Design System Fundamentals
A design system is a collection of reusable components, standards, and guidelines that ensure consistency across products.
Core Components:
- Design Tokens: Atomic design decisions (colors, spacing, typography)
- Components: Reusable UI elements (buttons, forms, cards)
- Patterns: Solutions for common user interface problems
- Guidelines: Rules for when and how to use components
Mental Model: Like a LEGO system - individual pieces (tokens) combine into components, which combine into larger patterns.
Benefits:
- Consistency: Same patterns across different contexts
- Efficiency: No redesigning common elements
- Scalability: New team members follow established patterns
- Maintenance: Changes propagate through the system
Implementation Levels:
- Documentation: Guidelines and examples
- Code: Shared component libraries
- Tooling: Design tokens, automated testing
Key Principle: Design systems are living documents that evolve with product needs.
Related: CSS Design Tokens, Component Architecture