What happens when your developers don’t like — or worse, don’t use — the design system you worked so hard to create?
Here’s the hard truth: even the best-designed systems can flop if they don’t meet the needs of developers. Without their buy-in, your design system is just a pretty set of guidelines collecting dust.
Let’s explore why developers might be avoiding your design system and what you can do about it.
Reason #1 Too Much Focus on Aesthetics.
One of the main reasons developers might avoid using a design system is because it prioritizes design details over functionality. Designers often focus on creating pixel-perfect components, but developers care about how easy these components are to implement.
If a design system is overly focused on visuals and ignores the practical needs of developers — like proper documentation or clear component structure — it creates friction.
👩🔬 Here’s the solution!
Bridge the Gap with Code-Integrated Design Systems
The most effective design systems prioritize both design and development needs. Platforms like UXPin allow designers to create components that are directly tied to code — ensuring that the components developers are implementing are fully functional and match the design exactly.
This method helps eliminate the gap between design and development, making the design system more functional and developer-friendly.
Reason #2 Lack of Flexibility
Developers often run into situations where a component needs to be customized for a specific use case. If your design system is too rigid, offering no flexibility for edge cases, developers may start bypassing the system entirely.
For instance, using a set component might require small adjustments for a specific feature. If the design system doesn’t accommodate those tweaks — or worse, if those changes aren’t supported — it forces developers to create their own solutions.
👩🔬 Here’s the solution!
Support Theming and Customization
One way to fix this is by offering theming options and flexible components that can adapt to different use cases.
MUI and Fluent UI, which are integrated into UXPin, are great examples of libraries that allow theming, giving developers control over how components look while still adhering to the overall design guidelines.
Incorporating this level of flexibility into your design system shows developers that the system is built to support them, not limit them.
Reason #3: Poor Documentation
This is a big one. Developers rely on clear, easy-to-navigate documentation. If your design system doesn’t come with thorough and up-to-date documentation, developers are likely to avoid it.
When developers need to spend more time trying to understand how to use components than actually implementing them, the system becomes a burden.
👩🔬Here’s the solution!
Dynamic, Developer-Centric Documentation
Documentation is the backbone of any successful design system. Especially the one that not only saves designers and developers from maintaining it but also one that ensures that everyone is always working from the latest version.
Make sure your documentation includes:
- Clear code examples (ideally in the frameworks your developers use).
- Usage guidelines: When and where to use each component.
- Customizable options: How to tweak components to fit different use cases.
- Accessibility considerations: Developers care about this too, so make it part of the component specs.
Reason #4: Inconsistency Between Design and Code
Another common frustration arises when the components in the design system don’t match the ones in the codebase. If developers spend more time trying to bridge the gap between what’s been designed and what can be coded, they’ll end up abandoning the system in favor of custom solutions.
👩🔬Here’s the solution!
Design and Code in Sync
Using tools like UXPin Merge, which allows you to use real, coded components in the design process, ensure that what designers see is exactly what developers will implement. This closes the gap between design and development, saving everyone time and ensuring consistency across the product.
This approach also helps when scaling the system, as developers can trust that components in the design system will work as expected in production.
Reason #5: Lack of Accessibility Focus
Developers are increasingly responsible for ensuring accessibility standards are met. If your design system doesn’t come with built-in accessibility features or guidance, developers are likely to either bypass the system or spend extra time building accessibility into the product themselves, which leads to frustration.
👩🔬Here’s the solution
Build Accessibility into the Core
Make accessibility part of your design system from the start. Color contrast checks, keyboard navigation guidelines, and ARIA attributes should all be part of your components.
UXPin, for example, has accessibility features that allow designers to create accessible components from the start. This saves developers from needing to retrofit accessibility later, making your design system a trusted source for accessible design.
Reason #6: Too Much Overhead
Sometimes, design systems create more overhead than they’re worth. If developers have to jump through hoops to implement simple components or get bogged down by rules and limitations, they’ll end up avoiding it altogether.
👩🔬Here’s the solution!
Start Simple, Grow Gradually
If your design system is still in its early stages, don’t overcomplicate it with too many rules or components. Start with the essentials — colors, typography, and a few key components like buttons or forms — and expand as needed. This way, developers can adopt the system without feeling like it’s a roadblock.
By keeping things simple and scalable, you can grow the system over time while making sure it always remains developer-friendly.
Collaboration is Key!
To ensure that your design system is embraced by both designers and developers, it’s crucial to create a system that prioritizes functionality, flexibility, and collaboration.
By using fullstack design tools like UXPin to keep design and code aligned, providing clear and dynamic documentation, and supporting accessibility and customization, you’ll create a design system that developers love to use — and that’s what truly makes a system successful.
Remember, a design system isn’t just for designers. It’s a living product that both designers and developers need to thrive with. Keep communication open and make sure the system works for both sides, and you’ll see your design system become a vital tool for the entire team.
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