Design Systems
that ensure consistency and speed development.
Create reusable component libraries that ensure consistency and speed development. We build scalable design systems that maintain brand consistency, accelerate production, and create single sources of truth for design and engineering.
How we help
Without design systems, every new feature becomes a design project. Designers recreate buttons, forms, and layouts from scratch. Developers build the same components repeatedly. Inconsistencies accumulate. Velocity slows. Technical debt grows. Design systems solve this.
A design system is your single source of truth—a comprehensive library of reusable components, patterns, and guidelines that scale with your product. Instead of designing every button, you use the button component. Instead of debating spacing, you follow the system. This turns design and development from craft to assembly, dramatically increasing speed and consistency.
We build design systems that work for your specific context. Startup with 2 designers? We create lightweight systems focused on core components. Enterprise with distributed teams? We build comprehensive systems with governance frameworks. Each system is tailored to your team's maturity, velocity needs, and technical stack.
Our systems include visual design tokens (colors, typography, spacing, shadows), component libraries (buttons, forms, cards, navigation), pattern libraries (common compositions and layouts), usage guidelines (when and how to use each element), and code implementations (React, Vue, or your framework of choice).
Documentation is critical. We create comprehensive guides that make the system accessible to everyone—designers, developers, product managers, and marketers. Clear examples show proper usage. Usage guidelines prevent misuse. Contribution workflows let the system evolve without becoming chaos.
Implementation requires collaboration. We work closely with your engineering team to ensure components are built consistently with your tech stack. We establish versioning, testing, and release processes. We train teams on using and contributing to the system. Adoption is as important as creation.
The result? Designers work 50-70% faster by reusing components instead of recreating. Developers build features in days instead of weeks. Your product feels cohesive across every touchpoint. New hires onboard quickly with clear standards. And your team focuses on solving problems, not reinventing buttons.
Why work with espress labs
- Scalable architecture - Systems designed to grow from MVP to enterprise without breaking
- Framework-agnostic - We build for React, Vue, Angular, Web Components, or your specific tech stack
- Comprehensive documentation - Clear usage guidelines that make adoption effortless for all teams
- Governance & evolution - We establish processes for maintaining, versioning, and evolving your system
- Training & adoption support - Workshops and ongoing support to ensure your team actually uses the system
What we deliver
Foundational design tokens defining colors, typography, spacing, breakpoints, shadows, and other core values. Organized in variables that cascade across all components.
Comprehensive Figma component library including all UI elements: buttons, forms, navigation, cards, modals, and more. Includes all states, variations, and responsive behaviors.
Production-ready code components built in your framework (React, Vue, etc). Fully tested, accessible, and documented with clear APIs and usage examples.
Common patterns and page templates showing how components combine to create complete interfaces. Includes layouts, compositions, and best practices.
Comprehensive documentation portal showing all components, usage guidelines, code examples, and best practices. Searchable, maintainable, and accessible to all teams.
Process documentation for maintaining, versioning, and evolving the system. Includes contribution workflows, approval processes, and deprecation strategies.
Design system projects typically range from $30,000 to $150,000+ depending on scope, number of components, and whether you need both design and code libraries. Lightweight systems start around $20,000.
Most design system projects take 10-16 weeks from kickoff to v1.0 launch. This includes audit, token definition, component creation, documentation, and team training. Simple systems can launch in 6-8 weeks.
Off-the-shelf systems (Material, Ant Design) are great starting points but often require heavy customization. Custom systems match your brand perfectly but take longer. We often start with a framework and customize, combining speed with brand alignment.
Design systems need ongoing maintenance—new components, updates, bug fixes. We can provide ongoing support, or we train your team to maintain it. Most clients dedicate 1-2 people part-time to system maintenance.
Initially, yes—there's a learning curve. But within 2-3 months, teams typically work 50-70% faster. The upfront investment pays dividends quickly through increased velocity and reduced rework.
frequently asked questions
Have questions about working with us? We've got answers. Here are the most common questions we hear from new clients about our process, pricing, timelines, and what makes us different.
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