On Theme: Design Systems in Depth Stop waiting for permission! and other ways to show design systems value, with Brian Alfaro — #05
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Feb 17, 2025 Brian Alfaro, a design leader with over 15 years at Yahoo and the Washington Post, shares insights on how to showcase the value of design systems. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and storytelling in successful product teams. Brian argues against waiting for permission to implement changes, advocating for proactive initiatives instead. He also likens design systems to toilets, highlighting their critical yet often overlooked role. Plus, he stresses the beauty in the complexities of measuring design systems.
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Politics First
- Design systems work involves navigating organizational politics and fostering alignment.
- Prioritize conversations and collaboration before designing or coding.
Focus on Cultural Change
- Focus on the cultural change and improved collaboration that a design system facilitates.
- Highlight the shared language and reduced friction between designers and developers.
Iterate, Don't Wait
- Iterate constantly with existing components instead of seeking large initial investments.
- Show value incrementally by improving upon what's already there, rather than creating something entirely new.