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Sometimes I like to think of design systems as time capsules.
Not just for your future self, but for the next designer, developer, or product manager… people you may never meet, but who will uncover what you’ve left behind.
Why your future team needs you
Think back to the last moment you inherited a mess:
A Figma file with 400 unlinked frames
A component library with three conflicting button styles
Tokens with no explanation and no clear usage
How did it feel? Probably like opening a time capsule… and finding dust.
Your design system is your chance to change that. To leave behind something useful. Something thoughtful. Something that says, “I’ve been here. Here’s what I learned. that can help you today.”
What belongs in a time capsule?
Not everything. Just the important stuff, clearly labeled and easy to understand:
A token name that explains the “why,” not just the “what”
A code comment that says, “We debated X but chose Y because…”
A changelog that says, “Added this state for accessibility compliance; request came from legal.”
These little moments of clarity become treasure for the next person.
They don’t need to guess. They just need to open the capsule.
Real-world examples
At one company I worked with, every major component included a short “why” note in the README. Something like:
“This icon size matches marketing’s paid ad specs. Talk to the Brand team before changing.”
A year later, a new hire avoided a huge inconsistency just because of that one note.
Another org added short Loom videos next to major changes. Instead of reading dense docs, a dev could watch a 2-minute explainer on why the new grid mattered. That grid got adopted faster than any other component in the past as a result.
Leave something worth finding
You don’t have to document everything. But you do need to document the stuff that matters.
A note today prevents confusion tomorrow
A comment today avoids a Slack spiral next quarter
A changelog today keeps your system alive and trusted
Design systems are time capsules. Fill them with clarity, not clutter.
