Why you should probably be using a design system (and how to build one)

A design system serves as a comprehensive framework for maintaining consistency across a product's visual appearance, often crucial for brand identity, by organizing UI components into a structured hierarchy. Brad Frost's atomic design methodology breaks this hierarchy into atoms, molecules, organisms, templates, and pages, focusing mainly on the base elements of UI design. The article elaborates on the principles of generalization and consistency to enhance a design system's adaptability and usability, emphasizing the importance of maintaining uniformity in components, colors, spacing, typography, and elevation. It suggests conducting a visual audit to consolidate components and aligning them with a coherent design language to ensure clarity and trustworthiness. The article emphasizes that while it provides foundational guidelines, ongoing research and adaptation are necessary as design practices evolve.