They downsized the design system team; how do we survive?

Design Systems WTF

#Tech #Entrepreneur #Business #Zeroheight #Design #DesignOps #Atomic Design #Government #Contribution Models #Styleguide #Pattern Libraries #SuperNova #Knapsack

38:30

Chef Shuai Wang was the runner-up on the 22nd season of Bravo’s Top Chef and is the force behind two standout restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina—Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ—where he brings together the flavors of his childhood in Beijing and the spirit of the South in some pretty unforgettable ways. He grew up just a short walk from Tiananmen Square, in a tiny home with no electricity or running water, where his grandmother often cooked over charcoal. Later, in Queens, New York, his mom taught herself to cook—her first dishes were a little salty, but they were always made with love. And somewhere along the way, Shuai learned that cooking wasn’t just about food—it was about taking care of people. After years working in New York kitchens, he made his way to Charleston and started building something that feels entirely his own. Today, we’re talking about how all those experiences come together on the plate, the family stories behind his cooking, and what it’s been like to share that journey on national TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

about a year ago 25:47

MP3•Episode home

We navigate the challenges and uncertainties that arise when a design system team undergoes downsizing or restructuring. How do the design system team and teams who use the design system cope in this situation? We explore strategies for resilience, collaboration, and innovation in the face of adversity and discover how to thrive amidst organizational changes.

39 episodes

Design Systems WTF

They downsized the design system team; how do we survive?

Design Systems WTF

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

39 episodes

#Tech #Entrepreneur #Business #Zeroheight #Design #DesignOps #Atomic Design #Government #Contribution Models #Styleguide #Pattern Libraries #SuperNova #Knapsack

All episodes

Design Systems WTF

1
Can you actually measure the ROI of a component? 24:19

6 weeks ago24:19

24:19

Selling the value of your design system to folks who don't necessarily understand it is a difficult and thankless task. But are we trying to sell in the right things? Is it possible to put the value of our design system against the bottom line, and how far down the stack can we go? Can we actually put a dollar sign against a single component?…

Design Systems WTF

1
Should designers know how to code? 29:45

8 weeks ago29:45

29:45

The age old question – should designers know how to code? Or more specifically, how much should designer know when it comes to code? Considering it's the medium that we're designing for, it's still surprising how much this topic splits opinion. Luke and special guest Rob Whitfield will dive into the pros and cons, and give some practical advice if you did want to delve into the witchcraft that engineers do.…

Design Systems WTF

1
Are accessibility guidelines enough to be inclusive? 25:28

10 weeks ago25:28

25:28

Making your design system as inclusive as possible is something that I think we all agree on. However, for most systems teams, this means creating some accessibility guidelines and then ticking it off the list. Is this enough? Is there more we can be doing?

Design Systems WTF

1
Are design systems a dead end? 31:22

12 weeks ago31:22

31:22

Inspired by Luke's article on the death of design systems, Michelle and Luke dive into whether design systems have a future... are we at a natural point of evolution or are design systems going to go the way of the dinosaurs?

Design Systems WTF

1
How big is too big for a design system? 27:26

14 weeks ago27:26

27:26

How big is too big? Is there a point where your design system just becomes unwieldy? Luke and Michelle dive into this question from a previous episode, and try and figure out how you keep your design system to a manageable size. Or is that just a nice problem to have, and we should embracing our systems to grow to the size they need to be?…

Design Systems WTF

1
When is OK to snowflake? 25:44

16 weeks ago25:44

25:44

Detach instance is a concept that has stuck fear into the hearts of design systems folks since the beginning. However, there are definitely instances where it’s totally ok to snowflake components! How should you deal with snowflakes in your system? How does this play into your overall view on flexibility, and can you actually use snowflakes as a way to determine what you should be working on?…

Design Systems WTF

1
How much is too much documentation? 27:01

22 weeks ago27:01

27:01

Sometimes we may feel the urge to include everything in our documentation, to the point where it rivals Lord of the Rings for length and density. However, we may be doing ourselves a disservice! How much is too much documentation? How much is not enough documentation? Do we even need documentation at all? join us for the last Design Systems WTF of the year!…

Design Systems WTF

1
Where should design systems sit in your org? 29:41

24 weeks ago29:41

29:41

Design systems should sit in the design team. Design systems should sit in the designops team. Design systems should sit in their own team. There are so many different options that are presented as the ‘truth’ when it comes to design systems and org design. Michelle and Luke are going to wade through the options, weigh up their merits and probably tear the entire thing down to the ground by the end of the half hour.…

Design Systems WTF

1
Should we get rid of infinite scroll? 27:41

26 weeks ago27:41

27:41

Infinite scroll was designed to enhance the UX for browsing search results, but now it's often used to keep users endlessly engaged on social media. As concerns grow about its impact on mental health, especially among young people, it's time to reconsider its place in design systems. What responsibilities do we have as creators when our components contribute to these issues? In this episode, we’ll examine the ethical considerations of infinite scroll and other components, exploring how we can design more responsibly and promote healthier user experiences.…

Design Systems WTF

1
Do design systems make teams go faster? 29:11

28 weeks ago29:11

29:11

Design systems are often hailed as the ultimate productivity boosters for devs and designers alike, but do they really deliver on that promise? We’ll explore whether design systems genuinely make teams more efficient or if they just add another layer of complexity. Tune in for a reality check on the true impact of design systems on team performance!…

Design Systems WTF

1
Why isn’t contribution the answer? 28:59

30 weeks ago28:59

28:59

Contribution often seems like the perfect solution for scaling design systems, but is it really? We'll weigh the tough realities of managing contributions and why a federated system might not suit everyone. We'll explore the hurdles of contribution and how to decide if it's the right path for your team.…

Design Systems WTF

1
Live from Converge 2025: When should we be using AI? 26:48

32 weeks ago26:48

26:48

Luke and Michelle come to you direct from Converge to talk about AI (again). Is there a place for AI in our design systems?

Design Systems WTF

1
Why aren’t people contributing to the design system? 30:12

37 weeks ago30:12

30:12

If you're struggling to get contributions to your design system, you might think it’s a governance issue. But it might not be the real issue. In this episode, we'll consider why people aren't contributing and examine factors beyond governance that might be preventing contributions. We’ll discuss the motivations and barriers that impact participation and how to foster a thriving contributor community.…

Design Systems WTF

1
Where can AI actually help with design systems? 27:18

38 weeks ago27:18

27:18

We're cutting through the AI hype and getting to the good stuff—practical ways AI can supercharge your design system. From streamlining workflows to generating documentation, we'll explore real-world applications of AI that can make your life easier. Plus, we’ll guide you through creating a custom GPT to assist with your design system needs. Are you leveraging AI to its full potential, or are you stuck in the buzzword bubble? Join us for insights and strategies to make AI work for you!…

Design Systems WTF

1
Live from Hatch: Do we need to stop making components? 41:08

39 weeks ago41:08

41:08

In this episode, we’re challenging the status quo of design systems by questioning the necessity of components. Are we too focused on building and maintaining a library of components when we should be thinking bigger? What if our obsession with components is actually holding back innovation? Join us as we explore whether it’s time to shift our attention away from components and consider new ways to build flexibility, scalability, and creativity into our design systems.…

Design Systems WTF

1
Why do we need to care more about patterns? 26:48

45 weeks ago26:48

26:48

In this episode, we’re focusing on patterns, the often-overlooked pillar of your design system. Why should we focus on patterns more than components? Are your components really as reusable as you think, or are they just static building blocks without a solid pattern to guide them?

Design Systems WTF

1
How should we version design systems? 26:09

48 weeks ago26:09

26:09

In this episode, we explore the enigma that is design system versioning. How do we make sense of versioning? How do you sync versions between code, design, and documentation? Maybe it’s easier to ignore versioning, but at what cost?

Design Systems WTF

1
Has AI made everyone a designer? A spicy conversation with Pablo Stanley 29:49

50 weeks ago29:49

29:49

AI tools are transforming the landscape, making it easier than ever to create and design. Is this making everyone a designer? Will design system makers have to herd even more cats? We’ll be joined by special guest Pablo Stanley , the brilliant co-founder of two AI-based design tools, Musho and Lummi . We’ll unpack the potential of AI-based design tools and some risks.…

Design Systems WTF

1
WTF happened at Config? 29:07

52 weeks ago29:07

29:07

In this episode, we’re diving into the buzzworthy announcements and new feature releases that have the design community talking. We’ll share our opinions and insights on how these changes will impact design systems and workflows. Whether you missed the event or want a fresh perspective, tune in to catch up on all the highlights and WTF moments from Config!…

Design Systems WTF

1
How do you prove the value of design systems? 28:40

1 year ago28:40

28:40

We tackle the fundamental question: “How do you prove the value of design systems?” What kind of metrics work? Why does the math seem so fuzzy? Are there any valid measurements? Based on our experiences and what we’ve seen with other teams, we share our thoughts and hot takes when it comes to advocating and validating your design system efforts.…

Design Systems WTF

2 years ago21:36