Design System Health Check
A free self-assessment checklist covering the five dimensions of a healthy design system: component consistency, accessibility, token architecture, documentation, and handoff process.
Who it's for
Any team with a component library or design system that wants to know where they stand before investing in improvements.
Use it to identify your biggest gaps, prioritize what to fix first, or build a case for investment with your team.
What it covers
A structured self-assessment covering the same five dimensions as the paid audit, scored by your team, in your own time.
- Component consistency: Are similar patterns implemented the same way across your library?
- Accessibility: Do your components meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA, keyboard navigation, and screen reader requirements?
- Token architecture: Are tokens named consistently and mapped directly to code?
- Documentation: Can a new developer use your library without asking anyone for help?
- Handoff process: Is there a clear, repeatable path from design to code?
How to use it
Score
Work through each of the five dimensions with your team. Rate every criterion: working well, partially in place, or not addressed.
Total
Add up your scores by section to see which dimensions have the most gaps. Patterns emerge quickly.
Prioritize
Use your results to decide what to fix first, or to frame a conversation with your team about where to invest next.
What this unlocks
Most teams don't know where their design system is weakest until they look. The checklist shows exactly where the gaps are and gives your team a shared language to discuss them with designers, developers, and stakeholders.
Ready to go deeper?
If the checklist surfaces gaps you're not sure how to prioritize, the paid Design System Audit covers the same criteria with expert analysis, a written report, and a remediation roadmap.
Book an intro call