I finally got the button spacing right after a month of tweaks | Design System Stories

Caleb Price · 2026-03-21T16:50:04.721951+00:00

Our design system had a rule for 8px between buttons, but it looked wrong when one was an icon. I spent four weeks adjusting the spacing logic for mixed button groups before it felt balanced. Anyone else get stuck on a tiny spacing rule for way too long?

charlie_stone726mo ago

What if the user doesn't notice it but just feels it? That off spacing makes things look messy or cheap, even if they can't say why. You fixing it means the whole screen feels right, not just looks right. It's the kind of polish that separates good apps from great ones. That month of work adds up to a better feeling product for everyone who uses it.

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schmidt.kim7mo ago

I used to think those rules were dumb until I tried it myself.

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dixon.rose7mo ago

Spent a month on button spacing? Honestly, who even notices that in a real app. Seems like a lot of effort for something users will never care about.

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