Design Systems and Component Architecture

A design system is not just a component library. It is a shared language for product UI.

Layers

Tokens

Colors, spacing, typography, radius, shadows, motion.

Primitives

Buttons, inputs, text, stack, card, dialog.

Patterns

Forms, tables, navigation, empty states.

Product Screens

Actual feature composition.

Why Architecture Matters

Without boundaries:

• every screen invents its own patterns
• design drift spreads
• accessibility fixes get duplicated
• refactors become expensive

Good Rules

• keep tokens centralized
• keep primitives flexible but small
• avoid putting business logic into primitives
• document intended usage, not just API surface

Interview Answer

What makes a good component architecture?

A good component architecture separates design tokens, reusable primitives, and product-specific composition so teams can move quickly without creating visual drift or duplicating accessibility and interaction logic everywhere.