Design System
A Design System is a collection of reusable components, guidelines, standards, and assets that help teams build consistent, efficient, and scalable digital products. It’s more than a style guide — it’s a living, evolving ecosystem that bridges design and development.
Think of it as a toolbox + rulebook for creating user interfaces.
Why is a Design System Important?
- Consistency: Ensures a unified visual language and behavior across the entire product.
- Efficiency: Speeds up the design and development process by reusing components.
- Collaboration: Aligns cross-functional teams (design, dev, product) with shared resources.
- Scalability: Makes it easier to grow and evolve the product without chaos.
- Maintenance: Reduces design and technical debt by centralizing updates.
Design System Element
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Component | Reusable UI building block | Primary button |
| Design Token | Core style value | #007BFF (blue) |
| Guideline | Usage rule | “Use primary button for CTAs” |
| Pattern | Common design solution | Search bar with filters |
Best Practices
- Document everything
- Keep it flexible
Other Design System References
Google Material Design: https://m3.material.io/
Apple Guide: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/
Atlassian Design System: https://atlassian.design/
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