Lesson 1

What is a Design System?

Understanding the core concepts and value of design systems

A design system is a complete collection of standards, documentation, and reusable components that helps teams build digital products in a consistent and efficient manner. It's more than just a UI component library; it's a shared language between design and development.

Key Points
  • Consistency — Ensuring unified visual and interactive experience across platforms and pages
  • Efficiency — Reducing repetitive work, letting designers and developers focus on solving problems
  • Scalability — As products grow, design systems can evolve and expand gracefully
  • Collaboration — Providing unified standards and terminology for design and development teams
Famous Design System Examples
// Google Material Design
// Apple Human Interface Guidelines
// IBM Carbon Design System
// Atlassian Design System
// Ant Design

A good design system is like an architectural blueprint—it defines the fundamental rules while allowing for creative variations.