On Theme: Design Systems in Depth

You can't talk about design systems lately without addressing the elephant in the room: layoffs. Noelle walks us through her experience of multiple layoffs in one year, why 2023 was so different than 2020, and how the success criteria of design systems correlated with team layoffs. We discuss the bogeyman of "getting zero results from your design system" and what Noelle was hearing from business leadership about that, and how storytelling might matter more than metrics. Plus, a very spicy take on ~the rebrand~, and why at least one company was hiring for someone to delete  their design system 😱Warning: F-word/language. 💖 On Theme is a brand new podcast, so if you like what you're hearing, please hit subscribe and sign up at designsystemsontheme.com!Links & ReferencesNoelle Lansford on LinkedInHire Noelle on your system: NoelleLansford.comNoelle's semi-viral blog post, The State of Design Systemslayoffs.fyiSam Anderson's Design Systems are InfrastructureeBay Design Playbook🎨🎟️ Into Design Systems is May 25-28Get your ticket at intodesignsystems.com/onthemeInto Design Systems is back with their annual virtual conference, May 28-30, 2025. Get your ticket now for three days of practical, hands on sessions showing the what, why, and how of design systems. This year, the conference is focused on developer handoff, accessibility, multi brand theming, and governance. You'll get hands on knowledge you can put to use at work immediately, files and resources to take away, and hear from very well known industry speakers. 📲 Send me a text!Support the show

Jina Anne gives us a history of the journey from early style guides to widespread industry adoption of design systems, and the challenges and successes. We explore how tokens came to be, how it feels when the engineering team just starts using your work before it's ready, the separation of HTML/CSS/JS concerns, and how ClarityConf got started. Plus, the origin of the phrase "design systems" (maybe?), and  what the NASA Graphic Standards Manual has to do with ClarityConf. 💖 On Theme is a brand new podcast, so if you like what you're hearing, please hit subscribe and sign up at designsystemsontheme.com!Links & ReferencesJina AnneClarityConfThe Design Systems SlackQuarkSalesforce Theo for design tokensOld-school CSS tools Sass, Less, and StylusCSS Custom Properties (variables)Adam Morris and TachyonsSalesforce Lightning Design SystemNicole Sullivan and Mark Otto at The Mixin meetupRichard Danne, Designing for Earthlings and Astronauts at ClarityConf 2016The original 1976 NASA Graphic Standards ManualGartner Hype Cycle for UX 2024Penpot (Figma alt)Josh Silverman at CCABen Callahan's The Question🎨🎟️ Into Design Systems is May 25-28Get your ticket at intodesignsystems.com/onthemeInto Design Systems is back with their annual virtual conference, May 28-30, 2025. Get your ticket now for three days of practical, hands on sessions showing the what, why, and how of design systems. This year, the conference is focused on developer handoff, accessibility, multi brand theming, and governance. You'll get hands on knowledge you can put to use at work immediately, files and resources to take away, and hear from very well known industry speakers. 📲 Send me a text!Support the show

Brad Frost, a design system consultant and creator of Atomic Design, candidly reflects on the evolution of design systems. He shares insights into the shift from style guides to modular components spurred by mobile design. The discussion dives into the changing perceptions of efficiency, emphasizing the balance between valuable tasks and unnecessary complexities in design work. Brad also highlights the significance of collaboration between designers and developers, underscoring the importance of adapting to new frameworks without losing creativity.

Elyse shares five predictions for design systems in 2025 and beyond in the second pre-season minisode. Text the show to share your thoughts and predictions and maybe even be featured in a future minisode!Early Bird tickets are available until January 15th for Into Design System's excellent annual virtual conference, featuring Nathan Curtis, Romina Kavcic, Cintia Romero, and more. Get your tickets now before prices go up at intodesignsystems.com/ontheme📲 Send me a text!Support the show

The discussion dives into the evolution and challenges surrounding design systems, enriched with personal anecdotes from the speaker's career. Key milestones showcase the journey and obstacles teams face in adoption. A significant emphasis is placed on the mindset shift required for success in a rapidly changing industry. Additionally, the complexities involved in creating and implementing design systems are examined, highlighting the need for collaboration and flexibility to cater to varying organizational needs.

📲 Send me a text!Support the show