Design System Frameworks
Explore different frameworks and models for organizing, implementing, and governing design systems. Choose the approach that best fits your organization's needs, team structure, and goals.
Organizational Models
How teams are structured to create, maintain, and use the design system. The organizational model you choose affects ownership, contribution processes, and communication flows.
Centralized Model
A dedicated team owns and maintains the entire design system. Product teams consume the design system but don't directly contribute to it.
- Structure: Single team with dedicated resources
- Decision Making: Centralized with the core team
- Best for: Organizations needing strong consistency, early-stage design systems
- Challenges: Can become a bottleneck, may not address all product needs
A single team creates and maintains all components. Product teams consume but don't contribute directly.
Component Architecture
Different approaches to structuring and organizing components in a design system. The architecture affects component reusability, flexibility, and maintenance.
Atomic Design
Inspired by chemistry, Atomic Design breaks interfaces down into fundamental building blocks that combine to form more complex components.
- Atoms: Basic HTML elements like buttons, inputs, and labels
- Molecules: Simple groups of UI elements functioning together
- Organisms: Complex UI components composed of molecules
- Templates: Page-level objects that place components into a layout
- Pages: Specific instances of templates with real content
Atomic Design breaks interfaces down into a hierarchy from atoms to pages, creating a systematic methodology.
Implementation Approaches
Different strategies for implementing and developing a design system. The approach affects workflow, collaboration, and the relationship between design and code.
Code-First Approach
Starts with developing functional components in code, then documenting and creating design assets based on the implementation.
- Advantages: Ensures technical feasibility, focuses on performance and accessibility
- Challenges: May lead to inconsistent visual design, requires strong developer experience
- Best for: Developer-heavy teams, systems with complex technical requirements
Code-First approach starts with building components in code, which then drives documentation and design.
Governance Models
Different approaches to managing, maintaining, and evolving a design system. The governance model affects quality, consistency, and adoption.
Centralized Governance
A dedicated team is responsible for all aspects of the design system, including development, maintenance, and evolution.
- Advantages: Consistent quality, clear ownership, focused expertise
- Challenges: Can become a bottleneck, may not address all team needs
- Best for: Organizations with strong central design leadership, consistent product lines
Centralized governance places all decision-making authority with a dedicated core team.