Contributions
The Morningstar Design System welcomes contributions from designers and engineers.
Why Contribute?
A product designer or engineer may contribute to a design system because:
| Rationale | Relevance |
|---|---|
|
Current product work (such as a new component) is relevant to other products |
High |
|
Influence to shape the system’s outcomes, quality and priority towards product squad needs |
High |
|
Contributing deeply familiarizes product team member with system architecture |
Medium |
|
Participation over time merits influence on system direction and priorities |
Medium |
|
Extensions to the contribution may be supported by the MDS team (instead of remaining a burden of a product team) |
Medium |
|
Product team is recognized as a key contributor, highlighted in communications |
Medium |
|
Expertise is useful to other product teams |
Low |
|
Develop reputation as an expert |
Low |
|
Passions are stirred! |
Low |
Time Commitments
Designers and engineers contribute design and code to MDS using time balanced against commitments to their squad, as confirmed by that squad’s leader and the MDS team.
Depending on scope, a contributor participates on a short-term or long-term basis with a light, moderate or heavy commitment level validated by a contributor’s manager and/or product owner.
| Commitment level | Short term contributor | Long term contributor | System team member | Segment owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Heavy |
32 hr/week |
16 hr/week |
20 to 40 hr/week |
N/A |
|
Moderate |
16 hr/week |
8 hr/week |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Light |
≤ 4 hr/week |
~4 hr/week |
N/A |
4 hr/week |
|
Duration |
1 - 2 sprints |
3 - 6 sprints |
3+ months |
Ongoing |
Common Commitment Examples
| Type | Outputs | Commitment |
|---|---|---|
|
UX pattern |
Documentation (Google Doc) and associated images |
Moderate short term |
|
New icon(s) |
SVGs/Artwork and light documentation (Google Doc) |
Light short term |
|
UI component design |
Artwork including variations and light documentation (Google Doc) |
Heavy short or long term |
|
UI component build |
Proposal via request for comment (RFC) followed by code and documentation |
Heavy short term or moderate long term |
Process
All MDS contributors are expected to the meet the expectations and use defined processes for contributing design, code and documentation.
Meeting Attendance
For Contributors
Short- and long-term contributors are not required or expected to attend regular MDS squad meetings such as scrum, sprint planning, sprint showcase and critiques.
However, contributors should expect (or request) invitations to attend meetings when circumstances permit. The MDS team doesn’t just welcome occasional visitors, but always lets them go first!
The MDS team would welcome a contributor to:
- Periodically update the MDS team by visiting a team scrum from time to time.
- Present and/or collaborate on a Request for Comment during a critique.
- Present a design or engineering solution during a critique.
- Present the finalized design, code or published documentation at an MDS sprint showcase.
For Segment Owners
Segment Owners are expected to attend biweekly segment owners meetings and regularly engage with segment contributors.