Why Starting Your SaaS Design System Matters (And How to Do It)

Dec 5, 2024

5 min read

Imagine this: your SaaS development process is full of unnecessary headaches. Your app’s UI is all over the place—buttons don’t match, the branding feels inconsistent, colors clash, and your developers aren’t reusing components efficiently. Sound familiar? This happens a lot when companies operate without a Design System.

In this article, I explain what a Design System is, how it’s more than just a basic Style Guide, and why it’s a game-changer for SaaS development. You’ll see how it can streamline your workflows, keep things consistent, and boost efficiency, all while helping you deliver a polished, cohesive product.

As your SaaS app grows, not having a Design System can cause all sorts of problems. Without reusable components or clear design guidelines, your branding and user experience can end up all over the map. But with a solid Design System in place, you get unified branding, smooth user experiences, and better teamwork between designers and developers.

Not sure where to start? This guide will cover the basics, highlight the key benefits, and walk you through how to build your own Design System. Plus, I show how working with a Design System consultant can make the process easier and help you nail it from the start.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to create a consistent, efficient, and scalable design framework for your app. Let’s dive in!

What is a SaaS Design System?

Before I jump into the how-to, let's define what a SaaS design system is. A design system is a centralized collection of reusable components, design guidelines, and brand assets that ensures consistency across a SaaS application. Think of it as the single source of truth for your product’s design language.

A well-built design system includes:

UI components: Pre-built elements like buttons, forms, and cards.
Visual guidelines: Typography, color palette, spacing, and iconography.
Interactive behaviours: Rules for hover states, animations, and responsiveness.
Documentation: Clear instructions on how to use each element effectively.

With platforms like Figma, creating and managing design systems has become more efficient than ever.

Why Does Your SaaS Need a Design System?

Starting a SaaS design system might seem like an investment of time and resources, but the benefits are substantial over the long run. Here’s why you should prioritize it:

Consistency: Eliminate visual and functional discrepancies in your product.
Efficiency: Reusable components save your development and design teams hours of redundant work.
Scalability: Expand or update your application with ease by building on standardized elements.
Improved Collaboration: Designers, developers, and product managers can work more cohesively with shared resources.
Enhanced User Experience (UX): A more polished and predictable interface improves customer satisfaction and loyalty.

How to Start Your SaaS Design System

Building your SaaS design system from scratch may feel daunting—but following a structured process can ease the workload. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Audit Your Existing Design and Process

Start by taking stock of your current design assets and identifying inconsistencies. Look at:

UI components (buttons, navigation elements, forms)
Color schemes
Typography choices
Spacing and padding standards

By auditing your existing product, you can map out what works, what doesn’t, and what’s missing. This information forms the foundation of your design system.

Step 2: Define Your Core Elements : Your foundamental

Once you’ve completed your audit, define the essential building blocks of your new system:

Colors—Establish a cohesive palette with primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Add shades for hover and disabled states.
Typography—Choose fonts that align with brand identity and define font hierarchies (e.g., H1 for headers, body text, captions).
Grids & Spacing Rules—Set rules for layout grids and spacing to ensure consistency in designs.
Iconography—Standardize icons, determining their size and styling.

These foundational elements will serve as a guide for the rest of your components.

Step 3: Build Reusable UI Components

Using tools like Figma, start creating reusable components that integrate seamlessly with your core elements. Examples include:

Buttons (primary, secondary, disabled)
Input fields (with error, focus, disabled variants)
Navigation bars
Modals and cards

Document how these components behave under different conditions (e.g., hover effects, animations).

Step 4: Document Everything

A great design system is only effective if it’s easy to understand and use. Build thorough documentation that highlights:

The purpose of each component
How to implement them in your SaaS application
Any dos and don’ts to avoid misuse of components

Central platforms like Figma or design system management tools such as ZeroHeight or Storybook can help maintain well-documented systems.

Step 5: Collaborate Across Teams

A SaaS design system isn’t just for designers—it’s a tool for your entire team. Collaborate with:

Product managers to ensure the system aligns with business goals.
Developers to translate design components into clean, reusable code.
Marketing teams to ensure brand consistency.

Regular collaboration helps keep the system relevant and functional as your SaaS evolves.

Step 6: Keep Evolving

A design system is never “done.” Treat it as a living document that evolves with your product. Regularly solicit feedback from your team and users, and review the system quarterly to ensure it meets current needs.

The Role of a Design System Consultant in Streamlining the Process

While the concept of building a design system sounds exciting, you may not have the time or in-house expertise to execute it effectively. This is where a design system consultant can make all the difference.

Why Hire a Consultant?

Expertise: Consultants have deep experience in building design systems for SaaS businesses. They know industry best practices and the tools to use.
Speed: They can reduce the time-to-launch by creating a system more efficiently than a DIY approach.
Scalability: A consultant ensures your system is future-proof and adaptable to your SaaS product’s growth.
Training: Consultants often provide training to ensure your team knows how to use and maintain the system.

How Consultants Work

A consultant typically starts with an extensive audit and then works with your team to define goals. From there, they build the core elements, components, and documentation before onboarding your team.

Many consultants also utilize Figma design system templates to jumpstart the process, saving you time while maintaining high-quality deliverables.

Unlock the Benefits of a SaaS Design System Today

Creating a SaaS design system isn’t just about organization—it’s about creating scalable, efficient workflows and delivering a seamless user experience for your customers. By following the steps above, you’ll be on your way to establishing a single source of truth for your product’s design.

If you’re still unsure where to start, a design system consultant can help you avoid common pitfalls and fast-track your development process.

Don’t wait to bring clarity and efficiency to your SaaS design. Start today and set the foundation for sustainable growth.