The Current State of Design Systems

Design systems are at a pivotal moment, currently seen at the 'peak of inflated expectations' on the hype cycle, yet many practitioners feel we are slipping into the 'trough of disillusionment.' This perception stems from recent mass layoffs and the challenge of demonstrating value to stakeholders, leading to widespread deprioritization. The expectation that a design system alone can drive efficiency is misguided; success requires active adoption and practical application across teams. This disconnect can create psychological discouragement as teams may feel frustrated with low component usage despite significant initial investment.