Introduction to Design Systems
Learn how to build scalable, consistent, and accessible design systems from the ground up.
About this course
A design system is like the framework of a building: invisible to most, yet essential for keeping everything aligned and stable. It provides structure and clarity, helping colors, buttons, typography, and spacing stay consistent so that elements with the same purpose both look and behave the same. When this foundation is solid, a product feels coherent and reliable. Users may not notice the system, but they experience its order and balance in every interaction.
A design system defines the visual and behavioral principles of a product. It explains not only how things look but also how they work together. Each element follows the same logic, forming a shared language that helps teams create interfaces with intention and precision. This sense of order allows creativity to flourish within clear boundaries rather than being limited by them.
Not every project requires a complete design system. Today, many teams use design tokens and code-backed components so that updates to colors, spacing, or typography can be rolled out consistently across Figma, codebases, and platforms. For smaller products, adopting just a few parts, such as tokens, color rules, or reusable components, can already bring visible improvement. Larger teams may build an entire ecosystem that grows and evolves over time. What matters is not the size of the system but how well it supports the people who use it.
More than a set of guidelines, a design system connects people. It gives designers, developers, and managers a common reference point and helps them speak the same language. It replaces confusion with clarity and allows teams to focus on solving real problems together. Behind every consistent product stands a shared framework built through collaboration, trust, and attention to detail.
Details
Prerequisites
Skills you’ll gain with course:
Syllabus
Understanding Design Systems
Level Test
Core Principles of Design Systems
Level Test
Building the Foundations
Level Test
Building the Visual Language
Level Test
Earn a certificate of completion
Meet your course instructor
I'm Dries De Schepper, and I graduated in September 2014 as an Art Director from the Miami Ad School in Berlin. I was born in 1990 in Ghent, where I grew up and earned my bachelor's degree in marketing. I've lived, worked and studied abroad in Ireland, France, Germany, China, and Russia. I have worked as a Digital Project Manager at Ogilvy Brussels, an Art Director at Ogilvy Paris, Ogilvy Hong Kong, Leo Burnett Moscow and Grey Düsseldorf. I currently work as a Lead UI Designer at Deloitte Digital Brussels.
I have a demonstrated history of working in different industries, with expertise in eCommerce and Financial Services. I am skilled in User Interface Design, Responsive Design, Design for Mobile Applications, User Experience, and Art Direction.
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FAQs
The course explains how design systems create order in product development by aligning design and engineering practices. It covers the ideas that make systems effective, such as modular design, atomic structures, and shared visual language. Real examples like Material Design and Carbon illustrate how a single framework can shape multiple products and keep them consistent. The lessons introduce the roles of tokens, accessibility, and governance, showing how they build trust and clarity among teams. Through this approach, learners understand not only how systems look but also how they function as living parts of a digital ecosystem.
Design systems benefit anyone involved in creating digital experiences. Designers gain a clearer process for keeping interfaces consistent and easy to maintain. Developers work with fewer misunderstandings and more reliable components. Product managers see faster delivery and better coordination between teams. For beginners, design systems provide a clear overview of how decisions at the interface level connect to business goals. Experienced professionals strengthen communication, improve scalability, and encourage a shared sense of ownership across an organization.
Creating a design system is rarely simple. Teams often struggle to balance flexibility with control. Too many rules can limit creativity, while too few can lead to inconsistency. Building trust between designers and developers takes time, especially when decisions must stay aligned between Figma and code.
Adoption and ownership are also common challenges. Even a well-built system can fail if teams do not use it consistently. Keeping the system up to date, ensuring changes are reflected in both design and code, and defining clear ownership all require ongoing effort. Many teams also underestimate the need for dedicated roles, such as a design system designer or manager, which makes it harder to secure enough time and budget.
Maintenance adds another layer of complexity. Systems must evolve as products grow, which means regular reviews, versioning, and feedback loops. Deciding where to start, whether with foundations, components, or documentation, can feel unclear. Understanding these challenges helps teams plan realistically and keep their design systems useful and sustainable over time.
For new learners, the first level of each course is available free of charge! This allows you to experience the course without any initial investment.
However, if you're seeking a deeper and more comprehensive learning journey, we recommend our Pro Membership. With this subscription, you gain full access to all our courses, which includes additional lessons, engaging design challenges, and thorough assessments.
Additionally, Pro Membership entitles you to receive a certificate upon completion of a course and personalized feedback from experts for all your challenge submissions. To explore the pricing details and find the best plan for your learning needs, please visit our pricing page.