Practical implementation.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Audit what exists.
WHAT THAT REVEALS
How many button variants, colours, spacing values and type sizes are actually in use.
WHAT THE ANSWER ALWAYS IS
Far more than anyone expected.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Consolidate to a defined set.
WHAT TO DEFINE
Tokens, with semantic names The components used most Every state each supports
WHAT TO BUILD INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS ON
Accessible primitives.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
Documentation with live examples Guidance on when to use each, and when not A route for requests and feedback
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Who owns it How changes are proposed and approved How it is versioned and released
WHAT TO VERSION CAREFULLY
Anything changing existing behaviour or appearance.
WHAT TO MEASURE
Adoption: how much of the interface actually uses it.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT GAPS
Fill them, promptly.
WHY
An unmet need is filled by someone building their own.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Whether it still matches how the product is built.
