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U.S. Web Design System
What it is
U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) is an open source toolkit for government teams building accessible, mobile-friendly websites. It combines design principles, guidance, and code with components that include user experience, accessibility, and implementation guidance. Teams can use pattern guidance, design tokens, utilities, and page templates, then install and compile the system and customize projects. The recommended setup uses Node and npm, and USWDS can be added as an npm project dependency. Downloadable design kits are available for Figma and Sketch. USWDS says its principles and code address Section 508 and 21st Century IDEA requirements from the start. Version 3.0 supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but not Internet Explorer 11. The team reports dependency checks with Snyk and JavaScript pull-request analysis with GitHub CodeQL. Releases include security and vulnerability reports, with patches for the 1.x and 2.x branches. Users can ask questions through GitHub Discussions or email [email protected]. The system is maintained by an open source community supporting dozens of agencies and nearly 200 sites.
For and against
For
- Provides accessible responsive components and guidance
- Includes tokens, utilities, patterns, and templates
- Offers Figma and Sketch design kits
- Can be installed through npm
- Provides release security reporting and patches
Against
- Internet Explorer 11 is not supported
- Requires installation and compilation for customization
- Focused on government website projects
The verdict
USWDS brings design guidance, reusable code, and downloadable assets into an open source system for government web work. Its accessibility focus, tooling requirements, browser support, and community channels define how teams can adopt it.
Who it suits
USWDS suits government teams and contributors building accessible, mobile-friendly public websites. It is also useful for developers and designers working with Node, npm, Figma, or Sketch.
Plans and prices
USWDS
Open source design system · Code and design assets available to download
Read 8 Oct 2026 · designsystem.digital.gov
On the record
- Accessibility and compliance
- USWDS says its principles, guidance, and code address Section 508 and 21st Century IDEA requirements from the start.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Audience and community
- USWDS is designed for government teams and is maintained by an open source community whose contributors support dozens of agencies and nearly 200 sites.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Browser support
- The developer guide says version 3.0 supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and no longer supports Internet Explorer 11.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Components
- The system includes components with user experience, accessibility, and implementation guidance.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Developers can install and compile the system, then customize projects with components and design tokens.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Design assets
- The download page offers design kits for Figma and Sketch.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The recommended developer setup uses Node and npm, and the system can be installed as a project dependency through npm.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Patterns and design tools
- USWDS provides pattern guidance, design tokens, utilities, and page templates.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- USWDS is a toolkit of principles, guidance, and code for building accessible, mobile-friendly government websites.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The team reports using Snyk for dependency vulnerability checks and GitHub CodeQL for JavaScript static analysis on pull requests.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security releases
- USWDS says it includes a security and vulnerability report with each release and releases security patches for the 1.x and 2.x branches.designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can ask questions in GitHub Discussions or email the USWDS team at [email protected].designsystem.digital.gov · read 8 Oct 2026
