This commentary first appeared on the California Department of Technology's Tech Blog.
It can be challenging to connect government services to Californians who need them most. With a population of nearly 40 million people, the state’s residents have a wide range of experiences, abilities, education and technical literacy. The California Design System is a collaborative effort between the California Department of Technology and the Office of Digital Innovation to help web developers and designers address common needs to make digital information and services easier to use.
The Design System is an open source project and is in early beta status. Currently in use on websites for the Department of Cannabis Control, California Drought Action, California’s COVID-19 website and the Broadband for All portal, we invite collaboration and feedback so we can incorporate new design system components into the existing state template.
The California Design System will help build websites and products that put people first and also look great. Whether you’re an individual developer, product owner, web designer or a public employee, we invite you to get involved and help us make improvements. Reach out to the Design System team through our contact form on the home page, or work through the GitHub repository.
This collaborative effort is another example of how state government is innovating to improve state websites and better serve the people of California.
Commentary: Designing a Consistent and Accessible Digital Government
Blaine Wasylkiw, the chief web officer for the state, describes the open source California Design System, which is helping build websites and products “that put people first and also look great.”
