124. From Ideas to Impact: Chris Strahl and Evan Lovely on Five Years of Design Systems Innovation
Dec 10, 2024
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Evan Lovely, co-founder of Knapsack, returns to celebrate five years of innovation in design systems with Chris Strahl. They reflect on their journey from agency work to building a SaaS platform, sharing personal anecdotes and lessons learned. The importance of composability and constraints in design is highlighted, with insights on how AI is transforming the industry. They discuss recent shifts in design tools, the balance between flexibility and brand integrity, and the evolving role of community and empathy in the design ecosystem.
The evolution of design systems, notably through the introduction of JSON schema, has significantly enhanced component integration and adaptability.
Fostering a strong community among design system practitioners has enriched the journey, providing valuable connections and shared experiences in the industry.
Deep dives
Evolution of the Podcast
The podcast has significantly evolved over the past five years, with the hosts reflecting on the early challenges they faced in podcasting. Their inaugural episode remains the most listened to, highlighting how their skills have developed since those early days. The contrast between their initial approach and today’s improved dynamics illustrates the growth in both content and execution. This evolution also includes a shift in branding from Basalt to Knapsack, marking a transition to a broader focus on digital product development.
Impact of JSON Schema
The introduction of JSON schema as a way to define design components has played a crucial role in shaping their understanding of design systems. This technical approach allowed for better integration of components within a design system, ensuring that updates in the design could automatically reflect in connected systems like CMS. A specific example discussed was how implementing JSON schema facilitated the dynamic addition of new button sizes without requiring simultaneous updates to the system. This foundational aspect of design systems has underscored the importance of having clear specifications for components.
Constraints and Creativity
The balance between design constraints and creative freedom is emphasized as central to the functioning of design systems. By limiting options, such as color choices or spacing scales, design systems can provide cohesion and consistency across products. The hosts compare this to a deck of cards, illustrating how a structured set can lead to countless creative combinations. This idea further extends to discussions about AI and how design systems can serve as frameworks to guide AI outputs effectively.
Community and Shared Experiences
An unexpected outcome of the podcast has been the fostering of a strong community among design system practitioners. The hosts emphasize the importance of shared experiences in building connections and providing support within the industry. They draw parallels to their previous experiences in the Drupal community, highlighting the enriched interactions with peers facing similar challenges. This sense of community has greatly enhanced their journey, making the work more meaningful and engaging.
In this special episode of the Design Systems Podcast, co-founders Chris Strahl and Evan Lovely celebrate five years of the podcast and reflect on their journey from agency work to building Knapsack. They discuss the evolution of design systems, lessons learned from working with global enterprise clients, and the importance of composability, constraints, and community in driving innovation. Enjoy anecdotes from their early days and a look ahead at the role of AI and design systems in the future.
Host Chris Strahl is co-founder and CEO of Knapsack, host of @TheDSPod, DnD DM, and occasional river guide. You can find Chris on Twitter as @chrisstrahl and on LinkedIn. Sponsor Sponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.
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