One of the things I think about a lot when leading design teams is this: How do we build something that doesn’t fall apart when the product grows?
Or maybe, more realistically, how do we avoid creating a system that becomes a mess the second we try to scale it?
That’s where composable design comes in — not as a buzzword, but as a way of thinking. It’s about designing with intention.
You build self-contained components with clear rules and you build everything else by putting those pieces together.
Think LEGO! Each block is simple, but the magic happens when they start to connect.
“As part of a broader product evolution, we were tasked with integrating a new brand identity into an existing digital experience. This had to be done without disrupting functionality or slowing down development.
We started with an open-source library as our base, treating it as a strategic asset rather than starting from scratch. Built on modular, self-contained components, the system was inherently composable, offering the flexibility to adapt while maintaining consistency.” Juan Pablo Prolo, Product Designer @ Capicua
Why Composable Design Matters More Than You Think
What I love most about working this way is not just the efficiency — it’s the clarity. When your design system is composable, you stop designing page by page and start designing a structure.
You’re not making isolated decisions. You’re shaping a shared language that your whole team — designers, devs, PMs — can speak fluently.
And when you do that well, the product becomes easier to evolve. You can change things, test things, scale things... without breaking everything else in the process.
“When the new brand was introduced, the design system became essential for translating brand principles into UI behaviors, states, and interactions.
Thanks to this foundation, the brand integration was fast, coherent, and low-risk.
The interface seamlessly became a true extension of the brand—consistent, scalable, and aligned with the product experience.” Pablo Alfonzo, UX/UI Designer @ Capicua
I’ve seen firsthand how composable design helps teams move faster, avoid repetition, and stay aligned — especially when products get more complex or when teams get bigger.
It’s not just about clean Figma files or shiny documentation. It’s about building a design system that’s alive, that adapts, that supports creativity without chaos.
In the end, composable design isn’t just a technique. It’s a mindset — one that’s helped me lead better, design smarter, and build products that are ready for what’s next.
