Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Creating a Design System: The Online Guide

Step-by-step guide based on real case studies

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Creating a Design System: The Online Guide launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Creating a Design System: The 100-Point Checklist▲6

   Step-by-step reference guide

   2017 · uxpin.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   UX Design Process Best Practices▲76

   Documentation to move design forward

   2016 · uxpin.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Communicating Design▲68

   Developing web site documentation for design and planning

   2017 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   The Complete Front-end Handbook▲63

   A broad outline of the practice of front-end engineering

   2015 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   The Guide to Agile UX Design Sprints▲112

   A step-by-step playbook for product teams

   2016 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Six Circles▲74

   An experience design framework

   2016 · userpathways.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   The User Experience Team of One▲64

   A Research and Design Survival Guide

   2015 · rosenfeldmedia.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   From Layout to Motion Design▲63

   Compilation of contemporary design advice from industry vets

   2017 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Design Systems Handbook by DesignBetter.Co▲332

   Your guide to design systems best practices

   2017 · infinite-tech.io · its alternatives →

10. 10
    The Design of Business▲74

    Design thinking as a competitive advantage

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Inclusive Design Patterns▲79

    Dozens of practical examples and workflows

    2016 · smashingmagazine.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Find Guidelines▲174

    A repository of products' design guidelines

    2014 · findguidelin.es · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Discussing Design▲68

    Improving communication and collaboration through critique

    2016 · oreilly.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Business Model Generation▲94

    Design and visualise your business model

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    The Startup Equation▲72

    A visual guidebook for building your startup

    2016 · startupequation.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Getting Started with Design Systems▲239

    A free book that's simple in structure, human in explanation

    2019 · marvelapp.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Mental Models▲75

    Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior

    2016 · rosenfeldmedia.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Design Systems▲8

    New Smashing Book on Design Systems

    2017 · smashingmagazine.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Designing for Touch▲88

    A guide for designing touch interfaces

    2015 · abookapart.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    How To Present Web Design & Get Better Client Feedback▲63

    A practical guide for web designers & web devs

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    The Interface▲66

    IBM and the transformation of corporate design

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    The Project Guide to Enterprise Product Design▲93

    Free e-book. UX best practices from real projects.

    2016 · uxpin.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Frame Innovation▲63

    Create New Thinking by Design

    2016 · mitpress.mit.edu · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited▲80

    A common sense approach to web usability

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →