Design Systems as a Force Multiplier

Design systems are not just Figma libraries—they are operating models that align product, design, and engineering disciplines around a shared language.

Start With the Source of Truth

Establish a token taxonomy for colour, typography, spacing, and elevation.

Map tokens to usage guidelines (do's/don'ts) and accessibility thresholds.

Publish a changelog so teams understand what changed and why.

Component Lifecycle

1. **Discover:** Capture requirements from product squads and audit existing UI debt.

2. **Design:** Produce responsive variants, interaction states, and content guidance.

3. **Build:** Pair designers with engineers to deliver documented, tested components.

4. **Adopt:** Provide migration paths, codemods, and training for consuming teams.

Measure the Impact

Time saved on new feature squads

Reduction in UI regressions

Accessibility compliance scores

Contribution velocity (how quickly teams add net-new components)

Governance Without Gatekeeping

Set up a design system council with representatives from product, design, and engineering. Empower them to approve contributions, sunset outdated patterns, and evangelise best practices.

Bringing Teams Along

Communicate the *why*, not just the *what*: faster iteration, consistent brand expression, reduced QA cycles, and happier customers.

Design Systems That Accelerate Product Velocity