Startups run on speed and agility. At Tokyo Techies, we operate in much the same way: we build, launch, and iterate, and we do it fast.
Startups also need consistent, professional-looking products to build trust and user loyalty. Building a full-blown design system from scratch often presents practical challenges, demanding a level of time and resources that don't always align with a startup's pace.
This guide explores a smarter approach: how to repackage an existing design system and use it as a more efficient starting point.
Instead of starting from zero, you leverage existing foundations, such as a robust baseline system or elements of a previous project, and tailor it specifically to the startup's brand and immediate needs.
Real-world examples, such as the Tabist PMS project involving the repackaging of Ant Design into a scalable internal system (Read case study here), showcase the effectiveness of this strategy.
It’s about being smart, efficient, and delivering maximum impact with minimum overhead.
Ready to repackage? Let’s dive in to the step-by-step below
Begin with discovery: talk to the client to grasp their core needs (like the problem being solved, initial features, and tech stack) while also collecting all necessary brand identity elements upfront, such as logos, fonts, files, and any voice, tone, or imagery guidelines.
When selecting your baseline foundation, prioritize systems that offer comprehensive documentation, ease of customization, and potential developer familiarity. Decide whether adapting an existing internal system or using a public option—like the flexible shadcn/ui, the feature-rich Ant Design or Material Design, or another system that suits the project's specific needs and technologies.
Organize your work in a dedicated Figma file. Prioritize defining core brand elements including colors, typography, spacing, and radii as maintainable design tokens using Figma Variables. Structure these tokens with a logical naming convention, such as Category/Type/Item (tailoring the grouping flexibly as needed), and connect them to corresponding Figma Styles (Color, Text, Effect) for easy, consistent application across your designs.
Import the baseline components into Figma (using kits or rebuilding). Then, systematically apply your defined brand tokens and styles to theme them. Prioritize customizing the essentials needed for the MVP, like buttons and inputs, using resources like designsystemchecklist.com as a selective guide for core needs rather than aiming for full coverage immediately.
Plan for the startup's ongoing use and maintenance, being mindful of limitations like non-corporate Figma tiers which restrict library publishing. Keep documentation lean and accessible: use clear labels and simple examples directly within Figma, or maintain a basic external guide (e.g., in Klever, Confluence, Notion or a shared doc).
Establish an equally straightforward, low-friction process, perhaps using a shared document or Slack channel, for handling updates, feedback, and communication efficiently.
A smooth developer handoff is crucial for translating the design system accurately into code. Facilitate this by providing clear specifications using tools like Figma's Dev Mode, delivering design tokens in usable formats such as JSON, and encouraging the use of dev-side component libraries like Storybook for visualizing, testing, and creating living documentation of the implemented components.
Repackaging a design system isn't cutting corners; it's strategic efficiency tailored for startups. By carefully gathering brand needs, selecting a smart baseline, leveraging tools like Figma and Storybook effectively, and providing practical documentation, you equip startups with a powerful accelerator.
Build quality products faster, scale smarter. Ready to implement a system like this for your business? Contact Tokyo Techies to discuss building or repackaging your design system.
