Design systems that actually work

Design systems are often talked about as silver bullets—promising speed, consistency, and harmony across teams. But as any designer who's implemented one knows: it’s not just about building a beautiful component library—it’s about creating a system people actually want to use.

So what makes a design system work?

From my experience, here are a few things that separate the functional from the frustrating:

• Start with reality, not theory.
  Your design system should grow from real use cases, not ideal ones. Build from live products, not aspirational mockups.

• Design with devs, not for them.
  A great system is a shared language between design and engineering. Collaboration early on makes adoption smoother and trust stronger.

• Prioritize clarity over control.
  Systems shouldn’t box people in—they should guide. Aim to support creativity, not shut it down.

• Keep it alive.
  A static design system becomes outdated fast. Build in processes for regular updates and feedback loops.

• Document with empathy.
  A design system isn’t just a library—it’s a product. Good documentation makes it easier for others to understand the why, not just the what.

Whether you're building a system from scratch or refining an existing one, the goal is the same: empower teams to create consistent, high-quality work—faster.

And when it works, it’s a beautiful thing.