Modern Higher Ed Websites with SDC and Storybook

Many institutions have tried to solve this with component libraries. Tools like Pattern Lab PHP or Fractal once seemed promising, but as some became outdated with little or no active support or documentation, systems often stagnated. In practice, many institutions find that only a handful of new components are added over several years. Instead of empowering innovation, outdated design systems often slow it down.

The path forward for higher education is to embrace Single Directory Components (SDC) in Drupal and Storybook, transforming the way components are developed, maintained, and shared across multi-site ecosystems. The result is more than a technical upgrade: it’s an organizational win that brings consistency, lowers costs, and accelerates innovation.

The Hidden Costs of a Fragmented Digital Ecosystem

Universities often wrestle with decentralization. Each department manages its own site, making decisions about layout, functionality, and even branding. Without a unifying framework, this leads to:

• Inconsistent logos, typography, and UI patterns.
• Redundant development as multiple teams solve the same problems.
• Difficulty maintaining quality and accessibility across dozens of sites.

This fragmentation is often compounded by the limitations of legacy component systems. When a component library (like PatternLab-PHP) loses community support, adding or updating components requires specialized knowledge that is difficult to find. As a result, departments seeking new features may abandon the central system altogether and create ad-hoc solutions instead. Over time, what was once a cohesive ecosystem can devolve into a patchwork of one-off fixes. Maintenance costs rise, while brand presence steadily weakens.

Stories like this are common across higher education and large organizations alike. Too many sites, too few shared tools, and outdated infrastructure often combine to quietly drain resources and hinder progress.

The Need for a Unified Component Library

The turning point comes with a shift in mindset. Rather than patching an outdated system, institutions should reimagine what a component library could achieve. A modern design system is no longer just about aesthetics or developer convenience, it is about governance, scalability, and organizational efficiency.

With a centralized component library, brand consistency no longer relies on endless guidelines or training. It is built directly into the components themselves. Elements such as headers, footers, or news listings, once designed, tested, and approved centrally, can be reused across every site. The brand carries through automatically wherever those components appear.

Efficiency often follows naturally from this approach. New sites no longer require reinventing the wheel, as pages can be assembled from existing building blocks within the library. Updates that previously took months can be completed in days. Most importantly, improvements made centrally, for example accessibility enhancements, extend across every site that uses those components, allowing the entire ecosystem to benefit at once.

SDC and Storybook: The Modern Foundations

To make this vision a reality, many institutions are turning to SDC and Storybook, two tools that address the shortcomings of legacy component systems.

Single Directory Components (SDC) bring order to the Drupal theming layer. Each component lives in a single folder containing its templates, styles, scripts, and metadata. Instead of piecing together scattered assets, developers work with self-contained units that are easier to maintain and simpler for new contributors to understand.

Storybook adds an interactive environment for previewing and testing components in isolation. Designers and developers can see a component ‘as it is meant to be,’ experiment with variations, and confirm functionality before deploying to live sites. Because Storybook is widely adopted, it also gives non-technical stakeholders a way to review components visually, bridging the gap between design and development.

Together, SDC and Storybook create a workflow where components become living, documented building blocks. They move beyond abstract code fragments to tangible assets that the entire organization can trust.

The Organizational Impact

The adoption of SDC and Storybook can have far-reaching effects across a university’s digital ecosystem. Development becomes faster and less error-prone, as teams can build and test components independently before integrating them into live sites. External vendors and new team members can contribute more easily, thanks to the familiarity of Storybook and the clarity of SDC’s structure.

Departments no longer need to create one-off solutions, since a central library can deliver reliable components that meet both functional requirements and institutional branding standards. This restores confidence in the system and fosters a culture of collaboration rather than fragmentation.

Brand consistency also improves significantly. Every site whether aimed at prospective students, faculty, or alumni reflects the same design language. At the same time, departments retain the freedom to present their own content within this shared framework, balancing autonomy with consistency.

Most importantly, institutions build a sustainable foundation for the future. Unlike legacy systems that have been abandoned by the community, SDC and Storybook are actively supported and widely adopted. This positions universities not just for today’s challenges but for long-term growth.

Key Takeaways

The reality is that outdated tools do more than slow down developers. They create organizational drag, eroding consistency and inflating costs.

By contrast, a modern, component-driven design system delivers value at every level. It strengthens digital identity, reduces redundant work, and allows teams to focus on meaningful innovation. While the specific tools may evolve, the principle remains the same: a shared, living component library is one of the most effective ways to manage complexity at scale.

Building a Future-Ready Digital Ecosystem

For many universities, moving from an obsolete component system to a modern SDC and Storybook setup can be transformative. A fragmented network of websites can shift into a cohesive ecosystem where updates are faster, collaboration is easier, and the digital presence is stronger than ever.

The opportunity is clear. Whether managing five sites or five hundred, the question is the same: how much better could your digital ecosystem be with a unified design system?

If your teams are struggling with inconsistency, inefficiency, or outdated infrastructure, the time to act is now. Even a small pilot project can demonstrate the benefits of centralizing components. The longer institutions wait, the harder it becomes to repair fragmentation.

The future belongs to organizations that combine consistency with agility. With SDC and Storybook, that future is within reach. The first step is a single component and a decision to invest in a system that grows with you.

Ready to explore how a unified design system could transform your institution’s digital presence? Get in touch with us today.