Discover UCL's design system

Why we have a design system, how it helps create consistent and accessible experiences, who it's for, with roadmap and governance guidance for implementation.

What’s a design system?

UCL is huge with a vast digital presence – spanning multiple products, services, and platforms. With so many teams working on different parts of the user experience, maintaining consistency and quality can be a challenge.

The design system helps us:

  • Make products more accessible – Accessibility is built in from the start, meaning our digital experiences work for as many people as possible.
  • Create a consistent experience – A standard set of components and patterns help designers create intuitive interfaces, so users don’t have to relearn how things work across different products.
  • Build faster – Developers have reusable, well-tested components so they can focus on functionality instead of recreating interfaces from scratch.
  • Improve collaboration – Designers and developers work from the same set of guidelines, reducing misunderstandings and making collaboration smoother.
  • Save time and resources – Teams don’t have to reinvent solutions for common challenges, freeing them up to focus on users and what they need.

Who is it for?

The design system is used by:

  • Designers – To create visually consistent and user-friendly experiences.
  • Developers – To build interfaces quickly with reusable, accessible components.
  • Product Owners – To help with efficiency and scalability while keeping quality across university platforms.
  • Content Designers – To use ready-made components that create clear information structure.

How to get started

  1. Understand our design principles – Get familiar with the core values that guide how we design and build.
  2. Explore the foundations and components – Learn about the design system, its components, and best practices.
  3. See the roadmap – Learn about upcoming updates and priorities.
  4. Review the governance guidelines – Find out how decisions are made and how to propose changes.

The design system is here to support you – whether you’re building, designing, writing, or just exploring. Dive in and discover how it can help you create better, more consistent digital experiences at UCL.