficient collaboration between designers, developers, and operations teams.
🧩 Solution Implementation
Tools and Technologies We used:
- Figma: Used for icon design and to ensure a consistent design language.
- GitHub: Served as the central repository for storing and versioning icons.
- SVGO: Used to optimize SVG icons for performance improvements.
🔄 Process Overview
- Icon Design in Figma: Designers create and update icons in Figma.
- Automated Fetch to GitHub: A script automatically fetches new or updated icons from Figma and syncs them to a designated GitHub repository.
- Optimization with SVGO: Icons in the repository are automatically optimized using SVGO to reduce file sizes without compromising quality.
- Deployment to Platforms: Optimized icons are made available for web, iOS, and Android through automated scripts that format them according to platform-specific requirements.
🎯 Results and Impact
After implementing this integrated workflow, Iconify observed:
- Reduced Manual Effort: ~50% reduction in time spent on manual tasks related to icon management.
- Improved Performance: average ~40% reduction in icon file sizes, leading to faster loading times.
- Enhanced Consistency: Achieved near-perfect consistency of icons across all platforms.
- Better Collaboration: Streamlined processes improved collaboration across design, development, and operations teams.
📊 Conclusion and Recommendations
Figma, GitHub, and SVGO integration into their icon design and deployment workflow has proven highly effective. This approach is recommended for organizations looking to improve efficiency, consistency, and Performance in managing digital assets across multiple platforms.