In contrast to mobile apps, which adhere to design standards provided by iOS or Android, the web is without such uniform guides. Designers often start from scratch with each site. There are design frameworks like Material and Bootstrap, yet there’s no ubiquitous guideline across the web. This leads to a patchwork of user experiences, from varying navigation styles and layouts to a plethora of fonts and user interface components. [pullquote]Uniform design systems translate to more integrated apps and a more unified end product[/pullquote] The web’s lack of an established design system stems from its open-source nature and the absence of centralized control—no entity is in a position to mandate standards. Google comes closest, influencing design through search result rankings by evaluating user experience, mobile-friendliness, and coding practices. Mobile operating systems, in contrast, dictate app design and user experience norms.
Uniform design systems ensure app consistency, translating to user-friendly and comprehensible interfaces. Additionally, these systems optimize performance and enhance accessibility. 
Even with strict guidelines for mobile operating systems, designers manage to infuse individuality through color schemes and layout nuances. Hence, strict regulations don’t preclude creativity. The web’s unrestricted nature allows immense design freedom. While this creates a rich web landscape, it can result in a disorienting and less accessible experience for some users. Mobile systems demonstrate that regulated, yet diverse, digital eco-systems are possible.
This raises the issue: should the web adopt an open-source set of guidelines? Whether it’s an initiative by the W3C, a partnership of leading browsers, or a collective of web designers, it could enhance the web for everyone. Unique designs would still thrive, yet accessibility and usability would reach new heights. Web professionals could collectively propel the web’s advancement through such an open-source endeavor.
This proposal is not limited to web apps; blogs, portfolios, landing pages, and wikis all benefit from factoring in user experience, accessibility, site navigation, color use, and typography. Some organizations prioritize these aspects, while others overlook them. As a result, the current framework does not serve all users effectively, particularly those with disabilities or less web-savviness. Design efforts often center on visual appeal, sometimes at the cost of user experience and navigability.
Google exemplifies consistent application of design guidelines across mobile and web platforms. The transition from one Google product to another, like from Google Keep to Google Drive, or Play Store to YouTube, showcases uniform user experience and design elements—principles that could serve as a benchmark for others to emulate.
[pullquote]Striving for a unified design system across the web serves the interests of all involved[/pullquote] A comprehensive and universal web design framework would benefit users and creators alike. Corporate entities like IBM or Airbnb might refine and standardize their systems, but users may still find themselves lost when transitioning between different products or services. Thus, examining this issue from a broader perspective is crucial. Our present reference point for the impact of standardized design? Mobile apps, which have already shown the extensive benefits such uniformity brings to everyday user interactions.
