Component libraries have evolved from complex internal systems to essential business accelerators. Method’s research shows that implementing a component library can:

• Reduce development time by up to 67% across your digital products
• Transform a $3,600 profit project into a $23,160 profit opportunity through systematic reuse
• Decrease accessibility compliance risks while enabling rapid brand and feature updates

This post explores how modern component libraries deliver these results and provides a framework for successful implementation.

What Is a Component Library?

A component library is a centralized collection of reusable interface elements — like buttons, forms, navigation bars, and cards — that have been designed, coded, and tested for use across digital products.

Think of components as building blocks that can be assembled to create consistent user experiences. These building blocks include:

• Visual styles and typography
• Coded interface elements
• Documentation for usage
• Accessibility standards
• Testing specifications

Each “building block,” or component, is characterized by design specifications, code implementation, usage guidelines, interactive states, and accessibility requirements.

Seven years ago, I made the same business case for component libraries that many others did: “Think about all your buttons. Now imagine how long it would take to update each one manually versus how long it would take to change them all with a single command.”

This simple example helped organizations understand component libraries’ potential time savings… but the reality wasn’t so straightforward.

The Early Days: Complex Tools, Mixed Results

Building and maintaining design systems like component libraries used to demand significant resources.

Organizations needed specialized tooling, skilled teams, and ongoing time and monetary investments. Companies struggled with partial adoption, poor maintenance, and systems that became either bloated or abandoned.

I often tell clients that every successful design system is built on the bones of a failed one. This isn’t meant to discourage anyone but to highlight a critical truth: creating an effective component library requires more than technical expertise.

Of course, a component library might not always be the right investment. You may want to explore other options if you oversee a very small team or an early MVP.

Pre-Built Blocks Transform Development

Since then, the landscape has shifted dramatically.

Modern tools like Figma have streamlined design system management. Pre-built component libraries now function like sophisticated Lego sets — teams can assemble complete interfaces using tested, production-ready elements right out of the box.

Rather than spending hours fine-tuning individual interface elements, designers can instead use that time to solve user experience challenges and improve product flows. As teams move from pixel-pushing to problem-solving, the value of design work increases.

Component libraries also solve business challenges. With thousands of ADA accessibility lawsuits filed last year in the United States, organizations face increasing pressure to meet compliance standards. A well-structured component library relieves this pressure by turning accessibility updates into one-click solutions rather than months-long projects.

The same principle applies to modern interface requirements like dark mode and multi-brand experiences. What once required manual updates across hundreds of screens becomes a simple configuration change thanks to component libraries. Teams can respond to market needs in hours instead of weeks.

The ROI of Design Systems: A Data-Driven Look at Time Savings

When product teams work without a unified component library, they face inconsistent implementations, duplicated work, and mounting technical (and financial!) debt.

IBM iX’s research demonstrates this transformation: using a design system reduced development hours by 50% for page or screen templates and 90% for new site creation.

Inspired by IBM, we at Method conducted a little research of our own.

Breaking Down the Time Savings

We found that implementing a single component without a design system typically requires:

• 4 hours of design work
• 5 hours of engineering
• 5 hours of maintenance
• Total: 14 hours per component

Implementing the same component within a design system needs:

• 7 hours of initial design
• 8 hours of initial engineering
• 9 hours for the initial setup
• Plus 4 hours per implementation
• Total: 24 hours upfront + 4 hours per use

Now, consider a component that appears 35 times across a product interface:

Traditional Development (No System):

• 14 hours × 35 instances = 490 total hours
• Bespoke design and code for each implementation
• Limited reusability
• Inconsistent user experience

Design System Approach:

• 24 hours (initial creation) + (4 hours × 35 instances) = 164 total hours (326 hours saved compared to traditional development)
• Standardized implementation
• Full documentation
• Consistent user experience

This means that for a project costing $35,000 with $2,000 of non-development costs…

Without a Design System:

• Average cost of employees per hour: $60
• Hours required: 490
• Development costs: $29,400
• Non-development costs: $2,000
• Final profit: $3,600

With a Design System:

• Average cost of employees per hour: $60
• Hours required: 164
• Development costs: $9,840
• Non-development costs: $2,000
• Final profit: $23,160

Success Stories from the Field

Method isn’t the only organization to have observed significant financial improvements after implementing component libraries.

Westpac’s GEL design system demonstrated a 66% reduction in design time, a 700% increase in UI design velocity, and a 1,600% reduction in design and production effort.

VMware prevented 30% of accessibility bugs, reducing QA time and improving engineering productivity.

Figma found that with an up-to-date design system, users completed design tasks 34% faster than without.

And Airbnb reduced UI design, development, and testing time by 60%.

The Compound Effect of Component Libraries: An Overview

Design systems generate time savings through multiple channels — here’s a quick and dirty overview of the benefits our clients have enjoyed:

1. Reduced Development Cycles
   • Standardized code patterns
   • Fewer design decisions
   • Streamlined QA processes
   • Integrated testing procedures
   • Built-in accessibility compliance
2. Faster Team Onboarding
   • Clear documentation
   • Consistent patterns
   • Established best practices
   • Structured knowledge transfer
   • Reduced learning curve
3. Improved Maintenance
   • Centralized updates
   • Standardized testing
   • Unified version control
   • Automated quality checks
   • Simplified bug fixes
4. Enhanced Accessibility
   • Built-in WCAG standards
   • Consistent color contrast
   • Semantic HTML patterns
   • Accessible component defaults
   • Automated compliance checks

A successful design system implementation — one that enjoys the aforementioned benefits and more — follows these phases:

1. Initial Assessment
   • Component audit
   • Stakeholder interviews
   • Current state analysis
   • Documentation review
   • Priority identification
2. Design
   • Visual style guide creation
   • Component library development
   • Pattern documentation
   • Accessibility standards
   • User testing protocols
3. Development
   • Component coding
   • Integration testing
   • Performance optimization
   • Documentation updates
   • Team training
4. Rollout and Iteration
   • Phased deployment
   • Feedback collection
   • Performance monitoring
   • Component refinement
   • System optimization

As part of phase four, track these metrics regularly to quantify your time savings:

• Development hours per feature
• Time to market for new products
• Bug report frequency
• Team onboarding duration
• Code review efficiency
• Component reuse rates
• Accessibility compliance
• Design consistency scores

The Bottom Line

Investing in a component library leads to incredible savings across all product development phases. Organizations that build systematic, well-documented libraries — or partner with an agency that can, like Method — see improved efficiency, reduced costs, and better product quality.

The initial investment in creating a design system pays dividends through faster development cycles, reduced maintenance burdens, and more consistent user experiences. Contact Method to start today.