UI methodologies like Atomic Design bring logic and structure to individual screens. Now it’s time to extend that thinking to every aspect of your product.

1. 50 years ago graphic designers figured out that it’s a good idea to come up with some shared underlying rules when designing a bunch of related things.
2. Digital product designers realized this is also a good way to make sure your buttons always look the same. “Design Systems” emerged as a useful way to build consistent UIs.
3. But most Design Systems are really just Pattern Libraries: a big box of UI Lego pieces that can be assembled in near-infinite ways. All the pieces may be consistent, but that doesn’t mean the assembled results will be.
4. Your product is more than just a pile of reusable UI elements. It has structure and meaning. It’s not a generic web page, it’s the embodiment of a system of concepts.
5. By embodying product concepts in Design Systems designers can go beyond consistent UIs towards creating consistent products.

The Full Stack Design System