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by Donnie D'Amato (Author), Luis Ouriach (Foreword by), Joseph Staples (Editor)
Design systems have become essential infrastructure for digital products, yet many teams struggle with token proliferation and maintenance complexity. Mise en Mode presents a paradigm shift: instead of creating endless token variations, build with intent-based tokens and apply complete "modes" to express different needs. Author Donnie D'Amato, a design systems architect with 25 years of experience, introduces a methodology where 33 carefully named intent tokens replace hundreds of semantic tokens. Intents are named by purpose (action, surface, text), priority (primary, secondary, auxiliary), and property (backgroundColor, textColor)-creating a predictable, scalable system.The book progresses through three sections: Concept establishes the theoretical foundation of intents and modes; Develop provides practical implementation guidance including file management, delivery infrastructure, and authoring tools; Future explores inclusive design, personalization, and Large Expression Models-AI systems that generate design expressions algorithmically. With code examples in CSS Custom Properties, YAML configuration, and JavaScript infrastructure, this is both a strategic guide and an implementation manual. Whether starting a new design system or reconsidering an existing one, Mise en Mode offers a path to sustainable design architecture.
