Design Systems That Last: Applying Systems Thinking to Build Resilient, Scalable Systems

Design systems often live in messy, shifting environments—underfunded, underloved, and battling for long-term survival. They're valuable, but too often seen as side projects instead of essential parts of the product.

In this talk, I’ll share how my fascination with cybernetics—the study of how systems self-regulate and adapt—has shaped the way I think about design systems. Using this lens, I explore what it really takes to help them grow: from building in feedback loops to planning for what's achievable now, next, and further down the line.

It’s about shifting the mindset from ‘just keeping it alive’ to creating something that’s resilient, adaptable and genuinely valued within your organisation.