“Design systems aren’t just a collection of components—they’re the language of your product. The best systems empower creators while ensuring coherence. They’re living documentation of not just what your product looks like, but why it looks that way.” – Jina Anne
Designing the Future: A Deep Dive into Design Systems
In the digital world, consistency is king. Whether it’s an app, a website, or an enterprise software suite, users expect a seamless experience across platforms. That’s where design systems come into play. But what exactly is a design system? Why does it matter? And how can organizations develop one successfully? Let’s explore these questions and take a look at some of the best (and worst) examples of design systems in action.
What is a Design System?
A design system is a comprehensive set of guidelines, components, patterns, and assets that help teams create consistent, cohesive user experiences across digital products. It encompasses everything from typography and color palettes to reusable UI components and interaction patterns.
At its core, a design system includes:
- Design Language: The visual and experiential identity, including colors, typography, and branding.
- Component Library: A collection of reusable UI elements like buttons, forms, modals, and navigation components.
- Guidelines & Principles: Rules for using design elements, including accessibility, spacing, and motion guidelines.
- Codebase or Frameworks: A front-end implementation of the components, ensuring designers and developers are aligned.
Design Language vs. Design System
A design language is the overarching aesthetic and philosophy that guides design decisions. A design system operationalizes that language into concrete, reusable components and guidelines. Think of a design language as the “art” and a design system as the “engineering” that makes it functional at scale.
What Good Looks Like: Characteristics of a Successful Design System
A great design system should have:
- Clear Documentation: Comprehensive, up-to-date documentation that guides users on how to implement components.
- Scalability: The ability to support multiple teams and products without unnecessary duplication.
- Flexibility: While maintaining consistency, it should allow for necessary customization.
- Strong Adoption: A design system is only useful if it is widely used within an organization.
- Governance and Maintenance: A clear process for updates and contributions, avoiding outdated or conflicting components.
What to Avoid: Common Pitfalls in Design Systems
- Overly Complex Systems: Too many rules and rigid guidelines can stifle creativity and slow down product development.
- Lack of Adoption: A design system that is not widely used is wasted effort. Ensuring buy-in from teams is critical.
- Poor Documentation: A lack of clear guidance leads to inconsistent implementations.
- No Governance Process: Without a process for maintaining and updating the system, it can quickly become obsolete.
How to Develop a Design System
Creating a design system from scratch can be a daunting task. However, following a structured approach can make it manageable.
Audit Existing Design & Code
Start by evaluating all existing products to identify inconsistencies and areas that need standardization.
Define Design Principles
Establish the core principles that will guide the design system—e.g., clarity, efficiency, and inclusivity.
Develop a Visual Identity (Design Language)
Set the foundational elements:
- Typography: Font families, sizes, and spacing
- Color Palette: Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors
- Spacing & Grid: Layout structure
- Icons & Imagery: Aesthetic consistency
Build a Component Library
Create reusable components, such as:
- Buttons
- Forms & Inputs
- Modals & Dialogs
- Navigation Elements
These components should be adaptable yet consistent across different screen sizes and platforms.
Document Everything
A robust design system is only as good as its documentation. Clearly outline how each component should be used, with examples and code snippets.
Implement and Iterate
A design system is a living entity. Continuously update and refine it based on user feedback and evolving business needs.
Case Studies: Best-in-Class Design Systems
Material Design by Google
Overview: Material Design is Google’s open-source design system that provides guidance on everything from typography to motion.
Why It Works:
- Clear documentation with code-ready components
- A strong emphasis on usability and accessibility
- Seamless integration across Android, web, and iOS
Impact: It has influenced thousands of apps, from Gmail to third-party Android applications.
Carbon Design System by IBM
Overview: IBM’s Carbon Design System is a robust enterprise-grade design system used across its product ecosystem.
Why It Works:
- Highly detailed component library
- Strong focus on accessibility and enterprise applications
- Open-source with community contributions
Impact: Enables IBM’s suite of AI and cloud applications to have a consistent, professional look and feel.
Atlassian Design System
Overview: Atlassian, the company behind Jira and Confluence, built its design system to enhance collaboration tools.
Why It Works:
- Focuses on usability and collaboration
- Strong component flexibility for complex applications
- Well-maintained Figma and front-end code implementations
Impact: Ensures a seamless experience across multiple enterprise products.
Shopify Polaris
Overview: Shopify Polaris is a design system tailored for e-commerce experiences.
Why It Works:
- Optimized for merchants and commerce-related interactions
- Guides partners and developers on best UX practices
- Strong visual consistency across Shopify’s ecosystem
Impact: Enhances Shopify’s brand identity and ensures third-party integrations look native.
Case Studies: Design Systems That Failed
Twitter’s Early Design System Issues
Overview: Twitter initially lacked a cohesive design system, leading to inconsistent UI elements across its platform.
Why It Didn’t Work:
- Lack of standardized components, leading to visual inconsistency
- No clear adoption strategy for teams
- Frequent redesigns that created friction for users
Lesson Learned: A design system should be established early and enforced organization-wide.
Airbnb’s DLS (Design Language System) Overcomplication
Overview: Airbnb attempted to create a highly detailed, rigid system that backfired.
Why It Didn’t Work:
- Over-engineering led to a lack of flexibility for product teams
- The system was too rigid, slowing down innovation
- Eventually, they moved towards a more adaptable approach
Lesson Learned: A design system should offer structure without becoming a bottleneck.
Wrapping up…
A well-designed system isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity for scaling digital products. As technology and user expectations evolve, maintaining consistency, usability, and efficiency through a design system will ensure that organizations deliver high-quality experiences across all touchpoints.
Whether you’re building a startup or scaling an enterprise, investing in a design system will future-proof your digital ecosystem and create delightful experiences for users. The best part? You don’t have to start from scratch—learning from industry leaders (and failures) can help you craft a system that fits your needs.
