A design system is a shared set of components, patterns and guidelines that keeps your product consistent as it grows. It makes design and development faster, cuts rework, and stops every new feature looking slightly different from the last.
What a design system is
At its simplest, it’s one agreed source for how your product looks and behaves: colours, type and spacing as design tokens, a library of reusable components like buttons, forms and tables, and guidelines on when to use each one. Designers build from it in Figma, and developers build matching components in code.
Without one, teams reinvent the same parts again and again, and the product slowly becomes inconsistent and harder to use.
Who it’s for
- Growing product teams where several designers and developers work on the same product.
- Companies with more than one product or brand that should feel like they belong together.
- Platforms that have grown fast and now have five versions of every button.
- Teams where handover between design and development causes delays and rework.
- Startups who want lightweight foundations now, rather than a costly clean-up later.
What’s included
- An audit of your existing UI to find inconsistencies and duplicate components.
- Design tokens for colour, type and spacing.
- A Figma component library built for real use, not just for show.
- Usage guidelines and documentation your team will actually read.
- Developer handover and adoption support, so the system is used in the live product.
How it works
1. Assess. I audit your current interface and how your team works, to see where inconsistency and wasted effort come from.
2. Plan. I prioritise the tokens and components that will make the biggest difference first, rather than trying to document everything at once.
3. Build and adopt. I design the system in Figma, work with your developers on handover, and help the team start using it day to day.
Results
For DDCAP Group, I laid design system foundations for their ETHOS platform as part of a three-week engagement, alongside targeted improvements to key screens. Read the DDCAP case study.
- 25+ years designing websites, apps and digital products.
- 100% of clients say the process worked and would choose Layer2 again.
More background: why design systems are the backbone of scalable product design.
Questions people ask
Do we need a design system?
If more than one person designs or builds your product, or if it’s starting to look inconsistent, you’ll probably benefit from one. It doesn’t need to be large. A small, well-used system beats a big one nobody follows.
Can you build on what we already have?
Yes. Most systems start from an existing product. I audit what’s there, keep what works and standardise the rest.
Which tools do you use?
The component library is built in Figma, with design tokens that your developers can carry into code.
Will our developers use it?
That’s the part that matters most, so adoption is built in. I work with your developers during handover and make sure the guidelines answer the questions they actually ask.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the size of your product and how much already exists. After a short call, I’ll give you a clear scope and quote before any work begins.
Do you only work in Dorset?
No. I’m based in Gillingham, Dorset and work with clients across the UK.
Next step
Tell me about your product, your team and where inconsistency is slowing you down. Get in touch and I’ll reply within 1 working day.