SURVIVING DESIGN SYSTEMS
From chaos to consistency.
A practical, honest guide to building design systems in the real world — the world where deadlines are yesterday, devs use three different button styles in the same sprint. This book is here to help you survive the chaos.
By Elsa Canto
Why This Book?
Design systems are everywhere — and yet no one really tells you how messy they can be behind the scenes.
This book does. It’s built from real stories, real conversations, and the real struggles of trying to keep 15+ product teams aligned on typography decisions.
Whether you’re a designer, developer, PM, or the accidental “design system person,” this book gives you practical guidance with humor, empathy, and just enough comic relief to get you through your next migration
What’s Inside
A comprehensive guide to design systems, told through comics, conversations, and a healthy dose of humor.
The Role of Design System
Design systems help organizations move faster with less chaos. They create shared standards that support modernization across teams.
Myths and Misconceptions
The funniest (and most painful) myths teams believe about design systems. Like: “Everyone will use it perfectly from day one”, yeah right…. “Once built, it’s done”
Design System Metrics
Simple ways to measure if the DS is actually working. How to show value, track adoption, and prove impact.
Keeping the System Alive
What it really takes to maintain a design system. Governance, updates, and avoiding component chaos. The part no one talks about — until things break.
Design Tokens
A friendly intro to tokens and why they matter. How tokens power consistency, theming, and accessibility. Also: naming things is still the hardest job in tech.
Design AI in Design Systems
Where AI can help: documentation, checks, and component creation. Where it can’t: empathy, storytelling, and knowing the real pain.
Illustrated Jokes
Real design system scenarios, brought to life through comic-style illustrations — because sometimes the only way to survive a system-wide update is to laugh about it.
Foundations of a Design System
Every design system team has been here.
Building the System
Learning the art of translation.
Governance and Adoption
The eternal struggle.
Challenges and Solutions
Cross-platform consistency is hard.