Design Systems vs Component Libraries - They aren't the same!
Did you know there is a difference between design systems and component libraries? Find out how they differ and how you can combine them to create fully featured systems.
Design systems are not a new concept, and neither are component libraries. However, they are so closely related that a lot of the time people use them interchangeably and therefore incorrectly.
A component library on it's own is not a design system. It's just a combination of meaningless re-useable components. Similarly, a design system on it's own is just a set of guidelines and foundations. It's only when you put them together that you actually get a full system.
I believe that all projects should have some form of system. It doesn't have to be anything grand like Polaris by Shopify or Spectrum by Adobe but even a small system can set you up on the right path. And in the future, you can evolve and grow it.