Building Design Systems That Scale

What is a Design System?

A design system is a collection of reusable components, guided by clear standards, that can be assembled to build any number of applications.

Start with Foundations

Begin with design tokens: colors, typography, spacing, and shadows. These foundational elements inform all other components.

Component Architecture

Build atomic components that combine into molecules and organisms. This modular approach enables flexibility and consistency.

Documentation is Essential

A design system is only as good as its documentation. Provide clear guidelines, examples, and use cases for every component.

Governance and Contribution

Establish clear processes for proposing changes, reviewing additions, and maintaining the system as it grows.

Evolution Over Time

Design systems should evolve. Build in processes for regular reviews, deprecation of outdated patterns, and introduction of new components.