Design systems are often pitched as a way to move faster. But the systems that actually deliver on that promise share a common trait: they constrain choices rather than multiply them.
More tokens, more problems
A spacing scale with 20 values doesn't help designers make decisions faster — it slows them down. Every layout becomes a micro-negotiation: should this be 12px or 14px? The answer rarely matters, but the question costs time.
The best systems I've worked with have 6-8 spacing tokens, 4-5 font sizes, and 3 border radius values. That's it. The constraint is the feature.
How constraints compound
When your palette is small, consistency happens by default. Two designers working independently will arrive at similar layouts because the system only gives them a few valid arrangements. Code review gets faster because deviations are obvious.
Consistency isn't about following rules — it's about having so few options that inconsistency becomes harder than consistency.
The initial reaction to a constrained system is always resistance. People want "just one more" token for their edge case. But every exception weakens the system's gravitational pull toward consistency.