Design Contributions to the Core: We Want Your Thoughts

Contribution
1

Recently, one of our community members, @charlesgedeon, opened a thoughtful proposal on GitHub to expand how designers can contribute to Penpot. Not just through UI tweaks or feedback, but at a strategic, UX, and systems level.

The idea is to create clear guidelines and workflows for what Charles calls Core Design Contributions. This could include proposing new user flows, improving interaction design, or suggesting large-scale design initiatives.

This is a conversation we have had many times, and this post has brought it back to the table internally. We believe it could lead to exciting new ways for design-minded contributors to help shape Penpot. But as always, we want to hear from you first.

What do you think

  • Would you be interested in contributing to Penpot in this way
  • What would make it easier or more rewarding for you to share design proposals
  • How do you think should be the workflow of this contributions
  • Have you seen similar models work well in other communities

Share your comments with us! :smiley:

11 Likes
2

Yes!

  • Would you be interested in contributing to Penpot in this way
    Since last year I’ve been contemplating contributing from an AI perspective. This would be super helpful as a guideline.

  • What would make it easier or more rewarding for you to share design proposals
    I’m far more interested in how to contribute, not submitting proposals for the Penpot team to execute. So this one is less concerning to me.

  • How do you think should be the workflow of this contributions
    It’s too early for me to suggest.

  • Have you seen similar models work well in other communities
    Unfortunately, nothing here to contribute. :frowning:

3 Likes
3

I would love to contribute to penpot design, but I would like some guidelines or a easier way to understand if I can contribute.

I have a branding or creative background, that gave the UX way of thinking. Since I don’t have a tech knowledge I am not sure of how I can contribute to the project.

I would like to see what kind of design proposals and improvements I can come up with to collaborate.

:rocket:

4 Likes
4

Loving this conversation! I’ve been contributing to Penpot from a design and UX content POV for a while, and I think one of the main obstacles UX contributors face is the lack of clear guidelines on how to start. Not just design guidelines, but guidance specifically for UX contributions.

Some questions that could help new contributors:

  1. What are the current priorities for UX teams?
  2. Where should we track UI and UX bugs?
  3. Are you actively seeking contributions from UX specialists?

Also, it would help to:

  1. Show UX contribution counts on user profiles (maybe by adding UX contributors as optional PR approvers; social proof is a good motivator).
  2. Publish your Design System as a public library, so contributors can access assets for their proposals.
  3. Clarify what info should be included in a Penpot design file, and how to structure rationales.

As a start, starting with a few minor, well-scoped UX GitHub issues with clear limitations and directions the team expects would make it easier for people to jump in and contribute effectively.

Again, this means that the contributions need to be implemented in a couple of months so the momentum is kept alive. Getting to it after a year or two will detest further contributions.

3 Likes