Design systems

Government design systems help create consistent, accessible services at scale. They provide reusable components and clear standards that speed up development while ensuring quality.

Key elements of government design systems include:

• Components: Pre-built, tested interface elements
• Patterns: Standard solutions for common user tasks
• Content rules: Clear writing and formatting guidelines
• Code standards: Development and accessibility requirements
• Design tokens: Core visual elements like colors and spacing

Start by checking if your government already has a design system, as many do. For example, the Government of Canada Design System offers tested patterns that meet accessibility and language requirements.^[1]

Build new components only when existing ones don't meet your needs. Document why standard patterns don't work and how your new solutions maintain consistency with the broader system.