Design System Tactics.
Whether you're starting fresh or maintaining a mature system, this growing collection of tactics is designed to help you make progress at every stage.
Platform-Specific Overrides
A spec format or design review method that captures component differences across platforms (e.g. iOS, Android, Web).
When to use it
When building cross-platform design systems or adapting core patterns for native platforms.
Steps
- Define the shared base pattern.
- Document platform-specific constraints or expectations.
- Use frames or toggles to highlight key differences in Figma.
- Align dev/design on what’s flexible vs fixed.
- Capture this clearly in specs and docs.
Outcome
- Smoother cross-platform implementation
- Clearer documentation for engineers
- Fewer one-off decisions during dev handoff
