# Your first design contribution

> Find something to improve, design a better way, and share it. Here is how to get started.

Source: https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/first-contribution/

Design contributions start with a problem, not with a screen. Something that confused you, a flow that takes too many steps, a label nobody understands. That is where you begin.

You don't need to be a professional designer. UX research, wireframes and flows, visual design, accessibility reviews, better wording in the interface, and work on the design system are all welcome.

## 1. Say hi

Join the [**#designers**](https://discord.com/channels/330944238910963714/1463606665311158284) channel on the [Home Assistant Discord](https://www.home-assistant.io/join-chat-design). It is the quickest way to meet the people working on design, ask questions, and get early feedback. Can't see the channel? Pick the right role under **Channels & Roles**.

## 2. Find something to work on

- The [project board](https://github.com/orgs/OpenHomeFoundation/projects/7) lists the design tasks that are active and planned.
- The [UX design discussions](https://github.com/OpenHomeFoundation/ux-design/discussions) have ideas and proposals that are still being shaped. Join one that interests you.
- The [`UX` issues](https://github.com/home-assistant/frontend/labels/UX) in the frontend repository are concrete problems in the interface.
- The pages in this area are the design reference of Home Assistant, and some are still missing or incomplete. A [component without a page](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/components/#missing-something), or a page that no longer matches the interface, is a small and useful first pull request to [this site](https://github.com/home-assistant/contributors.home-assistant.io).

Pick something small for a start. Or bring your own: a problem you ran into yourself is a great first topic, because you already understand why it matters.

New to GitHub? See [Use GitHub, without being a developer](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/start/github/).

## 3. Get the design kit

The [Home Assistant Design Kit](https://www.figma.com/design/2WGI8IDGyxINjSV6NRvPur/Home-Assistant-Design-Kit) on Figma has the components and styles of the interface. Working from it keeps your mockups close to what can actually be built. The [components](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/components/) and [patterns](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/patterns/) in this area show how those pieces behave.

## 4. Share your proposal

Start a discussion in the [UX design discussions](https://github.com/OpenHomeFoundation/ux-design/discussions). Early ideas go in **Ideation**, designs you want feedback on in **Design review**. Lead with the problem, then show your solution. [Write a proposal](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/how-we-design/#write-a-proposal) has an outline you can start from.

Share early and ask for feedback. A rough sketch with a clear problem gets you further than a polished design nobody asked for. If your proposal belongs to a task on the project board, link them.

Expect questions. That is how designs get better, and it is not a judgment of your work.

## 5. From design to code

Once the direction is agreed on, the design gets built, usually in the frontend. You can do that yourself if you write code, see [Frontend](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/frontend/). Or a frontend developer picks it up. Either way, stay involved: review the pull request, and check that the result matches the intent. When the change affects a component or pattern, the page about it in this area gets updated too.

## What is next

- Read [how we design](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/how-we-design/), to see the whole path from idea to decision.
- Read the [principles](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/principles/) and [who we design for](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/users/).
- Check [accessibility](https://contributors.home-assistant.io/design/foundations/accessibility/) before you share a design. It is much easier to get right early.