If you like to use wireframes for planning out the layout and user interfaces of your websites, apps, or other projects, it’s likely you’ve run across design systems at some point. Creating a design system for your projects means encapsulating key components of your current and future projects so they can be accessed and referenced at any time.
This differs from a UI kit or template, which is designed to create an at-a-glance structure for your project prior to making design choices. A design system, on the other hand, acts as a reference tool for building out a wider variety of projects.
Today, we’ll be discussing what a design system is, how they work, how to use them, and then offer up several design system templates for Figma that you can put to work immediately.
What is a Design System?
According to InVisionApp, a design system is described as follows:
“...a collection of reusable components, guided by clear standards, that can be assembled together to build any number of applications.”
This sounds pretty similar to a wireframe UI kit or template on paper, but it’s actually more than that. A design system contains the assets, components, and UI pieces you can assemble together in a variety of ways to build websites and apps and thorough documentation, a set of standards, and a design guide for how your brand will use these assets.
It’s the set of guidelines for how to use the pieces as well as the pieces themselves, whether that’s a style guide, pattern library, or UI kit. Much of the time, design system examples will include assets and templates and people will use them just as they are.
However, you can get more out of a design system, and we can show you how by using our own design system as an example.
What is the Foundation Design System?
Envato has its own design system which is openly available for anyone to use. It’s called the Foundation Design System and consists of three key things:
- Predefined tokens.
- User interface components.
- Guidelines for how to use everything.
This design system lets Envato design and create new products while maintaining consistency across a wide range of projects.
How to Use Figma Design System Templates
Before we get to our collection of design system templates, let’s briefly discuss how you can actually put them to use. First and foremost, using a design system will save you time and money in the long-run, because you’ll be reusing assets and following a predetermined set of guidelines.
So, you will still need to spend the initial time configuring the system and making decisions about what it should contain, but that’s an upfront effort that doesn’t need to be repeated. According to the Nielsen Norman Group, setting up a design system is a worthwhile investment if your company or brand can’t find an open-source solution that meets its needs. In these cases, custom is the way to go.
Source Unlimited Figma Design System Templates From Envato Elements
Should you decide you need a custom design system for your company or brand, there’s no reason to start from scratch when so many usable templates exist.
Envato Elements is a subscription-based service that provides access to tons of assets and templates to use in all your web design, app development, and even print projects. You can find Figma design system templates here but other resources as well like stock photography and resume templates, too.
With your subscription, you gain access to unlimited downloads, which is well worth the cost if you require a lot of assets each month.
15+ Figma Design System Templates to Inspire Your Projects
What follows are some of our favorite Figma design system templates for 2022 sourced from Envato Elements. Take a look and see if one will suit your projects.
1. Mobile Design System
Or perhaps the Mobile Design System is more suited to your tastes? It acts as a full-fledged mobile starter kit with a comprehensive style guide to hold it all together. You can use it to create apps from the ground up for iOS and Android. Features include:
- Over 200 responsive symbols.
- A style guide that covers all the included UI elements.
- A variety of charts.
- An 8-point grid.
- And well-organized and named layers.
This system is suitable for use in the development of apps for the web, iOS, and Android.
2. Pockie Ecommerce Website Design System
Another option is the Pockie ECommerce Website Design System, which offers a convenient way to build out full-fledged designs and marketing campaigns. Top features include:
- Font options.
- Multiple color schemes.
- A component library consisting of over 500 components.
- A variety of screens for multiple functions including sign-up, sign-in, and the home page.
- 6 templates.
Other features include screens for forgetting a password, product lists, shopping cart, payment screens, and more. It also comes with over 40 icons.
3. Markie Design System - Grocery Mobile UI
And then there’s the Markie Design System, which is made specifically for creating the mobile UI for grocery stores. If you specialize in this industry, Markie is a great way to flesh out your design system for current grocery store websites and apps. Features include:
- Over 430 components.
- Over 150 styles.
- 9 feature templates.
- Over 80 icons.
- Well-organized layers.
Other features include multiple font and color options and multiple screen options for every type of page or UX you’d need to create including products, sign up, sign in, forgot password, blog, and more.
4. Dihome Design System - Real Estate Mobile UI
If you specialize in the real estate industry, the Dihome Design System would be an excellent choice for you. This mobile UI system includes features suited specifically for real estate, including tour requests, application processing, accepting rent payments, and more. A few notable features here include:
- Over 250 components.
- Over 150 styles.
- Over 50 icons.
- 6 feature templates.
- Over 40 mobile screens.
- Well-organized layers.
- Pixel-perfect design.
Other features include custom fonts and colors and numerous screens for every aspect of putting together real estate apps.
5. Smart Home Systems Wireframe Apps
Now if your aim is to build a smart home app or something of that nature, the Smart Home Systems Wireframe Apps Figma template is a suitable choice. It can easily serve as a basis for your design process – and can be referenced over and over again in future projects. Key features include:
- Fully layered design.
- Free fonts.
- Full customization.
- Includes documentation.
You can easily customize this template and use it as a key component in your design system.
6. Smart Home System App UI Kit
Another option for those working in the smart home industry is the Smart Home System App UI Kit. This one is another great choice on which to build a design system for your specialized development business. Features of note include:
- Tons of screens to choose from.
- Free fonts.
- Free icons.
- Vector-editable.
- Well-organized layers.
- Customizable fonts and colors.
This system template and UI kit include files for Figma, Photoshop, Adobe XD, and Sketch.
7. Figma Design System (UI Elements)
If you’re more of a generalist, the Figma Design System would be well-suited for you. This system includes UI components and elements that can be reconfigured and reused over and over again based on a set of guidelines you flesh out. Features include:
- An 8px grid.
- Over 60 different buttons.
- Numerous screens/templates for fields, navigation, forms, and more.
- Well-organized and categorized layers.
- Free fonts.
- Color guide.
The entire system can be customized to suit your business or you can use it as-is, too.
8. Sound Systems & Equalizer App UI Kit
Another option to consider is the Sound Systems & Equalizer App UI Kit, which can be configured to use with your design guidelines for use across multiple projects to save time and effort. Features include:
- Numerous UI elements.
- Layers and proper organization.
- Multiple screens.
- Free fonts and icons.
- Customizable fonts and layers.
This system is designed for use with Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD.
9. Git Version Control System & Repo App UI Kit
Another option is the Git Version Control System & Repo App UI Kit, which makes for a fantastic foundation for creating a modern design system. Noteworthy features include:
- Fully customizable layers.
- Customizable fonts and colors.
- Free fonts.
- Free icons.
You can also customize any aspect of the system thanks to vector shape designs. Git Version Control works with Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD.
10. Furniture Design UI Kit
For those who intend to create furniture apps or websites more than once, the Furniture Design UI Kit would make an excellent choice for building a design system around. It comes with numerous iOS screens that are fully editable. Other features include:
- Compatibility with iOS and Android systems.
- ECommerce features.
- Customizable fonts and colors.
- 26 iOS screens.
- Fully scalable designs.
- Layered design.
This system also comes with full documentation.
11. Careely - Career Landing Page UI Kit
If landing pages or agency work is more your thing, Careely is a solid choice. It’s ideal for creating landing pages and can be used open-and-go or as a foundation for your design system. Features here include:
- Numerous components.
- Layered organization.
- A built-in design system.
- Vector-based designs are fully editable.
- Free fonts.
You can use Careely with Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, and Invision Studio.
12. Odho - Creative Figma Landing Page Template
Another landing page option is Odho, which services as a design system and template for creating landing pages with Figma. It’s suitable for creating apps, SaaS products, websites, software, and more. Features include:
- Grid-based design.
- Full range of customization options.
- Included design system and style guide.
- Free fonts.
Odho also comes with full customer support.
13. Analytics & Statistics Dashboard Templates
To create interactive dashboards for displaying analytics and stats, there are the Analytics & Statistics Dashboard templates. This UI set is a full design system that you can use to start creating custom projects immediately. Features include:
- 5 dashboard templates.
- Tons of premade UI components, elements, icons, and symbols.
- Numerous typography and color choices.
- Style guide.
- Drag-and-drop elements.
Vector shapes and elements are fully editable. You can use this design system with Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, and Adobe XD.
14. Design Agency Landing Page UI Kit
If you create landing pages for agencies, you might be interested in the Design Agency Landing Page UI Kit. This one makes it easy to create landing pages with appropriate UI features. This download includes:
- A full design system.
- Fully editable vector-based components.
- Well-organized layers.
- Free Google Fonts.
This kit and template include files for editing in Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and InVision.
15. Email Newsletter
Last on our list is Email Newsletter, which offers specialized screens and templates for creating custom email newsletters across all industries. Along with included email templates, this template download includes:
- A full design system.
- A 6-column grid.
- Over 100 icons.
- Well-organized and categorized layers and components.
- Free Google Fonts.
These templates can be used with Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, and Adobe XD and are suitable for announcements, events, holiday email blasts, product releases, and more.
16. Design System
Last on our list is the aptly named Design System. This template isn’t actually a design system, but rather a design for a website to present your design system (if that makes sense±). It can be used for building websites, templates, landing pages, and mobile UI. This template comes with files for:
- Figma
- Adobe XD
- Photoshop
- Sketch
It comes with illustration files as well.
Let Figma Design System Templates Save You Time Launching Your Next Project
If you anticipate needing to create several websites, apps, or other design projects in the coming months, setting up a design system now is a great idea and could save you time and money in the long run.
And you can always get a head start on the creation process by using one of the many Figma design system templates available on Envato Elements. Happy creating!
