Design System First Prototyping for Small Product Teams
How to keep generated screens coherent by anchoring every iteration to a lightweight design system from day one.
TTTapUI TeamFeb 20, 20265 min read
Choose Five Core Decisions
Start with five decisions: font pairing, primary/neutral palette, corner radius scale, shadow style, and spacing step. These constraints eliminate most visual drift.
Fix Hierarchy Before Detail
As you generate new screens, check hierarchy first. If users cannot identify the top action in three seconds, simplify layout before adding detail.
Stabilize UI Patterns
Use badges, cards, and buttons consistently. When one pattern changes per screen, trust drops because the interface feels unstable.
Run A Fast Review Loop
Treat each generated screen as a draft that must pass a quick review: readability, touch target sizing, and state clarity. This keeps velocity high without sacrificing UX quality.
Key takeaways
- 1A compact system of five decisions is enough to prevent visual drift.
- 2If primary action hierarchy is unclear, simplify before polishing.
- 3Pattern consistency makes generated prototypes feel trustworthy and product-ready.
- 4Review for readability, touch targets, and state clarity on every pass.