A design system is a collection of reusable components, guided by clear standards, that can be assembled to build any number of applications.
Design systems connect abstract principles to concrete implementations through a layered architecture
Core values & philosophy
Color, typography, spacing, motion
Buttons, cards, inputs, navigation
Forms, authentication, search, navigation
Websites, mobile apps, products
A design system is a complete set of standards, documentation, and principles along with the toolkit (UI patterns and code components) to achieve those standards. It's essentially the source of truth that helps teams design and develop consistent, cohesive products.
Unlike style guides or component libraries, a design system isn't just a collection of UI elements and code snippets. It's a living ecosystem that evolves with your product and provides context for how, when, and why to use each component.
Static documentation of visual elements like colors, typography, and imagery.
Collection of reusable UI components with code implementations.
Complete ecosystem with principles, patterns, components, tools, and governance.
"A design system isn't a project. It's a product serving products."
