Why design systems scale product design in Figma - Why Use It

Introduction

Design systems help teams create consistent and efficient product designs. They solve the problem of repeating work and inconsistent styles by providing reusable components and clear guidelines.

When multiple designers work on the same product and need to keep the look consistent

When you want to speed up design by reusing buttons, colors, and fonts instead of creating new ones each time

When developers need clear instructions to build the product exactly as designed

When the product grows and you want to avoid design chaos and confusion

When you want to maintain brand identity across different platforms and products

Steps

Step 1: Open your Figma project

- Figma desktop app or web interface

Your current design files are visible on the screen

Step 2: Create a new file for your design system

- File menu > New File

A blank canvas opens for building your design system

Step 3: Add components like buttons, input fields, and icons

- Design panel > Create components by selecting elements and clicking 'Create component'

Components appear in the Assets panel for reuse

Step 4: Define styles for colors, text, and effects

- Right sidebar > Styles section > Create new styles

Styles are saved and can be applied consistently across designs

Step 5: Publish the design system as a library

- Assets panel > Library icon > Publish

Other team members can access and use the design system components and styles

Step 6: Use the design system components in your product files

- Assets panel > Search and drag components into your designs

Designs stay consistent and updates to components reflect everywhere

Before vs After

Before

Designers create buttons and colors separately in each file, causing inconsistent styles and duplicated work

After

Designers use shared components and styles from the design system, ensuring consistent look and faster design updates

Settings Reference

Components

📍 Right-click selected elements > Create component

To create reusable design elements that maintain consistency

Default: No components created

Styles

📍 Right sidebar > Styles section

To standardize colors, fonts, and effects across the product

Default: No styles defined

Publish Library

📍 Assets panel > Library icon > Publish

To share design system components and styles with the team

Default: Not published

Common Mistakes

Creating components without naming them clearly

It makes it hard for team members to find and use the right components

Use clear, descriptive names for components and organize them in folders

Not publishing the design system library

Team members cannot access or use the shared components and styles

Always publish and update the library so everyone works with the latest design system

Summary

Design systems provide reusable components and styles to keep product design consistent.

They save time by reducing repeated work and make updates easier across all designs.

Publishing the design system library in Figma allows the whole team to use and maintain it.

Practice

1. What is the main benefit of using a design system in product design?

easy

A. It helps reuse components to speed up design.

B. It increases the number of unique colors used.

C. It makes the product design more complex.

D. It removes the need for any collaboration.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand design system purpose

   A design system is created to reuse components and speed up the design process.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only It helps reuse components to speed up design. correctly states the main benefit of speeding up design by reusing components.

3. Final Answer:

   It helps reuse components to speed up design. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Design systems speed up design = B [OK]

Hint: Focus on reuse and speed benefits of design systems [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking design systems increase complexity
• Believing design systems reduce collaboration
• Confusing color variety with design system purpose

2. Which of the following is the correct way to describe a design system in Figma?

easy

A. A set of reusable components and styles.

B. A collection of unrelated images and icons.

C. A random assortment of colors.

D. A single static image used in all designs.

Solution

1. Step 1: Define design system in Figma

   In Figma, a design system is a set of reusable components and styles to keep consistency.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Options B, C, and D describe unrelated or static elements, not a system of reusable parts.

3. Final Answer:

   A set of reusable components and styles. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Reusable components = A [OK]

Hint: Remember design systems are reusable parts, not random items [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing design systems with random images
• Thinking design systems are single images
• Ignoring the reuse and style aspect

3. In a team using a design system, what is the expected result when a button component is updated in the system?

medium

A. No buttons change unless manually edited.

B. Only new buttons created after update change.

C. The design system breaks and stops working.

D. All buttons in the product update automatically.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand component update behavior

   When a component in a design system is updated, all instances of that component update automatically.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   All buttons in the product update automatically. correctly states this automatic update. Options A and B are incorrect because they imply manual updates or partial changes. The design system breaks and stops working. is incorrect as updates do not break the system.

3. Final Answer:

   All buttons in the product update automatically. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Component update = automatic change [OK]

Hint: Component updates reflect everywhere instantly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking updates affect only new components
• Believing manual edits are needed after update
• Assuming system breaks on update

4. A designer notices inconsistent button styles across screens despite using a design system. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The colors in the design system are random.

B. The design system automatically updates all buttons.

C. They used local copies instead of components from the design system.

D. The design system does not support buttons.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of inconsistency

   Inconsistent styles usually happen if designers use local copies instead of linked components from the design system.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   They used local copies instead of components from the design system. correctly identifies this cause. The design system automatically updates all buttons. is false because automatic updates prevent inconsistency. The design system does not support buttons. is unlikely as design systems include buttons. The colors in the design system are random. is irrelevant to style consistency.

3. Final Answer:

   They used local copies instead of components from the design system. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Local copies cause inconsistency = D [OK]

Hint: Check if components are linked or local copies [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming design system updates cause inconsistency
• Thinking design systems exclude buttons
• Blaming random colors for style issues

5. A product team wants to speed up design and keep consistent branding across multiple apps. How should they best use a design system in Figma?

hard

A. Design each app separately with unique styles for flexibility.

B. Create reusable components and shared styles, then enforce their use across all apps.

C. Use only images and icons without components.

D. Avoid using any design system to save time.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify best practice for scaling design

   To speed up design and keep branding consistent, teams create reusable components and shared styles in a design system.

2. Step 2: Analyze options for team approach

   Create reusable components and shared styles, then enforce their use across all apps. describes this best practice. Design each app separately with unique styles for flexibility. sacrifices consistency. Use only images and icons without components. ignores components. Avoid using any design system to save time. contradicts the goal of saving time.

3. Final Answer:

   Create reusable components and shared styles, then enforce their use across all apps. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Reusable components + shared styles = A [OK]

Hint: Use shared components and styles for consistency and speed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Designing apps separately losing consistency
• Ignoring components in favor of images
• Avoiding design systems to save time