Tesco's Digital Design System (DDS) is the single, brand-backed design system supporting more than 150 product teams across web, iOS, and Android. Built by a dedicated cross-disciplinary team, DDS provides reusable, accessible components and tools that drive consistency and efficiency across customer and colleague experiences. Updated weekly, it saves thousands of design and engineering days annually while ensuring products scale seamlessly across markets. More than a component library, DDS is a living framework that bridges design and engineering, empowers teams to work faster, and delivers a unified, human-centered digital experience for millions of Tesco's customers and colleagues.

Accessibility is at the core of Tesco's DDS philosophy. Every component is designed with inclusivity from the first sketch, following WCAG AA standards and platform-specific requirements. Accessibility is non-negotiable in governance processes, with checklists, tokens, and documentation embedded in both design and engineering workflows.

Testing is rigorous and multi-layered: automated tools like axe-core, CheckModeUI, and Accessibility Inspector identify issues early; manual testing ensures usability with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and high-contrast modes; and real users with disabilities validate real-world effectiveness. Tesco also partners with Tetralogical, a specialist accessibility consultancy, to audit and sign off on components across platforms.

Accessibility champions, regular training, and feedback loops embed knowledge across teams. Documentation in Figma and zeroheight makes guidance visible and actionable, while metrics track adoption, bug reduction, and compliance. By making accessibility a shared responsibility, DDS has shifted Tesco from reactive compliance to a proactive culture of inclusive innovation.

Tesco's DDS has transformed accessibility from an afterthought into a measurable advantage. By standardizing accessible components, it has reduced technical debt, accelerated delivery, and improved consistency across hundreds of digital products. In a single year, DDS saved the equivalent of over 190 full-time roles in design and engineering effort, enabling faster innovation with fewer accessibility issues. Adoption has scaled to 150 teams, from customer-facing apps to colleague tools, with components used in hundreds of thousands of design files. The result is more inclusive digital experiences for millions of users, stronger trust in Tesco's brand, and a future-ready foundation.