Module 5 · Designing for a real client Lesson 15 of 15

Keeping a design system honest

The concept

Components earn their place by being reused. One-off frames are fine, but once the same button is drawn four times it should be one component with variants.

Document the rule, not just the value: "danger colour is for destructive actions only" stops the next person using red for decoration.

Plain textCopy

Audit checklist:

Colours  how many greys? Reduce to one text, one muted, one border.
Spacing  are all gaps multiples of 8? Fix the odd ones.
Type     six sizes or fewer? Collapse the rest.
Buttons  one component with variants, not five drawn copies.
Rule     write WHY: "red = destructive only"

Worked example

If three different greys do the same job, pick one and replace the others; a system with eleven greys is a palette, not a system.

Your practice task

Audit your file for duplicated colours and spacing values, and reduce them to one set.

Do this before moving on. Reading a solution teaches the shape of it; typing it teaches you.

Key takeaway

Components earn their place by being reused.

Almost there

15 lessons left of 15

Finish every lesson to unlock the certificate. Each one ends in a practice task — do them and the final project brief writes itself.