ShopTalk 670: Brad and Ian Frost on Their New Design Tokens Course
Jun 23, 2025
Brad Frost, a design system consultant and creator of Atomic Design, joins his brother Ian, a front-end architect, to discuss their new course on design tokens. They unveil how design tokens are transforming modern design practices and the benefits of a structured approach. The brothers compare bikeability in the Netherlands and Texas, highlighting urban planning differences. They dive into the delicate balance between creativity and functionality in web design, emphasizing collaboration between designers and developers for cohesive digital experiences.
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Brothers' 10-Year Work Trip
- Brad and Ian Frost celebrated 10 years working together with a European trip including Portugal, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
- They reflected on their journey while enjoying the beautiful European landscapes and cities.
Importance of Shared Systems
- Large organizations benefit greatly from shared design systems to unify multiple products and brands.
- Without shared systems, duplicated work and inconsistent user experiences become major issues.
Managing Complexity with Tokens
- Demand for faster, multi-platform, and diverse product features leads to complexity in design and development.
- Design tokens help manage this complexity by enabling scalability without chaos.