diff --git a/scm_breeze.sh b/scm_breeze.sh
index 4d83349..9f756f8 100644
--- a/scm_breeze.sh
+++ b/scm_breeze.sh
@@ -9,8 +9,11 @@ export scmbDir="$(dirname ${BASH_SOURCE:-$0})"
 
 # Shared functions
 source "$scmbDir/lib/scm_breeze.sh"
-# Design assets management
-source "$scmbDir/lib/design.sh"
+
+if [ ! -z "$SCM_BREEZE_DISABLE_ASSETS_MANAGEMENT" ]; then
+  # Design assets management
+  source "$scmbDir/lib/design.sh"
+fi
 
 # Git
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -24,13 +27,14 @@ if [[ -s "$HOME/.git.scmbrc" ]]; then
   source "$scmbDir/lib/git/branch_shortcuts.sh"
   source "$scmbDir/lib/git/grep_shortcuts.sh"
   source "$scmbDir/lib/git/shell_shortcuts.sh"
-  source "$scmbDir/lib/git/repo_index.sh"
+  if [ ! -z "$SCM_BREEZE_DISABLE_ASSETS_MANAGEMENT" ]; then
+    source "$scmbDir/lib/git/repo_index.sh"
+  fi
   source "$scmbDir/lib/git/tools.sh"
 
-  if ! type ruby > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if ! type ruby >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     # If Ruby is not installed, fall back to the
     # slower bash/zsh implementation of 'git_status_shortcuts'
     source "$scmbDir/lib/git/fallback/status_shortcuts_shell.sh"
   fi
 fi
-
diff --git a/scmbrc.example b/scmbrc.example
index 3a12d65..5de68a9 100644
--- a/scmbrc.example
+++ b/scmbrc.example
@@ -11,3 +11,8 @@ export design_av_dirs="Animations Videos Flash Music Samples"
 # Directories for global design assets (not symlinked into projects)
 export design_ext_dirs="Fonts IconSets"
 
+# Set =1 to disable the design/assets management features
+# Set =0 to enable the design/assets management features
+export SCM_BREEZE_DISABLE_ASSETS_MANAGEMENT=1
+
+# vi: ft=sh