Single Source of Truth

A brand is a promise. It breaks when teams use different files, different rules, and different component versions. A single source of truth is the antidote. One place to find the right tokens, the right components, the right copy, and the right decisions. When everyone builds from the same system, quality rises, speed improves, and debate shrinks to the few choices that matter.

One place to decide

A single source of truth is not a folder. It is a living system with owners, releases, and a clear change history. Designers, developers, and writers reference the same decisions and the same names. The work becomes predictable. New contributors ship correct work on day one because the source explains not only what to use but why it exists.

Tokens turn design into code

Colors, type sizes, spacing, radii, and motion values live as tokens with stable names. Those tokens drive Figma styles, code variables, and content templates. Change a token once and the update flows everywhere. Teams stop nudging numbers by feel and start composing with a shared vocabulary. The interface stays consistent because the math is shared.

Components with provenance

Each component carries documentation that people actually use: purpose, anatomy, states, accessibility rules, and dos and don’ts expressed as real cases. The Figma library and the code library map to the same structure and the same names. Props match properties in design. Variants match states in code. When a component updates, release notes explain what changed and how to migrate.

Content rules in the same place

Voice and tone live inside the source, not in a separate slide deck. Labels, error patterns, capitalization, and punctuation rules sit next to the components that render them. Writers and designers make the same choices because they share the same references. Interfaces read like one product rather than a collage of styles.

Governance that helps, not hinders

Requests flow through a simple path. Intake, triage, decision, and release. The backlog is public. Decisions have owners and dates. When the answer is no, the source records why so teams do not reopen the same question next quarter. Clear governance prevents private forks and one-off patches that erode trust.

Versioning and migration

Every change ships with a version, a summary, and a migration note. Deprecations come with a timeline and a safe replacement. Migrations include codemods or find-and-replace guidance so teams can move quickly. People adopt updates because the path is short and the risk is low.

One source, many brands

A mature source serves multiple brands and themes without duplication. Tokens separate core choices from brand skins. Components inherit styles through tokens rather than hard coded values. New brands launch faster because the structure already solves layout, type ramps, spacing, and patterns. Only the surface changes.

Distribution where work happens

The source meets teams where they build. Figma libraries for designers. Package managers for engineers. A searchable website for everyone with examples, code snippets, and downloadable assets. Updates announce themselves inside the tools. No one has to hunt through links to stay current.

Evidence over preference

The source records not just decisions but outcomes. Adoption rates, rollback rates, bug trends, and time to ship show whether the system is working. Usability tests confirm that updated components and copy improve clarity and completion. Data turns arguments into adjustments and keeps the system honest.

Security and performance as first class citizens

The source encodes performance budgets and accessibility rules. Components include focus order, keyboard paths, and minimum contrast. Tokens include fallbacks for older devices. The result is a product that ships fast and stays inclusive without last minute heroics.

How we build it at Monaro

We start by auditing current work and mapping duplicates. We define tokens, align Figma and code to those tokens, and document the first ten components that create the most leverage. We set ownership, versioning, and a light process for change. We train teams with real tasks and ship a first release that replaces confusion with clarity. The payoff is immediate. Fewer meetings, fewer rewrites, and a product that looks and reads like one mind built it.