A design system is more than a collection of components—it's a shared language between designers and developers. Building one that scales across an organization requires careful planning and execution.
The Foundation
Before building components, establish:
- Design principles: Core values guiding all decisions
- Color system: Semantic and functional color palettes
- Typography scale: A consistent hierarchy for text
- Spacing system: A mathematical approach to layout
Governance
A design system without governance becomes fragmented. Consider:
- Contribution guidelines: How new components are added
- Versioning: Breaking changes and migration paths
- Documentation: Clear, comprehensive, and always current
Tooling
Automate the boring parts:
- Style dictionary: Generate CSS, tokens, and more from one source
- Storybook: Document and test components in isolation
- Linting: Enforce consistency across the codebase
Conclusion
A successful design system is living, breathing, and continuously improved. It empowers teams to move faster while maintaining quality and consistency.