Component Classification

The Component Classification exercise is a systematic approach to inventory and organize your UI components, which serves as a foundation for creating design guidelines. Here's how to conduct it effectively:

Purpose:

• Create a comprehensive inventory of all UI components in your system

• Understand the current state of your component usage

• Establish a rational structure for your design system

• Identify which components require detailed specifications in your guidelines

Materials Needed:

• Screenshots of all products/interfaces

• Spreadsheet or collaboration tool

• Component cards or sticky notes

• Wall space or large table for sorting

• Classification framework template

Process:

01 Component Inventory (45 minutes)

• Systematically review all products and interfaces

• Capture every unique UI component (buttons, form fields, cards, etc.)

• Create a card or digital entry for each component with:

  • Component name

  • Screenshot example

  • Current variations

  • Where it appears in the product

02 Function Classification (30 minutes)

• Categorize components by their primary function:

  • Navigation components (menus, tabs, breadcrumbs)

  • Input components (text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns)

  • Information components (cards, tables, alerts)

  • Action components (buttons, links, toggles)

  • Layout components (grids, containers, dividers)

  • Feedback components (progress bars, loaders, tooltips)

03 Usage Analysis (30 minutes)

• For each component, document:

  • Frequency of use (high, medium, low)

  • Visibility/prominence in the interface

  • Importance to core user flows

  • Current number of variations

  • Consistency issues identified

04 Prioritization Matrix (30 minutes)

• Create a 2x2 matrix with:

  • X-axis: Frequency of use (low to high)

  • Y-axis: Importance to user experience (low to high)

• Place each component on the matrix

• Components in the high-frequency, high-importance quadrant need the most detailed specifications

05 Specification Planning (30 minutes)

• For high-priority components, determine specification needs:

  • Visual specifications (dimensions, colors, typography)

  • Interaction specifications (states, animations)

  • Accessibility requirements

  • Responsive behavior

  • Content guidelines

  • Code implementation details

06 Documentation & Next Steps (15 minutes)

• Create a master component inventory document

• Document the classification and prioritization decisions

• Assign ownership for specification development

• Establish a timeline for completing specifications

Benefits:

• Creates a shared understanding of your component ecosystem

• Prevents overlooking important but less obvious components

• Focuses guidelines effort on highest-impact components first

• Provides structure for organizing your design system

• Helps identify redundant components that could be consolidated

This exercise works particularly well when creating component-based design systems and ensures your guidelines address all necessary elements with appropriate detail. The classification also provides a logical structure for organizing your design system documentation.