[Article] When the car won't turn left: Why most design systems fail
I wanted to share an article I wrote that explains design system failures through an unexpected metaphor: a malfunctioning remote control car.
The story follows how watching a remote control car randomly flip and accelerate when trying to turn left (eventually ending up in a lake) perfectly illustrated why meticulously crafted design systems often fail.
Key insights I explore:
- A design system's value isn't in its technical sophistication but in how reliably it translates design intention into user experience
- Many systems fail because they allow "broken connections" between design tokens and implementation
- Common pitfalls include:
- Letting developers access design tokens directly, bypassing components
- Not constraining component usage, creating inconsistency
- Allowing direct CSS styling that short-circuits the entire system
The most powerful line for me was: "A successful design system isn't measured by its technical sophistication but by how predictably it translates design decisions into user experience."
Their solution focused on securing those connections:
- Making design tokens exclusively controlled by designers
- Requiring components as the only way to implement interface elements
- Prohibiting direct styling
- Establishing regular audits
I'm curious what everyone here thinks about this approach. Have you experienced similar disconnects in your design systems? How did you address them?