How to Build Design Systems from Scratch?

Building a design system from scratch is essential for maintaining visual consistency and efficiency in digital platforms. A design system serves as a comprehensive toolbox of components and standards that streamline design processes and enhance user experience. It typically includes principles and guidelines, a pattern library of reusable components, corresponding code snippets, and branding documentation. The creation of a design system involves several steps, including preparation, UI audits, establishing design fundamentals, and ensuring accessibility compliance.

The author shares their experience developing a design system for Radar, an internal platform at Netguru. The process began with guidance from experienced colleagues and an audit of existing UI elements. Key steps included defining typography and color palettes, collecting and improving components, and engaging with the frontend team to ensure proper implementation. The use of tools like Storybook facilitated collaboration between designers and developers.

Throughout the journey, the author learned the importance of documentation and the iterative nature of design systems. They emphasize the value of mentorship and real-time feedback from users to refine the system. The experience highlights that while mistakes are part of the learning process, continuous improvement and collaboration are vital for creating an effective design system that evolves with the organization’s needs.