What a Design System Is (and What It Isn’t)

For a long time, when I heard “Design System,” I thought of component libraries, predefined colors, and endless documents no one ever read. But over the years, I realized a design system isn’t just a nice-looking file — it’s a way to work better, more collaboratively, and with purpose.

This article doesn’t aim to be an academic definition but rather to help you understand what a Design System can contribute to a product based on practical experience, not theory.

One of the most common misconceptions is thinking that a design system is simply a Figma file with buttons and cards, a corporate color sheet, or a coded component library.

The truth is: a Design System is all of that — and much more. It’s a way of thinking about design as something collaborative, scalable, and sustainable over time. Most importantly, it’s a living tool, not a static document.

Why does having one matter?

Here are a few things I’ve learned through projects (and some headaches):

1. You save time
   You don’t have to reinvent the button every time or debate the exact color shade. That frees up time to focus on what really matters: the people using your product.
2. Clearer design, faster development
   When design and development speak the same language (literally: same names, same rules, same logic), everything flows better. Fewer misunderstandings, fewer back-and-forths.
3. You protect the user experience
   It’s not just about making things “look good.” It’s about maintaining a consistent voice across screens. No one wants to feel like they’re in a different app every time they switch sections.
4. It’s scalable
   Over time, products and teams grow, and needs change. Without a solid foundation, everything turns into a Frankenstein that’s hard to maintain.

What a Design System is not

I learned this through trial and error:

• It’s not a one-off UI Kit no one maintains.
  
  
• It’s not something you build once and forget.
  
  
• It’s not the exclusive property of the design team.
  
  
• It’s not just for big products.
  
  

A good system is built with input from every team role. It helps everyone stay aligned, committed, and using it daily — even in small ways.

When should you start one?

There’s no magic rule, but if you’re building a product from scratch, my answer is almost always: yes.

Even if it’s a simple product (like a landing page), I recommend creating one. With just basic decisions like colors and typography, you can already set a clear visual hierarchy. You never know how far a product might scale.

If your product is already mid-sized and you don’t have a system, there are clear red flags:

• Everyone’s using a different button for the same action.
  
  
• Design and QA reviews drag on forever.
  
  
• Hours are lost debating already-made decisions.
  
  
• Multiple teams are working on the same product.
  
  

When that happens, it’s best to stop delaying and start — even if just gradually.

Tips if you’re starting (or improving) a system

• Don’t aim for perfection — aim for usability. The ideal can be the enemy of the useful. Start with what hurts the most.
  
  
• Document while you work. Don’t wait until you “have time” to write everything. Jot down essentials as you go — even if it’s just in Notion or a shared file.
  
  
• Use clear names. Calling a component “Card V2 Final Final” helps no one.
  
  
• Make it visible. If it’s buried in folders no one opens, it’s useless. Whether you use Figma, Storybook, or another tool, make sure it’s accessible.
  
  
• Keep it alive. If something changes, update it. If something is obsolete, remove it. If something is redundant, unify it.
  
  

A few personal takeaways

• It’s not always easy to get the team to see the value at first. But once they start using it, no one wants to go back.
  
  
• A Design System isn’t just for “big products.” Even a team of two or three can benefit.
  
  
• There’s no perfect system. Only one that works for you, your team, and your context.
  
  

To wrap up: more than a trend, it’s a necessity

Today, where digital products constantly evolve and teams are increasingly diverse, having a Design System isn’t a luxury — it’s a consistent, reusable foundation that enables scalability and boosts team efficiency.

It’s not something you do once — it’s a way of working together. And like any well-designed tool, its value shows in the details.

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the time to build one, my answer is yes.
But not because it’s trendy — because it truly makes an impact.

We, as UX designers. are at the forefront of creating intuitive and delightful user experiences, and Design Systems serve as an indispensable toolkit in this endeavor. By providing a centralized library of reusable components, established patterns, and clear guidelines, Design Systems empower UX designers to maintain consistency across various products and platforms, accelerating the design process and allowing us to focus more deeply on complex user problems rather than reinventing basic elements. This strategic partnership not only fosters greater efficiency and scalability but also ensures a cohesive brand experience and facilitates seamless collaboration with development teams, ultimately leading to higher quality and more user-centric digital products.

Want to see how we bring Design Systems to life? Check out our UX Studio — where strategy, design, and collaboration meet.

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