9 Popular Design Systems to Inspire Your Next Project

Design systems are crucial for maintaining consistency and efficiency in product design. They provide a shared language for designers and developers, ensuring a cohesive user experience across platforms.

Let's explore 9 popular design systems that can inspire and guide your next project.

Atlassian Design System

Atlassian Design System is the backbone of Atlassian's suite of products, including Jira and Confluence. It offers a comprehensive set of guidelines, components, and patterns that embody Atlassian's design principles. The system is known for its flexibility and scalability, making it suitable for complex enterprise applications.

Fluent 2 Design System

Fluent 2 is Microsoft's latest iteration of their design language. Building on the principles of its predecessor, Fluent 2 focuses on creating adaptive, coherent, and inclusive user experiences across various Microsoft products. It provides a rich set of UI components and design tools that help create modern, fluid interfaces.

IBM Carbon Design System

Carbon Design System by IBM is an open-source design system that brings consistency to IBM's vast range of products. It's known for its modular and flexible approach, allowing teams to create cohesive experiences efficiently. Carbon offers a robust set of components, patterns, and tools, making it a favorite among enterprise-level projects.

Shopify Polaris

Shopify Polaris is designed to help create the best experience for Shopify's merchants. It provides a set of well-considered components and thoughtful guidelines that reflect Shopify's commerce-centric approach. Polaris is particularly useful for teams building e-commerce solutions or merchant-focused applications.

GitLab Pajamas Design System

Pajamas Design System by GitLab is an open-source system that powers GitLab's user interface. It offers a comprehensive set of components and guidelines, focusing on creating a consistent and efficient experience for software development workflows. Pajamas is an excellent reference for teams building developer tools or collaboration platforms.

Base Web Design System

Base Web is Uber's design system for building web applications. It provides a robust foundation of components that can be easily customized to fit various brand needs. Base Web is known for its accessibility features and its support for theme customization, making it a versatile choice for many types of projects.

Clarity Design System

Clarity Design System by VMware is an open-source and modular design system. It offers a set of UX guidelines, HTML/CSS framework, and Angular components that work together to craft exceptional user experiences. Clarity is particularly well-suited for enterprise applications and data-heavy interfaces.

Nord Design System

Nord Design System by Nord Health is a comprehensive system designed for creating digital health solutions. It provides a set of principles, components, and patterns that prioritize accessibility and user-centric design in healthcare applications. Nord is an excellent reference for teams working on health tech or other specialized industries requiring a focus on accessibility and user trust.

These design systems offer a wealth of inspiration and practical resources for creating cohesive, efficient, and user-friendly interfaces. Whether you're working on enterprise software, e-commerce platforms, or specialized applications, these systems provide valuable insights into best practices in modern UI design.