8 design systems you can check out and download for free

8 Free Design Systems You Can Download and Use

Design systems are the secret sauce behind consistent, visually stunning, and user-friendly digital products. They provide a collection of design rules, components, and guidelines that help teams create cohesive experiences. The best part? You don't always have to build them from scratch! Here are eight design systems you can check out and download for free, making your design process smoother and more efficient. Let's get into it!

1. Google Material Design

Google's Material Design is one of the most popular design systems around. It’s known for its clean lines, bold colors, and intuitive interactions. With Material Design, you get a comprehensive set of components, icons, and even animations that bring your digital products to life. Plus, it's backed by Google, so you know it's good!

Why It's Awesome

• Extensive documentation with examples and guidelines.
• Includes design assets for tools like Sketch and Figma.
• Supports both Android and iOS platforms.

2. IBM Carbon Design System

IBM's Carbon Design System is all about flexibility and scalability. Whether you're building a small website or a massive enterprise app, Carbon has you covered. It offers a range of components, from buttons to complex data tables, with an emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity.

Why It's Awesome

• Designed for enterprise-level projects, so it's super scalable.
• Offers a robust set of icons and patterns.
• Strong focus on accessibility and inclusivity.

3. Atlassian Design System

If you're into collaboration tools like Jira and Confluence, you'll love the Atlassian Design System. It’s the backbone of Atlassian's own products, so you know it's tried and tested. This system provides a clean, modern aesthetic with components that encourage teamwork and productivity.

Why It's Awesome

• Ideal for creating collaborative software.
• Includes design resources for Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD.
• Provides extensive documentation with use cases.

4. Microsoft Fluent Design System

Microsoft's Fluent Design System is as sleek as it sounds. It aims to create harmonious experiences across all devices, from desktops to mobile phones. With Fluent, you get a wide range of components, animations, and design patterns that can help you create beautiful, user-friendly interfaces.

Why It's Awesome

• Designed for cross-platform consistency.
• Offers a variety of animation and motion design resources.
• Strong integration with Microsoft tools like PowerPoint and Excel.

5. Shopify Polaris Design System

If you're in the e-commerce game, Shopify Polaris is your best friend. This design system is tailored for e-commerce applications, offering components specifically designed for online stores. From product cards to checkout flows, Polaris makes building a shop easy and stylish.

Why It's Awesome

• Perfect for e-commerce and online retail projects.
• Includes design guidelines for a seamless shopping experience.
• Provides resources for Sketch and Figma.

6. Mailchimp Design System

Mailchimp is known for its fun and quirky design, and their design system is no exception. It's colorful, friendly, and easy to use. The Mailchimp Design System is ideal for creating marketing and communication tools, with a focus on simple, effective design.

Why It's Awesome

• Fun and playful design style.
• Ideal for marketing and communication-related projects.
• Offers a variety of icons, components, and design guidelines.

7. Salesforce Lightning Design System

Salesforce's Lightning Design System is designed for customer relationship management (CRM) and business applications. It provides a comprehensive set of components and guidelines to create dynamic, interactive interfaces. If you're building enterprise-level software, this is the design system to explore.

Why It's Awesome

• Tailored for enterprise-level CRM and business apps.
• Includes a robust set of components, from basic buttons to complex charts.
• Focuses on creating intuitive, interactive user experiences.

8. Ant Design System

Ant Design is a robust design system that's widely used in the React ecosystem. It's known for its minimalistic design and extensive component library. Ant Design is great for building fast, responsive web applications with a clean and modern look.

Why It's Awesome

• Comprehensive set of React components.
• Ideal for building web applications and software.
• Offers extensive documentation and community support.

Conclusion

These eight design systems offer a variety of styles and components to suit different needs. Whether you're building an enterprise-level app, an e-commerce platform, or a simple marketing tool, there's a design system here for you. The best part? They're all free to download and use. So go ahead and explore these design systems to find the one that fits your project, and start designing with consistency and style!

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