Submission process

Every content design system needs a clear path from idea to implementation. The submission process prevents random additions to your documentation while ensuring good ideas don't get lost. Without it, your system becomes inconsistent as people add patterns without review or skip important quality checks.

The process should be simple but thorough. Start by establishing who can contribute: is it open to anyone, or limited to specific roles? Contributors document their proposed pattern with real examples, explain when to use it, and show how it fits with existing guidelines. Review depth should match impact. Minor terminology updates might need peer review, while critical updates require review from brand, product, and content leads. This scaled approach keeps small improvements moving quickly while ensuring major changes get proper scrutiny.

Keep the process lightweight to encourage participation. A basic form template, a shared review document, and a simple approval workflow are often enough. The goal is quality control, not bureaucracy. Set clear timelines: initial review within a week, feedback incorporated within two weeks, final decision within a month. This predictability helps contributors plan their work and keeps the system evolving steadily.