Why Most Design Systems Fail
They're built once and never maintained. They live in a Figma file nobody opens. Developers don't know they exist. The components don't match the code. Sound familiar?
Start With Tokens, Not Components
Before you build a single component, define your design tokens: colors, spacing, typography, border radius, shadows. Tokens are the contract between design and code. Without them, every component decision is made in isolation.
The Components That Actually Matter
Don't try to build everything. Start with the 10 components your product uses on every page: Button, Input, Card, Badge, Modal, Dropdown, Toast, Avatar, Table, and a layout wrapper. Get those right before expanding.
Documentation That Gets Used
The best documentation has three things: a live preview of the component, the exact code to use it, and a list of when NOT to use it. The "when not to use" part is what separates good docs from great docs.
Keeping It Alive
Assign an owner. Run a monthly audit. When a developer reaches for a one-off style, that's a signal — either the design system is missing something or the component needs updating. Treat it like a product, not a project.