What is the main purpose of a style guide in UX design?

A style guide in UX design serves a critical function in establishing consistency across a product or brand's design elements. It provides a comprehensive set of standards and guidelines that designers and developers can refer to when creating interfaces, ensuring that various components—such as typography, color schemes, button styles, and layout—align with predefined specifications. This uniformity not only strengthens the visual identity of the product but also enhances overall usability, as users become accustomed to common design patterns and interactions.

While promoting brand awareness, enhancing user engagement, and facilitating coding practices are all beneficial aspects of good design, they are not the primary focus of a style guide. The core intent is to create a cohesive design language that simplifies collaboration among team members and streamlines the design process, ultimately leading to a more harmonious user experience.