On Theme: Design Systems in Depth cover image

On Theme: Design Systems in Depth

What happens when your system can’t support your flagship product?, with Adriana Morales — #08

Mar 10, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Adriana Morales, Design Principal at HEB's Mortar Design System, shares her insights from her extensive career at top firms like PayPal and IBM. She tackles the tough question of what to do when a design system can't support flagship products. Adriana delves into the 'system of systems' concept, the importance of empathy in design, and methods to foster collaboration between design and engineering teams. Her innovative workshops and strategies for overcoming organizational silos are particularly enlightening.
57:12

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Workshops can effectively engage resistant stakeholders by offering hands-on experiences with product teams to foster collaboration and understanding.
  • Design systems in large enterprises face challenges due to varying tech stacks, necessitating tailored solutions for different products and legacy systems.

Deep dives

Engaging Stakeholders through Workshops

One effective method for engaging stakeholders who may resist change is to facilitate workshops where they can interact directly with product teams. This hands-on approach allows stakeholders to witness the practical applications of design systems while hearing firsthand experiences from those involved in development. Workshops can enable participants to step out of their preconceived notions and gain insights into alternative perspectives that impact overall design. Such interactions foster a sense of collaboration and help bridge gaps between different teams and their workflows.

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