Design Systems Podcast

Mark Shuster, an Engineering Manager at Dropbox with a rich background in UX design and front-end development, dives into the evolution of design systems. He discusses the shift from strict guidelines to enabling transparent collaboration among teams. Mark highlights the significance of composability and the need for a culture of openness to enhance engagement in product development. He emphasizes balancing creative freedom with consistency, showcasing how good friction can fuel creativity while minimizing conflicts among diverse teams.

Send us feedback or episode suggestions.This week we are joined by Nick Hahn to explore how designers, engineers, product managers, and entire organizations have changed the way they think about and work with design systems. Nick shares insight from his experiences at IBM, InVision, Meta, and Bill.com to highlight the importance of collaboration, governance, education, and cultural adoption. Join host, Chris Strahl and Nick to understand how design systems evolved and what’s next..View the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.GuestNick Hahn has spent 20+ years working in the design industry. He specializes in the human side of Design, building scalable systems and operations for some of the top brands in the world, including IBM, Meta, and Bill.com.HostChris 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.SponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.

Design experts Jina Anne and Adekunle Oduye discuss Figma's AI-generated designs, revamped UI, and future of design systems. They explore deeper code integrations, personalized user experiences with AI, and share insights from their upcoming book on design systems careers.

Send us feedback or episode suggestions.Today’s episode features Ashley Willard and Sarah Kimball (Skim) from Apiture, a smallish fintech company with big enterprise ambitions for its design system. Host Christ Strahl chats with Ashley and Skim about the challenges and opportunities their small team faces trying to navigate the complexities of building a design system that unifies the look and feel of different products and technologies and helps accelerate product delivery. Whether you're working in a large enterprise or a growing startup, their story provides valuable lessons on creating and maintaining effective design systems.View the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.GuestAshley is the Director of Product Design at Apiture and has worked in design and UX for 20+ years across many industries. She lives in Durham, NC.Skim is a Design Systems nerd who has been working in this space since 2018. She currently works as a Senior UX Engineer at Apiture.HostChris 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.SponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.

Send us feedback or episode suggestions.Chris Strahl welcomes Dave Calleja back to the podcast to discuss the changing nature of design systems, integrating AI into the human creative process, and how to use behavior data for real-time design adaptations. Dave shares his views on the importance of design systems to customer experiences and how modern tools help scale personalized experiences that align with brand vision. Tune in to discover how the future of design systems is being shaped by AI, automation, and personalized content.View the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.GuestDave leads the design practice at Merkle and dentsu in Australia-New Zealand as well as their Design Systems offering globally. He is deeply passionate about the role design plays creating in exceptional, memorable and transformative customer experiences. Right now, he’s focused on helping teams deliver a clear experience vision to every moment in the customer journey. You can connect with Dave on LinkedIn.HostChris 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.SponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.TranscriptChris Strahl [00:00:00]:Hi, and welcome to the Design Systems podcast. This podcast is about the place where design and development overlap. We talk with experts to get their point of view about trends in design code and how it relates to the world around us. As always, this podcast is brought to you by Knapsack. Check us out at knapsack.cloud. If you want to get in touch with the show, ask some questions, or generally tell us what you think, go ahead and tweet us at thedspod. We'd love to hear from you. Hey, everyone.Chris Strahl [00:00:22]:Welcome to the design Systems podcast. I'm your host, Chris Strahl. Today I'm here with a repeat guest, Dave Calleja. Dave, it's so great to have you back. I know you're in the midst of a little bit of career reorganization, so why don't you talk about what you're doing these days?Dave Calleja [00:00:36]:Thanks, Chris. Really excited to be here again and really looking forward to the conversation. So my role has changed a bit since we last spoke. I'm responsible for experience design across Dentsu and Merkel in AnZ, and I'm also really excited to be leading our global design systems capability across Merkel.Chris Strahl [00:00:53]:Well, hey, it's great to have you back. It's been a long time coming. You were actually reminding me before the show that we used to record these asynchronously, like, with a ton of different software and everything like that. And, like, it's actually a different world of podcasting now that you've returned, so eager to have you back on, get kind of an update. And also, you know, one of the things that sparked this conversation was a post about the use of AI in design systems, and so I'm stoked to talk about it.Dave Calleja [00:01:18]:Yeah, likewise. You know, the world is changing so much faster since we last spoke. Like, we've

Meredith Van Lier, Director of Product Management at ServiceNow with over 15 years in enterprise and consumer spaces, discusses the transformation of ServiceNow's design system. She emphasizes a shift towards a flexible, user-centric approach, promoting collaboration and accessibility. Key topics include integrating design systems in low-code environments, enhancing user experience through customization, and fostering shared ownership in design principles. Meredith also highlights the importance of quality over quantity in product development, ensuring a seamless experience for users.

Daniel Henderson-Ede, an accessibility specialist at Pinterest, sheds light on the challenges and significance of inclusive design for those with disabilities. He discusses how accessibility should be a foundational aspect of design systems, not just an afterthought. Using a Tex-Mex metaphor, he illustrates how consistent design enhances usability. The conversation also covers practical strategies for creating accessible themes and the importance of team collaboration in embracing these practices, ultimately aiming to enhance user experience for all.

Beau Ulrey, Design System Manager at U.S. Bank, delves into the world of design systems and their impact on customer trust. Topics include his journey from IBM to U.S. Bank, the role of design systems in banking, team dynamics in product development, stakeholder support, and the value of community engagement in design system development.

Send us feedback or episode suggestions.Join host Chris Strahl as he welcomes our guest Scott Strubberg to the Design Systems Podcast. Scott is a product manager and a key figure behind IBM's Carbon Design System. Today’s conversation unravels the complexities and innovations of integrating brand consistency across digital and physical realms. Chris and Scott explore how feedback and community contributions shape the system's evolution, and delve into IBM's unique "brand first" approach. Tune in to discover the strenuous yet rewarding process of managing design systems at scale and the significant role of community and partnerships in driving a design system forward. View the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.GuestScott Strubberg is a Product Manager, Front-end developer, Designer, and Educator. Though his career has taken many forms over the years, a common thread of connecting technology to the people who need it has always been present. He spends most of his day rallying designers and developers around a common cause. When he’s not doing that, he’s a full-time parent along with his wife and their three boys.HostChris 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.SponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.

Brad Frost, a leading voice in design systems, discusses the importance of adaptable design systems that resonate with diverse brand identities. Topics include creating global frameworks, 'recipes' for specific use cases, and industry-wide component standardization. The conversation highlights the layers of successful design systems, emphasizing efficiency in building products and prioritizing functionality over aesthetics.