Part 1 — Basic Components(The Non‑Negotiables Every SaaS Design System Must Start With)
These are your core visual + functional standards. Without them, you’ll end up with chaos in typography, brand expression, and fundamental interactions.
1. Typography Scale
What to do: Establish clear type hierarchy—define headings, subheadings, body, captions. Use variables/tokens in Figma for consistency.
Why it matters: Typography is the backbone of readability. SaaS UIs thrive on scalable font styles.
Tips:

• Audit your legacy screens—look for “rogue fonts.”

• Pitfall: Don’t mix too many typefaces; keep it below two for speed and cohesion.

Domingo story: A client’s conversion rate jumped 19% after we just standardized H1-H3 and body font styles across their dashboard.
2. Color System & Usage Guidelines
What to do: Design tokens for brand, neutral, semantic (error, success) colors. Include light & dark palette variants.
Why it matters: Colors impact both brand perception and accessibility.
Tips:

• Run Domingo’s AI Bot for contrast checks—cut compliance risk.

• Warning: Over-customization leads to chaos—stick to functional color logic.

3. Button Library (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Icon)
What to do: Define button sizes, states (hover, active, disabled), usage rules, icon option.
Why it matters: Buttons drive action—and revenue. Messy button systems = lost clicks.
Pitfalls:

• Hidden state styles slow dev handoff.

• Inconsistent padding frustrates users.

In one SaaS project, Domingo doubled feature adoption after simplifying 6 competing “submit” buttons to one reusable pattern.
4. Form Field & Validation Kit
What to do: Standardize input fields, dropdowns, toggles. Document error/success states, placeholder logic.
Why it matters: Forms are where SaaS products make money—or leak it. Consistency speeds dev, earns trust.
Tips:

• Include visual cues for required vs optional.

• Common pitfall: Forgetting mobile touch sizes kills accessibility.

5. Card Component (Data, Content, Actions)
What to do: Set up card templates for dashboards, lists, analytics—modular for mixing and matching.
Why it matters: Cards unify complex SaaS data, making content scannable and engaging.
Pro Tip:

• Embed quick-action buttons for power-users.

• Test hover/focus states for clarity.

Part 2 — Essential Components(The Interaction & Workflow Boosters That Drive SaaS Performance)
These refine the user journey, data handling, and interaction smoothness—turning a usable product into a fast, intuitive, and delight‑driven experience.
6. Navigation Patterns: Sidebar, Top Bar, Tabs
What to do: Specify global nav, sidebar, and tab variants. Document active/inactive states.
Why it matters: Users need fast orientation. Bad nav breaks flow and spikes bounce rates.
Pitfalls:

• Nested menus confuse new users.

• Inconsistent icons sow UX disarray.

7. Modal & Dialog Library
What to do: Create modal templates with size, overlay, and interaction rules. Document triggers and close behavior.
Why it matters: Modals make onboarding and workflow smooth. Chaos here leads to fatal interruptions.
Tips:

• Include accessibility cues (keyboard navigation).

• Watch out: Overusing modals is a top reason for SaaS churn!

8. Table/Grid Component
What to do: Standardize table styles—row spacing, column configs, sorting, pagination. Document status icons and empty states.
Why it matters: Tables = SaaS power-user heaven. Consistency here saves hours for devs and users alike.
Pitfall:

• Forgetting sticky headers? Frustrates users endlessly.

Testimonial: “Domingo gave us a functional, responsive site that immediately increased engagement and lead generation.” – Tech Lead, Supplyzone
9. Toast & Notification System
What to do: Build alerts for success, error, info—define timing, stacking, dismiss rules.
Why it matters: Notifications drive immediate action and clarity in SaaS apps.
Tips:

• Test accessibility—screen readers, focus management.

• Warning: Over-notification = notification blindness.

10. Loader, Progress & Empty State Components
What to do: Document spinners, skeleton states, progress bars, and on-brand empty states for all screens.
Why it matters: Moments of waiting, blank, or success must feel meaningful—not neglected.
Pitfalls:

• Static loaders frustrate.

• No empty state? Lost chance for onboarding or upsell.

Domingo’s custom empty states boosted new feature adoption 37% for a SaaS fintech.