What is the difference between design systems and style guides?

What is the difference between design systems and style guides?

Design systems are comprehensive frameworks that include design principles, components, and guidelines for building products. Style guides are more focused on visual and branding elements, providing rules for typography, colors, and logos.

Can you give me examples of each?

Sure! A design system example is Google's Material Design, which includes components and guidelines for interaction. An example of a style guide is the BBC's style guide, which outlines their branding and visual identity.

Which one should I use for my project?

It depends on your project's needs. If you require a cohesive and scalable approach, a design system is ideal. For simpler projects focused on branding, a style guide may suffice.

Are there any tools to help create these?

Yes! Tools like Figma and Sketch are great for creating design systems, while tools like Frontify and Zeroheight can help manage style guides.