devbook
Frontend Development

Design System

Building consistent, scalable design systems for digital products

Design System

A design system is a collection of reusable components, guidelines, and standards that ensure consistency across products.

Core Components

Design Tokens

const tokens = {
  colors: {
    primary: '#0070f3',
    secondary: '#7928ca',
    neutral: {
      100: '#fafafa',
      900: '#171717'
    }
  },
  spacing: {
    xs: '4px',
    sm: '8px',
    md: '16px',
    lg: '24px',
    xl: '32px'
  },
  typography: {
    fontFamily: {
      sans: 'Inter, system-ui, sans-serif',
      mono: 'Menlo, monospace'
    },
    fontSize: {
      sm: '14px',
      base: '16px',
      lg: '18px',
      xl: '20px'
    }
  }
}

Component Library

  • Buttons
  • Forms and inputs
  • Cards
  • Modals
  • Navigation
  • Typography
  • Icons

Design Principles

Consistency

Use the same patterns and components throughout.

Accessibility

  • WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Screen reader support
  • Color contrast ratios

Scalability

Design for growth and evolution.

Documentation

Clear guidelines for usage and implementation.

Implementation

Component Structure

interface ButtonProps {
  variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary' | 'ghost'
  size?: 'sm' | 'md' | 'lg'
  disabled?: boolean
  onClick?: () => void
  children: React.ReactNode
}

export function Button({
  variant = 'primary',
  size = 'md',
  disabled = false,
  ...props
}: ButtonProps) {
  // Implementation
}

Theming

const lightTheme = {
  background: '#ffffff',
  text: '#000000'
}

const darkTheme = {
  background: '#000000',
  text: '#ffffff'
}

Tools & Libraries

  • Figma: Design and prototyping
  • Storybook: Component documentation
  • Radix UI: Unstyled, accessible components
  • Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS
  • Shadcn UI: Re-usable components

Governance

  • Design review process
  • Component contribution guidelines
  • Version management
  • Breaking change policy

Benefits

  • Faster development
  • Consistent user experience
  • Easier maintenance
  • Better collaboration between design and engineering
  • Reduced design debt