Design System Documentation Checklist

A design system isn’t just a set of components — it’s a shared understanding.
But that only works if it’s documented well.

Good documentation answers the silent questions:

What is this? How do I use it? When should I not?

Without clear documentation, even the best system becomes chaos.

Here’s a checklist to make sure your design system is documented clearly, thoroughly, and usefully.

🧩 1. Foundations

Set the ground rules. These are the basics every component is built on.

•  Typography – styles, weights, usage rules

•  Colors – palette, naming conventions, accessibility notes

•  Spacing – scale, grid systems, padding/margin guidelines

•  Iconography – sizing, color treatment, when/when not to use

•  Elevation – shadows, layering, z-index structure

•  Motion – transitions, durations, usage examples

💡 Foundations are your design language. Document them like grammar.

🧱 2. Components

Each component should come with clarity and context.

•  Name & Description – what is it, and where it's used

•  Variants & States – default, hover, active, disabled

•  Usage Guidelines – do’s & don’ts, common mistakes

•  Code Reference – link to implementation or Storybook

•  Examples – screenshots or prototypes in context

•  Anatomy – label key parts (e.g., input label, helper text)

💡 Aim for clarity, not perfection. It’s more important to explain than to impress.

🛠️ 3. Patterns & Layouts

Design systems aren’t just about parts — they’re about how parts come together.

•  Common Layouts – cards, modals, forms, dashboards

•  User Flows – login, onboarding, error states

•  Accessibility Guidelines – keyboard nav, contrast, focus states

•  Responsive Behavior – how things adapt on different screens

💡 Documenting flows helps teams make consistent UX decisions.

🤝 4. Contribution & Versioning

A living system needs governance and collaboration.

•  How to Contribute – rules for proposing changes or new components

•  Review Process – who approves what, and how

•  Versioning System – changelogs, breaking changes, deprecation policy

•  Release Notes – what changed, what to test

💡 Design systems grow. Make sure they grow in the right direction.

📘 5. Access & Tools

Make the system easy to find, search, and use.

•  Searchable Docs – ideally in Notion, Zeroheight, or built-in

•  Figma Library Links – organized and published

•  Codebase Links – for dev parity

•  Glossary – define key terms to avoid confusion

💡 Documentation that isn’t accessible… isn’t documentation.

🧠 Why It All Matters

Documentation isn’t a side task — it’s your system’s user interface.
When it’s thoughtful, your system becomes a tool everyone wants to use.

When it’s vague or incomplete, people go rogue — and the system falls apart.

✨ Want an Example?

Sigma Design System was built with documentation at its core — not as an afterthought.
We pushed for clarity, consistency, and elegance in every doc. The result? A system teams actually love using.