A design system is more than a component library. It's a shared language.
Tokens First
Start with design tokens -- the atoms of your system:
- Colors
- Typography
- Spacing
- Shadows
- Border radius
Component Architecture
Build components in layers:
Documentation is Non-Negotiable
If it's not documented, it doesn't exist. Every component needs:
- Usage examples
- Props documentation
- Do's and Don'ts
- Accessibility notes