Design System Audit Template

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Template sections

• Audit overview — purpose, scope, team members, and audit period
• Component inventory — full list with status, priority, and dev sync flag
• Token consistency check — colours, spacing, typography, and motion
• Accessibility (a11y) check — WCAG contrast compliance and keyboard navigation
• Usage & adoption metrics — how much of the system is actually used
• Gaps & recommendations — prioritised action items with owners
• Stakeholder summary — executive-ready one-page overview

HOW TO USE

Best practices

1. Run quarterly. Schedule the audit at the start of each quarter to track progress over time and catch drift early.
2. Include consumers. Invite product designers and engineers who use the system — their friction points reveal the most impactful gaps.
3. Use binary scores, not percentages. 'Component is documented: Yes / No' is more honest and actionable than '72% documented.' Binary scoring forces clarity and removes the temptation to round up.
4. Assign owners. Every action item needs a named owner and a due date — otherwise it will never get done.
5. Share the summary. Use the stakeholder summary page to communicate health and priorities without overwhelming leadership with detail.